Objectives and Competencies

 

The objective of the PhD Program is to develop students as researchers in some of Psychology fields included in the seven lines of research within the PhD program. The final stage of the program is the presentation of a doctoral thesis.

The general objectives of the PhD Program are as follows:

> Train Psychology researchers to achieve a high level of skills and competence.
> Promote, encourage, and stimulate the development of innovative Psychology research lines.

The Spanish Royal Decree 99/201 details the basic competences, personal competences, and skills a student must obtain by the end of their doctoral studies. The PhD Program in Psychology from the University of Málaga (UMA) extends these basic competences and skills and adds two further competencies. Complementary training activities in the PhD Program are specifically designed to help students to fully develop and integrate all the competences and skills required.

 

Basic Competencies

Comprehensive understanding of the field of study and mastery of the research skills and methods required. (CB11)

> Ability to conceptualize, design, create, and implement a large research project. (CB12)

> Ability to contribute to the expansion of frontiers of knowledge via original research. (CB13)

> Ability to apply critical analysis and to evaluate and synthesize new and complex ideas. (CB14)

> Ability to communicate scientific knowledge related to the PhD student's field to society as a whole. (CB15)

> Ability to encourage the scientific, technological, social, artistic, and cultural advancement of our knowledge-based society within academic and professional settings. (CB16)

 

Personal Skills and Capabilities

> Be able to navigate research areas on which the student has little information. (CA01)

> Be able to identify key questions and their answers in order to solve complex problems. (CA02)

> Be able to design, create, develop, and undertake innovative projects in the PhD student's field of knowledge. (CA03)

> Be able to work alone and as a part of a team in international or multidisciplinary settings. (CA04)

> Be able to integrate knowledge, deal with complexity, and make judgments in the face of limited data. (CA05)

> Be able to intellectually challenge or defend solutions. (CA06)

 

Other competences

> Ability to locate sources of research funding. (OC01)

> Ability to conduct psychology research by the effective use of information resources and new technologies. (OC02)