Psychology in practice, 19.5 credits

Passed results of the Study Programme in Psychology semester 1-6 comprising 180 credits and at least 15 credits from semester 7.

Students who have failed their clinical placement course/module after demonstrating serious deficiencies in understanding, skill, or professional attitude, and done this to the degree that client or patient safety or client / patient / employer trust for the healthcare have been jeopardised, will qualify for a new clinical placement only after completion of an individual action plan.

Students should advance their understanding of methods and professional attitude relevant to the profession of Psychologist according to the Higher Education Ordinance (1993:100).

Module 1, Workplace learning
On completion of this module, the student should

• be able to plan, execute, document, and report the information of a psychological assessment within the field that is relevant for the workplace
• based on relevant reports be able to analyse and draw conclusions on the application of evidence-based psychological treatment or other evidence-based measures
• demonstrate the ability to independently select and actively apply interview methods such as Motivational Interviewing (MI)
• be able to plan, carry out and evaluate teaching and/or supervision relevant to patients/ clients/ family/ staff at the workplace
• demonstrate the ability to take supervision and to cooperate with the supervisor and other staff members in order to develop a professional attitude
• be able to independently apply their understanding and experience in a practical/professional context
• be able to independently integrate understanding and skills to solve/handle complex problems and situations
• be able to demonstrate to identify knowledge gaps of import for the field

Module 2, In-depth theoretical studies
On completion of this module, the student should

• be able to describe other professional roles relevant to workplace tasks and be able to emphasize the specific competence of the Psychologist profession
• be able to reflect on ethical and legal issues at the workplace and independently be able to relate these to current governance and legal documentation
• be able to account for the goals of a workplace and its role in society, its regulations and its organisation as well as the role of a psychologist's role in it
• be able to reflect on the disciplinary foundations of the field and thereby demonstrate an understanding of current research and development results as well as the relationship between research and proven experience and its import for evidence-based psychological practice

The course is divided into three modules, as follows:

The clinical internship includes both theoretical and practical elements of general importance for applied psychological activities. During the internship the goal is for the student to integrate the material from the study programme and apply it to the the tasks carried out at the workplace. Client contacts may be individual, group, and/or organisational, depending on type of workplace. Where possible, the student should be afforded the opportunity to practice treatment- and goal directed tasks, suitable for the student's experience and knowledge.

Within the scope of the internship, issues of ethics, confidentiality, and professional attitude relevant to the psychologist profession should be addressed.

Based on literature chosen after consultation with the supervisor, the student should highlight and analyse ethical and legal issues.

The psychologist internship is given as a continuous period equivalent to 13 weeks of full-time studies. The course consists of practical psychology work tasks under supervision of an authorised psychologist with appropriate professional or vocational experience. At the start of the internship, the student and the supervisor formulated an individual study plan, to be approved by the course leader. The supervisor is to give the student relevant and varying assignments based on the expected learning goals, the individual study plan and the tasks available at the workplace. The internship is intended to afford the student a thorough understanding of the psychologist profession. Likewise, the tasks and the supervision are intended to develop the professional attitude necessary for the professional role. Supervision will be given to the student 1-2 hours/week.

Under the internship, a continuous assessment of the students' achievements takes place. Half-time- and final assessments are carried out through an established assessment protocol.

Besides assignments prescribed by the supervisor at the workplace, the student will have to participate actively in a discussion forum, based on reading instructions from the course director. The discussions will address literature studies, previous coursework relevant to the field, as well as experiences from the workplace where the student is active.

The internship placement is assigned to the students based on agreements between Karolinska Institutet and national, regional, municipal, and private activities.

The internship, participation in the discussion forum, and the written assignment are compulsory, see the heading "Examination".

The individual study plan, the assessment protocol, written assignments, presentation of discussion assignments and papers should be submitted through the learning platform.

The course is examined in the following way:

Module 1, Workplace learning
The student's achievements during the psychologist internship are assessed continuously by the supervisor based on an established assessment protocol applied at mid-point and final assessments. Attendance at VFU placement according to schedule is mandatory.

The module is graded U or G. The grade G on the module requires that, at the final assessment, the student attains minimum level 2 (good understanding/ skills/ ability) according to the assessment protocol items relevant for the internship workplace, as well as fulfillment of compulsory course elements.

Module 2, In-depth theoretical studies
a) written assignment  in the subject of ethics and law, is graded U or G
b) mandatory participation in discussion forums

The module is graded U or G. The grade G requires G on examination assignment a) as well as fulfillment of compulsory course elements.

Course grade
The grade G on the entire course, requires G on both module 1 and 2.

Absence from compulsory course elements
The examiner decides whether, and if so how, absence from compulsory course elements can be made up. Study results cannot be reported until the student has participated in compulsory course elements or compensated for any absence in accordance with instructions from the examiner. Absence from a compulsory course element could mean that the student can not retake the element until the next time the course is offered.

Limitation of the number of examinations
Regarding the psychologist internship, which is a so called VFU placement, the number of times a student has the right to participate in the internship is limited to two (2) times.

Guidelines in case of failure
If a student is at risk of failing module 1 (VFU), the student should be informed about this orally and in writing in connection with the mid-term assessment that is carried out. Furthermore, a written plan of action for how the student will be able to achieve the grade G on the module.

The examiner may, with immediate effect, interrupt a student's internship if the student demonstrates such serious deficiencies in understanding, skills or attitudes that client or patient security or the patients/ clients/ employers' trust for the activities/ the healthcare is jeopardised. If an internship is interrupted in this way, the student fails the module. This counts as one psychologist internship opportunity. In such cases, an individual action plan should be established, where it is made explicit what activities and examinations are required before the student is qualified for a second opportunity to internship on the course.

Possibility of exception from the course syllabus' regulations on examination
If there are special grounds, or a need for adaptation for a student with a disability, the examiner may decide to deviate from the syllabus' regulations on the examination form, the number of examination opportunities, the possibility of supplementation or exemptions from the compulsory section/s of the course etc. Content and learning outcomes as well as the level of expected skills, knowledge and attitudes may not be changed, removed or reduced.

If the course is discontinued or undergoes major changes, information about transitional arrangements will be listed here.

Course evaluation takes place in accordance with KI's local guidelines. Results and possible actions are communicated to the students via the course web page.