Postgraduate - High Schools - Icesi University - Cali- Colombia -

Psychology is a science which tries to understand and explain human beings through the study of their behavior and mental processes such as sensation, perception, attention, memory, learning, intelligence, language, thinking and creativity. For this reason, the psychologist is interested in studying man as an individual. He also is concerned with the process which mediates his interaction with others through an explanation of emotions, communication, associations, or relationships.

The scientific path used by psychologists has been marked by the elaboration of an ample variety of concepts and theories which, substantiated in a strong investigative and practical interests, allow the achievement of an integral vision by approaching the diversity and complexity of human nature. Thanks to this integral vision of the human being, in reality psychology is valued as a profession that uses of multiple strategies and instruments of analysis, evaluation and intervention which can be applied in very different human processes, in the individual as well as in the group, and in a wide variety of settings such as the family, education, organization or society.

In the development of psychology as a science and profession, exchanges between social sciences and natural sciences, particularly biology, have been very important. These exchanges have created a discipline enriched and in constant dialog with other fields of knowledge.

Icesi University offers a psychology program which proposes formative and learning experiences in the following areas:

The fundamental concepts, theoretical perspectives, results of investigations and principal problems of interest which sustain psychology as a science.
Investigative methods proper to psychology, considering the qualitative and quantitative focuses, their different methodologies as well as the established procedures for analysis and data interpretation.
Analytical thinking and fundamental criticism for the formulation of relevant questions as well as for the development of answers and design strategies of sustained action in the psychological scientific framework.
The principals of applied psychology to problems of an individual, social, and organizational character.
The sensitivity of the psychologist in front of diverse human situations, the socio-cultural complexity, and inter-individual differences such as foundations for development as well as investigative professional practice.
The domination of technological tools proper to the business of the professional psychologist, which implies the management of computers as well as sources of up-to-date information as well as how to use the resources proper to this discipline (tests, designs, models, etc).
Communication abilities which facilitate the psychologist’s actions. This implies oral communication skills (interviews, individual or group work sessions, for example) in addition to written skills (production of documents, of articles, or reports, etc.).
An inter-disciplinary approach as an essential element of development of the psychologist through a dialogue with other professionals and scientific disciplines.
Ethical foundations and the recognition of social compromise that position scientific and professional practice of the psychologist in a coherent, pertinent, and responsible manner.
The personal and career projection which motivates the psychologist to continue educating himself, the necessity of constant qualification and up-dating of his work.

To educate psychologists in the optimum domination of the scientific and professional dimensions of the discipline and who will respond in a competent manner to the changing necessities and demands of his or her personal, work or cultural (regional) environment.

• Develop interest in knowing man as an individual and in interaction with others.

• Know, design, and apply instruments proper to psychology (examinations/tests).

• Work in an inter-disciplinary way, in conjunction with professionals from natural, human and social sciences.

- Have the fundamental attitude and motivation to assume the educational process in a rigorous, responsible and ethical manner.

- Count on the necessary aptitudes to assume the formative process in academics, investigation and professional areas.

—concretely to aptitudes for learning, reading, and the communication of ideas and of argumentation.

- Have a special interest in and sensitivity to working with people, both individuals and groups, which is understood as an attitude and aptitude for listening, paying attention to, and respecting others.

• Realize in a fundamental, reasoned, and critical manner, the reference standards (theoretical and methodological) proper to psychology.

• Develop programs of investigation or intervention supported by the methods and tools proper to the discipline.

• Generate innovative and creative proposals for problems of the discipline, contributing the construction of knowledge, to the development of methods and supplies in the investigative as well as in the professional processes.

• Appreciate and assume inter-disciplinary work as an important condition which supports the scientific and professional development of psychology.

The psychologist is highly valued in the labor market, specifically because of his or her professional abilities to:

- To evaluate psychologically and to diagnose individuals, groups, or organizations, based on scientific contributions of the discipline, its methods and particular instruments.

- The design, execution and evaluation of intervention projects which pertinently, coherently, ethically and scientifically attend to the necessities of individuals, groups, and social organizations.

- The generation and execution of investigative proposals which, from psychology, provide the construction of knowledge about human and social realities in its labor, regional and cultural environment.

- The distinct working roles assumed by the psychologist, such as private and teaching practice, the staff, advisor and consultant, particularly apropos of social and organizational problems.

The development of these abilities permits the Icesi Psychologist to locate in the following work environments: