Degree Courses and Forms of Tuiton
The Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology runs academic programmes in the field of Pedagogy in three areas of specialisation:
Information about Degree Courses
Recruitment
A. 5-YEAR STUDIES: Full-time and part-time M.A. courses
1. 2. Interview /0 - 30/
3. Secondary-school certificate: /0 - 40/
Polish /0 - 16/
History /0 - 8/
Foreign Language (best mark) /0 - 8/
Biology (or Chemistry/ Physics) /0 - 8/
TOTAL : /0 - 70/
B. 3-YEAR STUDIES, specialisation in: early school pedagogy
Entrance is on a "first come, first served" basis.
C. Post-licentiate courses leading to the degree of M.A. - for graduates of Wszechnica Mazurska in Olecko and the Teacher's College of Rehabilitation and Resocialization in Bialystok
Entrance requirements: licentiate diploma in a given specialisation of pedagogy:
- early school pedagogy,
- pedagogical care and therapy
- pedagogy of culture
- minimum average mark 4.0
- in cases where the applicant's average mark is below 4.0 - candidates will be interviewed
A tuition fee is payable for all part-time studies.
During the academic year 1997/98 the Faculty ran programmes for 805 full-time students, 150 part-time students on evening courses, 1,651 part-time students, and 683 graduate students holding a licentiate from the Wszechnica Mazurska in Olecko or the Teachers' College of Rehabilitation and Resocialization in Bialystok. There are currently 3,289 students registered for courses at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology.
To date 2,514 full-time students and 4,290 part-time and post-licentiate students have graduated from the Faculty (in all: 6,804 graduates), among them 38 foreign graduates.
Foreign students:
Belarus - 144
Lithuania - 5
Type of Courses:
Full-time (5 year-courses),
Part-time (5 year-courses and courses for upgrading qualifications),
Evening (5 year-courses).
Students gain credits for individual subjects in accordance with course requirements and the criteria for marking described in the Course Regulations.
Students may opt to attend elective seminar or lecture courses offered by Faculty staff.
Post-Graduate Pedagogical Studies
offered at the Faculty of
Pedagogy and Psychology
of the University of Bialystok
1. Certificate in Pedagogical Studies
- a course designed for graduates of technical universities, leading to pedagogical qualifications recognised by the Ministry of Education (Act of Parliament: Dz. U. No. 98, 1991).
The course lasts 3 years (teaching sessions take place twice a month, at weekends).
2. Studies in Pre-School Education
- a course designed for teachers involved in pre-school education:
A - for graduates in Pedagogy with a specialisation in Elementary Education; the course lasts 2 semesters,
B - (requalification courses) for graduates in Pedagogy with a specialisation in Pre-School Education, leading to the recognised qualifications for teaching in the reception classes of primary school; the course lasts 2 semesters.
C - (requalification courses) for graduates of other disciplines, granting the qualifications required to teach in the elementary classes of primary school; the course lasts 3 semesters.
3. Studies in Social Care and Education
- a course designed for teachers working in a variety of care institutions and who have a range of different academic backgrounds:
A - graduates in the field of pedagogical care and therapy; the course lasts 2 semesters,
B - (requalification courses) for graduates in other disciplines, leading to the qualifications required for working in various care settings; the course lasts 3 semesters.
The aim of the course is to provide students who already have an understanding and experience of working in the field of Pedagogy with the challenge of meeting new ideas in the field of education and stimulating them to reflect on their own skills and practice.
The course is organised for teachers and educationalists employed in a variety of social-care institutions such as day-care centres, boarding schools, community centres in schools, children's homes and for educational therapists working in schools.
Completion of the course is a pre-requisite for obtaining the recognised professional qualifications of the First and Second Degree Specialization in Social Care and Education.
The course consists of 100 hours of training. Training sessions are held in the form of 5 three-day conferences (held on Fridays, Saturdays & Sundays).
A tuition fee is payable for the course. The University is unable to guarantee accommodation or board.
4. Studies in Educational Management
- Designed for head-teachers and assistant head-teachers of primary schools (both state controlled and private), care centres, directors of local education authorities and for schools inspectors, holding either an M.A. or the licentiate diploma. The course lasts 3 semesters and is held on a part-time basis. Teaching is organised in the form of 3-day sessions (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) held once a month. The programme of studies includes the following subjects and subject blocks: the latest educational trends worldwide, proposed reforms to the Polish educational system, major trends in intercultural and regional education, basic principles of the theory of organisation and management of education, selected issues in the psychology of management and sociology of organisations, teacher studies, the law on education, principles of labour and economic law, marketing of educational services and school finances and accountancy.
The course also presents the most recent computer programmes of interest in this field and possibilities for their implementation as support tools in the administration of educational institutions.
Courses are conducted by University teachers and staff from the Institute of Management and Marketing of the University of Science and Technology in Bialystok, other institutions of higher education and the In-Service Teacher Training Centre (CODN) as well as recognised practitioners in the field of educational management.
Candidates for the diploma in Educational Management are required to submit a thesis for examination at the end of the course. The diploma is a recognised qualification in the area of educational administration and enables graduates to apply for administrative positions in all types of schools and other educational institutions, as well as establishments involved in the management and supervision of educational institutions. Additionally, diploma graduates who may be interested in broadening their scientific interests are able to participate in doctoral seminars.
A tuition fee is payable for the course. The University is unable to guarantee accommodation or board.
All of the courses described above are available subject to their being sufficient numbers of candidates.
5. Studies in Pedagogical Therapies
Courses in pedagogical therapies are provided for teachers, counsellors working in psychological and pedagical consulting centres, school counsellors and pedagogical specialists employed in community-care centres.
The course lasts for three semesters - a total of 300 hours. Meetings take place over 3-day sessions organised on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays - once a month.
