Structure and content

The requirement area Introduction to Psychology comprises an introductory lecture, block practicals in which basic work (e.g. time management) and communication techniques (e.g. presentation, moderation of groups) required for successful study are taught and practiced, as well as the research internship.

This includes the following modules:

1. The modulesStatistics and Data Analysis I & IIin which students are taught the theoretical and practical qualifications for the evaluation of empirical studies using basic statistical methods.
2. The modulesResearch Methods & Test Theory and Test Constructionin which students acquire the basic qualifications for planning and evaluating empirical studies and for developing psychological tests.
3. The moduleDiagnosticsin which students learn to plan and implement a diagnostic process, assess the quality of psychodiagnostic procedures and make statistically informed diagnostic judgments.

This includes the following modules:

1. The moduleGeneral Psychology Icovers the basics of perception and cognitive psychology and the methods of cognitive neuroscience.
2. The moduleGeneral Psychology IIcovers the topics of experimental learning psychology, especially conditioning research, emotion and motivation psychology, and is supplemented by the neuronal foundations of learning, emotion and motivation.
3. In the moduleBiological Psychologystudents learn the anatomical, neurobiological, pharmacological and neurophysiological foundations of human experience and behavior.
4. The moduleDevelopmental Psychologydeals with the theoretical foundations of development as well as specific developmental processes and the description, explanation and prediction of developmental processes.
5. The moduleDifferential Psychologyprovides content on the functional levels of personality and the use of theoretical concepts, empirical findings and diagnostic instruments for individual counseling.
6. The moduleSocial Psychologydeals with theories and findings about the experience and behavior of people in groups and their application to everyday situations, such as interpersonal attraction, attitudes or social judgments.

This includes the following modules:

• In the moduleDisordersmodule presents the prevalence, causes and consequences of mental disorders and provides an overview of the most important disorders. Relevant theoretical perspectives and the basics of diagnostics and classification are also covered.
• In the moduleGeneral theory of psychotherapymodule deals with the mode of action and applicability of scientifically tested and recognized psychotherapeutic procedures and methods.
• In the modulePreventive and rehabilitative concepts of psychotherapeutic actiondeals with behavioral and relationship-oriented prevention, intervention and rehabilitation concepts.
• In the moduleFundamentals of educational psychology and digital mediadeals with educational actors, questions of lesson design, classroom management and social forms of teaching. In addition, theories of educational psychology on dealing with digital media in general and teaching and learning with interactive media are taught.
• In the module Fundamentals of Work and Organizational Psychology , students learn which factors need to be considered from a psychological perspective for the prediction, description and explanation of human behaviour and experience in the world of work in order to make well-founded decisions about interventions in organizations or the design of work and to be able to translate these into practical action.

In the compulsory elective area, one of the three areas must be chosen in which the content from the application subjects is further deepened. The compulsory elective areas are

• Clinical psychology and psychotherapy
• Work and organizational psychology
• Educational psychology and digital media

Students seeking a license to practice medicine must choose the area "Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy".

This area includes the following modules:

1. Internships (work-related internship, orientation internship, professional qualification activity I)In these modules, students should gain practical experience in fields of activity related to psychology/psychotherapy as well as knowledge of practical tasks and work processes that psychologists deal with in professional practice. The internships should help students to develop perspectives for their further studies and later professional activities and to establish contacts with potential future employers.
2. Subject hoursStudents should get to know different forms of psychological research in practice and be able to take on the perspective of test subjects. To this end, they take part in 40 hours of psychological experiments. Further information can be found  here.
3. Bachelor propaedeutic courseThis module prepares students for the independent development of a theoretical, empirical or practice-oriented scientific question and its implementation.
4. Bachelor thesisStudents should demonstrate that they are able to work on a psychological question in accordance with scientific standards. They should show that they are familiar with psychological methods and can present a scientific topic in writing in an appropriate form.