PSYb2260 Community Volunteering

Faculty of Social Studies
Spring 2025
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Zuzana Masopustová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Zuzana Masopustová, Ph.D.
Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Supplier department: Department of Psychology – Faculty of Social Studies
Prerequisites (in Czech)
podmínkou zápisu je aktivní komunitní dobrovolnictví probíhající s frekvencí alespoň jednou týdně hodina (případně jednou za 14 dní více hodin)
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 20 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/20, only registered: 0/20
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The goal of the 'Community Volunteering' course is to provide students with the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the theoretical aspects of psychology through practical experiences gained in volunteer activities. The course is focused on developing students' ability to ask key questions and reflectively consider psychology in the context of the real world, developing self-reflection and critical thinking. Students will be guided to reflect on their own experiences and how these experiences influence their perception of psychological theories and practice. This self-reflection is essential for personal and professional development and for the development of the ability to critically approach theoretical concepts. The primary goal of the course is to enable students to gain unique perspectives and experiences through volunteer work, which they can then use as a basis for deeper understanding and application of psychological theories. The course emphasizes the development of the ability to observe, analyze, and think about the behaviour of individuals, families, communities, and society, and the ability to consider theoretical concepts in a practical context. Another key goal of the course is the development of communication skills and reflective functioning. Students will learn to gain valuable insights into the diversity of human experiences and think about how individual experience and life context can influence communication, needs, and values, but also the appropriateness or effectiveness of interventions. The course also places emphasis on ethics and professionalism. Students will learn to recognize and address ethical dilemmas they may encounter in practice and will be motivated to apply professional standards within their volunteer work. Therefore, the 'Community Volunteering' course provides students with a unique opportunity for active learning and development, enabling them to gain new perspectives and experiences that are key to a deeper understanding of psychology and the formation of relevant questions and critical attitudes towards the theoretical aspects of the field.
Learning outcomes
After completing the course, students will be equipped with skills and knowledge that will help them not only in their academic development but also in their future professional careers. Students will be able to link practical experiences gained in a volunteering environment with theoretical psychological concepts. This connection will enable them not only to better understand theories but also to formulate relevant questions and critically reflect on various psychological approaches and practices. Furthermore, students will learn to communicate effectively in diverse environments and develop empathy, which is crucial for working with people from different social and cultural backgrounds. They will also demonstrate the ability to reflectively approach their own experiences and use this reflection for personal and professional development. This process of self-reflection helps students develop a deeper understanding of their own reactions and attitudes, which is key for future psychological practice. Ethics and professionalism are other key aspects that students develop during the course. They will learn to recognize and address ethical dilemmas and apply professional standards in the context of volunteer work, preparing them for the ethical challenges they may face as psychologists in the future. Lastly, the 'Community Volunteering' course gives students the opportunity to contribute to the development of society and the community, and to acquire practical skills and knowledge necessary for effective work in the field of psychology and social care. In this way, the course not only develops the individual abilities of students but also contributes to their capacity to have a positive impact on society.
Syllabus
  • Introduction to volunteer work and familiarization with the activities of the volunteer association Vesna; supervision of volunteer work; ethical aspects of volunteer work; the client's life context and the role of the psychologist.
Literature
  • literatura pokrývající témata, s kterými se student setkává ve své dobrovolnické práci
Teaching methods
discussions, self-reflection, supervision, self-study
Assessment methods
The course is concluded with a credit awarded for active participation in teaching and active volunteering.
Language of instruction
Czech
Further Comments
The course is taught each semester.
The course is taught: in blocks.
The course is also listed under the following terms Spring 2024.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2025, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/fss/spring2025/PSYb2260