The programme content is as follows:
- contemporary problems in the care and education of persons with special learning difficulties,
- selected issues in speech therapy, developmental psychology, clinical psychology, educational psychology, and the pedagogy of learning difficulties,
- theoretical and practical methods for the diagnosis and therapy of psychomotor disorders causing specific learning and behavioural difficulties,
- teaching students about the organisation of consultation centres for diagnosis and pedagogical therapies.
On completion of the course, candidates are required to submit a thesis for the diploma examination and are required to complete a placement based in a pedagogical consulting centre. Successful completion of these studies is a prerequisite for proceeding to the IInd and IIIrd levels of professional specialisation in pedagogical therapies.
A tuition fee is payable for the course.
Information on any of these courses and application forms may be obtained from the Office for Courses:
Uniwersytet w Bialymstoku, Wydzial Pedagogiki i Psychologii
ul. Swierkowa 20, 15-328 BIALYSTOK, tel. (48 85) 745-74-21
Organisation of the academic year
THE ACADEMIC YEAR at the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology consists of:
· two semesters: winter and summer. The winter semester starts in October and the summer semester in mid-February. Each semester lasts 15 weeks:
· three examination sessions (during which there are no classes) the winter eamination session (in January/February), the summer examination session (in June) and the autumn re-sit examinations (in September).
Each examination session lasts two weeks.
· Vacations: winter (about 10 days during Christmas and New Year), spring (one week during Easter), summer (July and August);
· there is a mid-semester break of one week (in February) between the winter examination session and summer semester.
THE INAUGURATION OF THE ACADEMIC YEAR usually takes place during the first week of October.
No classes are held on national holidays:
· Labour Day (1 May)
· Constitution Day (3 May)
· Corpus Christi (June)
· All Saints Day (1 November)
· Independence Day (11 November)
A detailed calendar of events is published by the Rector of the University. The Rector and the Dean of the Faculty have the power to designate so-called "Rector's days" or "Dean's days" - i.e. additional free days.
Practical Training for Students
Students in the Faculty are required to participate in various forms of practical training from the 3rd year onwards. Students carry out this training in institutions relevant to their course of study:
· cultural institutions (clubs, cultural centres, galleries, etc.);
· care centres (orphanages, day-care facilities, out-patient clinics, boarding schools, social welfare centres, social services homes etc.);
· schools and kindergartens (with children in appropriate age groups in kindergartens and the elementary classes of primary school).
2-3 hours per week are devoted to the mid-year practical training placements; in the 5th year, however, the practical training placement for the diploma, occupies 5 days per week for a period of 4-6 weeks.
Financial Assistance
Students of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology of the University of Bialystok are entitled to the following forms of financial assistance which is supported from government funding:
1/ grants;
2/ scholarships obtainable for good academic results;
3/ ministerial scholarships for good academic results;
4/ supplements for lodgings at student hostels;
5/ supplements for food in student canteens;
6/ other allowances.
Scholarships for good academic results are awarded to students with an average grade of 4.0 over the previous academic year. The scholarship is paid for ten months and is available in the second year of study.
Scholarships for good academic results funded by the Ministry of National Education are awarded to students with distinguished academic results. They are awarded for a period of 12 months. Candidates for the scholarship are put forward by the Faculty Council and are selected from students who have completed their second year of study.
Financial aid, allowances, and supplements for lodgings at student hostels are available to students who are experiencing difficult financial circumstances. Applications are made to the Faculty Social Council and need to be supported by a statement of family income. Financial support is awarded for one semester, twice a year.
Financial aid may be awarded to students who temporarily find themselves in difficult financial circumstances for a variety of reasons, for example, as a result of health problems. One-off payments of this kind are awarded once a year; in the case of aid connected with health problems - three times a year.
The Faculty Social Council is made up of the Vice-Dean for Full-time Studies and student representatives elected by the Students' Union.
Supplementary payments covering the cost of lodgings in student hostels are available for the entire period that the student remains in residence in the hostel. The supplement covers the difference between the official charge for the accommodation and the students' rate of payment.
Supplements in respect of lodgings at student hostels and financial assistance and scholarships for good academic results are paid on a monthly basis.
Supplements for food in student canteens are paid in the form of a subsidy for the upkeep of the canteen. Meals are available to students at subsidised prices. The subsidy amounts to the difference between the actual costs of running the canteen facilities and the meal payments received from students. The amount of subsidy cannot be less than the cost of the raw materials used in the preparation of the meals.
Assistance for Foreign Students
Foreign students accepted by Faculty are beneficiaries of Polish Government scholarships and are bound by the rules of the National Ministry of Education. Alternatively they may be students taking part in exchange programmes with partner universities (through the Socrates/Erasmus programme. They receive the following scholarship benefits:
· a lump-sum in respect of food;
· a lump-sum in respect of lodgings;
· a scholarship;
· other allowances.
For many years the Faculty has received students from Lithuania, Belarus, Romania, Russia, the Ukraine and Costa Rica.
Student Hostels
The Faculty of Pedagogy and Psycholgy offers its out-of-town students accommodation in two students' hostels:
· Student Hostel nr 2, ul. Krakowska 9a, tel. 7457251
· Student Hostel nr 1, ul. Pogodna 65, tel. 7426093
Places are limited. Persons wishing to obtain accommodation in the students' hostels are advised to include an introductory statement to this effect when applying to The University and then to seek further information at the Faculty office.
Medical Care
Students of the Faculty of Pedagogy and Psychology are insured for all forms of medical care. All full-time and part-time students are entitled to use the University's health centre facilities: Academic Polyclinic, ul. Zwierzyniecka 14. Health care includes: internal medicine, specialist referrals when necessary and preventative health care as required in relation to the student's area of specialization. To make an appointment a valid health book is needed.