The existence and future development of the Faculty of Psychology of Binus are determined by international and national dimensions. At the Faculty of Psychology of Binus, the two dimensions have been translated into a vision, missions, a list of graduate competencies and a set of curriculum as explained below.

International/global dimension

Time Higher Educational Rank has categorized all courses into five groups of subjects. Psychology constitutes assumingly one of the courses under the group of art and humanities. Time Higher Educational Rank does, however, not provide a clear, specific description of the ranking of the faculties of psychology. Nevertheless, Japan and China (including Hong Kong) appear the most dominant nations listed for having the best universities throughout Asia. Indonesia only appears only on the 18th (Universitas Indonesia) and 19th rank (Universitas Gadjah Mada).

As a discipline strongly influenced by the Western outlook, the Faculty of Psychology of Binus puts the American Psychological Association (APA) on its cornerstone. As reflected by the name, the APA’s area of juridiction is actually limited to the US. However, departing from the fact that the APA is the most established institution of psychology at international level, the discipline of psychology in Indonesia—including the Faculty of Psychology of Binus—therefore still views the APA as its main reference.

One of the initiatives taken by the APA in order for the international community of psychology to step into the 21st century is the establishment of a task force especially mandated to produce a document which later guides the development of the undergraduate level of the faculty of psychology. The document is utilized for the purpose of designing the curricula as well as keeping the academic process on the right track.

The document, named the Undergraduate Psychology Major Learning Goals and Outcomes, mentions ten areas which should be taken into account to create a representative academic institution of psychology. The ten areas are grouped into two core categories.

The first category is knowledge, skill and set of values which are consistent with the science and application of psychology. The second category is knowledge, skill and set of values which are in line with the liberal arts education under which psychology exists.

The first category includes:

  1. Basic knowledge of psychology
  2. Research methodology of psychology
  3. Critical thinking skill in psychology
  4. Application of psychology
  5. Set of values in psychology

The second category covers:

  1. IT-related skill
  2. Communication skill
  3. Awareness of socio-cultural and international milieu
  4. Personal development
  5. Career plan and development

By incorporating the ten points above into its activities, one can expect that the Faculty of Psychology of Binus will accelerate its development to meet the agenda of “becoming the real dept of psychology” as well as cope with the external factor in form of “benchmarking itself to major international faculty of psychology”.

Without neglecting the importance of the APA’s document, the Faculty of Psychology of Binus is fully aware of the uniqueness and significant influence of the Eastern World. The Faculty believes, the Faculty should move forward as guided by the APA and simultaneously adjust itself to the regional dynamics in among developing countries.

Abramson and Bartoszeck (2006) are noted as two contemporary psychology scientists who put a specific framework on the development of the psychology in developing countries. By adopting their view, aimed at catapulting the Faculty of Psychology of Binus to the international level without pulled off from its socio-cultural values, the Faculty sees four pillars which need to be managed properly.

First, how the Faculty of Psychology of Binus is able to equip its students with several skills which cannot be obtained from other disciplines.

Second, how the knowledge and skill learned by the students are enable them to enter the career world.

Third, in broader scale, how the Faculty of Psychology of Binus can contribute to provide alternatives of solutions to the societal problems.

Forth, how to ensure the research can be utilized as much as possible by especially, but not limited to, the urban community.

National dimension

The Indonesian Colloquium of Psychology has become the top national forum from which the decisions will be followed by all faculty and department psychology.

The 20th Colloquium defined one general competency and five specific competencies. Besides stressing the level A and B, all competencies put emphasis on the use of information technology and the importance of socio-cultural sensitivity among groups of individual and society.

The previous Colloquium had also stated that each faculty/department of psychology had a broad opportunity to develop its own competency for its students as the differentiating modality in the market.

University dimension

Throughout Indonesia, at the present moment there are 83 universities conducting the faculty of psychology, consisting of 11 faculties under the so-called state universities and 72 under the so-called private universities.

Introduction

As long as humans exist, the discipline of psychology can be applied to broad-ranging aspects of life. Equipped with a good understanding of basic theories of psychology, individuals may be expected to work in a variety of milieus. Traditional wise, psychology focuses ‘only’ on the study of normal and abnormal human functioning as well as provides treatment to patients with mental and behavioural problems. Without leaving its traditional root, psychology nowadays has also touched on more practical areas, including the mental function of healthy individuals such as athletes, space explorers, stage performers, and employees, and even the effect on the interaction between humans and computers. Department of Psychology offers an undergraduate (Sarjana) degree program. According to the existing National Regulation, the undergraduate psychology curriculum focuses on the basic scientific knowledge of human behaviour and mental process alongside the basic skill to design and conduct a psychological intervention. Par excellence, at BINUS UNIVERSITY, students of Psychology will be strengthened by the understanding of urban communities’ life and the use of technology to improve human performance, as the exclusive advantages to contributing to their working community.

Catalog 2016 (PDF), Catalog 2017 (PDF), Catalog 2018 (PDF), Catalog 2019 (PDF), Catalog 2020 (PDF), Catalog 2021 (PDF).

Vision

To become a center of excellence for digital psychology that fosters and empowers the community through the integration of caturdharma to democratize the use of technology to improve human dignity and well-being in the local to global scope.

Mission

The mission of the Department of Psychology is to contribute to the society by organizing a digital psychology center through:

  1. Educating BINUSIAN from various backgrounds with knowledge, skills, and attitudes in the field of psychology supported by the latest technology, to prepare them for the world of careers and / or continue their education in psychology or other disciplines.
  2. Intensifying the ethos of data-based research to contribute positively in solutions to improve human dignity and well-being, both at local and global levels.
  3. Fostering BINUSIAN to become lifelong learners through critical and measurable self-enrichment activities.
  4. Developing and recognizing all BINUSIANs’ talents to be involved in improving human dignity and welfare by prioritizing justice, equity, and a sustainable community.
  5. Enriching the BINUS Higher Education system based on a humanist perspective.

Program Objectives

The objectives of the program are:

  1. Making graduates competent in data-based studies & methodologies regarding human behavior and mental processes and their strategic application for improving community welfare at the local-global level.
  2. Making graduates ready for a career and/or continuing education in psychology or other fields of science, by having qualified skills in the use of the latest technology.
  3. To enable graduates to develop solution-based and responsible behavior, both ethically and socially, in a professional and personal sphere by embracing diversity.

Student Outcomes

After completing the study, graduates are:

  1. Able to use scientific reasoning based on an understanding of basic concepts and psychological theories, in order to describe and analyze psychological phenomena at the individual, group, organizational, and community levels.
  2. Able to conduct critical scientific research, including developing psychological assessment instruments, to explain psychological phenomena using the latest information and communication technology (ICT).
  3. Able to ethically conduct data-driven/data-driven psychological interventions for urban
    communities.
  4. Able to plan self and career development in preparation for the challenges of the global world.
  5. Able to carry out psychological interventions as a solution for urban communities in accordance with the context of the applied areas.
  6. Able to apply interdisciplinary knowledge and skills in developing alternative solutions for problem-solving.

Prospective Career of the Graduates

After finishing the study, the graduates have an ideal foundation to enter many career opportunities, such as in:

  1. Human Resource, Educational or Community Development Personnel
  2. Assistant Psychologist
  3. Consultant in various areas of psychology, such as education and human performance
  4. Junior Researcher
  5. Counselor
  6. Writer/Content-Creator/Influencer
  7. Entrepreneur/Start-Up Developer