This article has been adapted from "Romania National Tour," prepared by I. P. Vasilescu, and updated by M. Anitei, 2007 and printed in edding, D., & Stevens, M. J. (Eds.). (2009). Psychology: IUPsyS Global Resource (Edition 2009) [CD-ROM]. International Journal of Psychology, 44 (Suppl. 1).

History

The first Romanian department of psychology was founded in 1906 at the University of Bucharest. It included a laboratory of experimental psychology. A second department of psychology was founded in 1921 at the University of Cluj-Napoca. The personal selection for Industry, Transport, and Army began in the early 1920s. Psychology grew up as a profession in Romania before World War II, and continued to develop after the war. It had its peak in the 1960s and early 1970s, but in 1977 the dictatorship suppressed the Romanian Faculties of Psychology. The Institute of Psychology of the Romanian Academy was, in the first step, joined with the Institute of Pedagogy. The Institute was completely dissolved by Ceausescu in 1982, and its researchers were 're-educated' being hired as unskilled workers only, because their solidarity and open disobedience to an abusive order issued from the top of the Party. After the 1989 Romanian Revolution the faculties of psychology from the universities of Bucharest, Cluj-Napoca, and Iassy were reborn. In 1991-1993 faculties of psychology appeared in other state universities (in Brasov and Timisoara) and in several private universities. Currently, approximately one thousand students graduate in psychology every single year.

Re-activated in 2001, the moment RPA has contributed to the development of the psychologists' movement in Romania, by applying for the profession of psychologist being legalized (Law 213/2004) and the Psychologists' College in Romania being formed.

Research

Research in psychology is conducted by a number of specialized institutions. The most important are: Philosophy and Psychology Institute of Romanian Academy, research centers liked to the departments of psychology in universities, other institutes like Institute of Research in Transports, National Institute for Aviation and Space Medicine, etc.

Education

The tertiary education in psychology takes four years. To enter a university an applicant has to be a winner in a very serious field specific knowledge competition.

The study of psychology begins from the first year of study. At the end, the graduate obtains a Diploma in psychology. A postgraduate two-year master program has been introduced in the Romanian universities. Master's programs have different focus, such as clinical psychology, industrial/organization, educational, or social psychology.

A Ph.D. program should be accomplished in four years.

Postgraduate advanced courses are offered by universities and, more recently, by psychological associations and societies. These organizations do not need to be nation wide, but they have to be recognized by the Ministry of Education and have the right to issue a license in a specified area.

No information regarding a formal code of ethics for Romanian psychologists

Publications

Revista de psihologie, 1954- , 4/year
Creier, cognitie, comportament, 1997- , 2/year
Revista de Psihoterapie Experientiala, 1998- , 12/year
Psihologia Sociala, 1999- , 4/year
Revista de Psihologie Aplicata, 1998- , 4/year
Revista de Psihologie Organizational, 2001- , 4/year
RPA Journal, 2005, 2/yr, online at www.jurnal.psihologie.net

Updated September 2007