Promoting Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Schools

The Level II Master’s Program in “Promoting Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Schools” is divided into three major modules that will cover the following topics:

Module 1 – Emotion and Cognition

• Bullying and Rights: Prevention and Management of the Problem
• Bilingualism
• Emotional and Behavioral Self-Regulation
• Psychoeducation for Inclusion
• Learning Disabilities
• Motivation and Self-Determination

Module 2 – Relationships and Socio-Emotional Development

• Functional Limitation Profiles (FIL) and Disabilities
• Assessment and Intervention Models for Cognitive Giftedness
• Coping Power
• Mindfulness Workshop
• The Role of the Psychologist in the School Environment
• Teachers' Mental Health
• AI and Learning
• The Psychologist Between School and Family

Module 3 – Tools and Techniques

• Promoting Well-Being in the Classroom at the Elementary School Level
• The School Counseling Service
• Group Psychology in Schools
• Designing Screening Projects
• Developing Prevention Programs
• The School Psychologist at the High School.

The educational objectives of the master’s program focus on the acquisition of professional skills that are crucial for addressing school-related difficulties and promoting well-being.

The profile of the psychologist specializing in school well-being that the master’s program aims to train is as follows:

has extensive expertise in planning, coordinating, and implementing the activities offered by the “school help desk,” which are aimed at students and their families as well as teachers and all school staff;

• is able to identify potentially problematic developmental patterns at the cognitive, emotional, and relational levels;
• is able to design programs for the prevention, identification, and management of conditions associated with special educational needs (SEN), such as learning difficulties, high cognitive potential, or specific types of disabilities: providing support throughout the certification process and assistance in interpreting any diagnosis;
• is able to support school staff—and teachers in particular—in promoting and effectively managing the identification of learning difficulties and school-related distress;
• is capable of carrying out prevention and screening programs;
• is able to support school staff—and teachers in particular—in creating a collaborative and positive work environment within the school setting;
• is able to implement projects that support emotional and affective development;
• is able to take action to prevent emotional and affective distress;
• is able to actively contribute to and support the school in seeking partnerships with the local community, institutions, and universities to develop projects aimed at addressing educational poverty and school dropout rates;
• is able to design activities aimed at raising awareness and preventing risky behaviors such as cyberbullying and social isolation;
• It is able to involve the school in the design of educational activities and best practices to promote inclusion in the classroom and create a welcoming and supportive classroom environment.

In the training of school staff, it is crucial that school psychologists be adequately trained in evidence-based interventions. In this regard, it is important that this training be enriched by knowledge gained from international contexts. In an increasingly interconnected world, access to innovative experiences and practices from diverse settings can enrich and enhance the work of school psychologists, ensuring comprehensive, high-quality support for students. For this reason, the master’s program features professionals affiliated with international networks and scientific societies active in the fields of school psychology and mental health promotion, such as the International School Psychology Association (ISPA) and the European Network for Social and Emotional Competence (ENSEC).

Course Organization

The master’s program lasts one year, for a total of 1,500 hours, corresponding to 60 academic credits (CFU), and will be structured as follows:

• Classroom instruction: 180 hours (online) + 570 hours of independent study (30 CFU);
• Internship: 200 hours + 300 hours of independent study (20 CFU);
• Final Exam: 250 hours (10 CFU).

Attendance at the Master’s program is mandatory. To earn the degree, each participant must attend 70% of the class hours and 100% of the internship hours.
At the end of the training activities, there will be a final exam consisting of a thesis that will present the bibliographic context and the design and implementation of a prevention or intervention project in a school, including a pre-evaluation phase, an implementation phase, and a post-evaluation phase, using existing or ad hoc tools.
Participants who hold a high school diploma are also eligible to enroll in individual modules—which count toward a Professional Development and/or Continuing Education course—up to a maximum of 2 (two). University academic credits associated with enrollment in individual modules are awarded following a standard assessment exam to be taken at the university and require enrollment and payment of the applicable tuition fee.

The degree to be awarded by the University of Foggia is a Level II Master’s degree in “Promoting Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Schools.”
This degree has academic standing and requires the completion of 60 CFU as part of the academic program. Please note that the Master’s degree is awarded only to students enrolled in the entire Master’s program.
 

The master’s program lasts one year, for a total of 1,500 hours, corresponding to 60 academic credits (CFU), and will be structured as follows:

• Classroom instruction: 180 hours (online) + 570 hours of independent study (30 CFU);
• Internship: 200 hours + 300 hours of independent study (20 CFU);
• Final Exam: 250 hours (10 CFU).

Attendance at the Master’s program is mandatory. To earn the degree, each participant must attend 70% of the class hours and 100% of the internship hours.
At the end of the training activities, there will be a final exam consisting of a thesis that will present the bibliographic context and the design and implementation of a prevention or intervention project in a school, including a pre-evaluation phase, an implementation phase, and a post-evaluation phase, using existing or ad hoc tools.
Participants who hold a high school diploma are also eligible to enroll in individual modules—which count toward a Professional Development and/or Continuing Education course—up to a maximum of 2 (two). University academic credits associated with enrollment in individual modules are awarded following a standard assessment exam to be taken at the university and require enrollment and payment of the applicable tuition fee.

The degree to be awarded by the University of Foggia is a Level II Master’s degree in “Promoting Psychological Well-Being and Mental Health in Schools.”
This degree has academic standing and requires the completion of 60 CFU as part of the academic program. Please note that the Master’s degree is awarded only to students enrolled in the entire Master’s program.

The Master's program is open to anyone who holds one of the degrees listed below:

• A master’s degree in psychology or a degree obtained under the regulations in effect prior to Ministerial Decree 509/99, or an equivalent degree.

You may also choose to enroll in individual modules of the Master’s program, each of which counts as an Advanced Training and/or Professional Development Course with recognition of the corresponding academic credits. Enrollment in individual Advanced Training and/or Professional Development Courses (up to a maximum of 2) is also open to anyone who holds a high school diploma.

Department of Higher Education and Advanced Studies, Master’s Program Office, Specialization Courses, and State Exams
Phone: 0881-338323, 0881-338312, or by email at: [email protected] or the Master's program's academic and administrative office, 
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at the Research, Graduate Education, and Project Reporting Office of the Department of Studies
Humanities Department, by phone at 0881-338658 or by email at
[email protected].