Degree in Psychology

CUCC holds collaboration agreements with public and private centres and institutions that implement programmes and initiatives related to the following areas: childhood, adolescence, adults, elderly people, drug addictions, disabilities and mental health, and community care programmes.

The practicum coordinators will offer guidance and support during your internship in the extensive network of centres located in the Community of Madrid and the province of Guadalajara.

Students can also apply to take internships in a different autonomous community or country. If you are interested in doing so, please contact the practicum coordinators.

The Practicum subject of the Social Education programme is organised as follows:

Every year, CUCC publishes a list of available places through an app. This list can be viewed for several days. Then, students choose ten centres in order of preference. Once the selection period has ended, students are assigned placements based on their preferences. If the number of applications exceeds the limit for a certain centre, placements will be assigned according to students’ average grade indicated in their academic transcript. Finally, there is a period during which students can present claims and/or specific adaptations based on the demands of the students and centres.

The internship is divided evenly between two centres. In this way, students can experience different fields of psychological intervention and put into practice a wider range of skills. In general, students stay at the first internship centre from January to March and the second from mid-March to May.

The allocation of internship placements is governed by different regional and university regulations.

• Practicum. This subject is taken in the 4th year. It enables students to experience for the first time the work carried out by healthcare institutions and organisations that offer psychological intervention programmes, such as schools, health centres and clinics, foundations, public and private institutions, companies, and NGOs. The practicum introduces students to the real contexts of the profession. You will experience and learn about different activities and procedures through observation and the guidance of psychology professionals. In addition, students have the chance to apply and test their knowledge and strategies acquired over four years in real professional contexts to prepare for their future careers.

As CUCC is linked to the University of Alcalá (UAH), students take their internships in centres in Madrid and the province of Guadalajara.

In addition, students can apply to take internships in centres outside the Community of Madrid or the province of Guadajalara (in other regions of Spain or abroad). If you are interested in doing so, please contact the practicum coordinators.

During the internship, students are supervised by an academic tutor (from CUCC) and a collaborating tutor (from the internship centre). The collaborating tutor is responsible for planning and monitoring the student’s learning in a real working context. Meanwhile, the academic tutor monitors the student’s progress and provides guidance throughout the internship related to work and academic tasks.

The practicum is organised as follows:

• Preparation and professional guidance phase (5% = 15 face-to-face hours): This phase consists of introductory lectures and seminars. Professional guidance is offered through round table discussions, lectures and workshops. Final year students can obtain professional advice and explore different employment options related to their studies.
• Implementation phase (80% = 240 face-to-face hours): This phase consists primarily of practical activities in different public and private centres and institutions affiliated with the UAH by official agreements. The activities carried out by students are related to:
  • Knowledge and analysis of the professional environment.
  • Identification of the characteristic activities of psychologists in a specific environment.
  • Observation and critical analysis of psychological practices and professional behaviour.
  • Knowledge of procedures and protocols, as well as the use of psychological instruments and tools.
  • Identification (in oneself and others) of the necessary skills to work as a psychologist.
• Monitoring phase (5% = 15 face-to-face hours): Students are monitored to assess their integration in the internship centres. In addition, students are encouraged to reflect upon their experience in order to get the most out of the internship.
• Assessment phase (10% = 30 hours of independent study):

This phase involves preparing and writing a practicum report and learning journal. Students must include a description and assessment of the activities carried out at CUCC and the internships centres, as well as other documents and materials that demonstrate the practical knowledge they have acquired.

The CUCC tutor will maintain contact with the students throughout the internship, monitoring their performance in the practicum school, as well as in the previous and simultaneous sessions.

Assessment is based on three components:

• External assessment by the school tutor.
• Internal assessment by the CUCC Practicum tutor.
• Self-assessment by the student.

Official Degree Programmes can be accessed by holders of the following qualifications:

• Secondary school certificate (LOMCE) and university entrance exam (EvAU)
• Higher Technician Diploma (FP II).
• Certificate from Foreign Education Systems.
• University degrees.
• Partial university studies.
• Students from previous legislation (LOE, LOGSE, COU, PREU or equivalent) and the PAU university entrance exam.
• People over the age of 25 years.
• People over the age of 40 years (with work experience).
• People over the age of 45 years.