Introduction
Cambodia's recent traumatic history of war, political tension, natural disaster and rapid economic change has resulted in a large number of people requiring psychological assistance. As a result, there is a great demand for people trained in psychology in both rural and city areas.
The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree provides solid training in psychology for individuals who wish to alleviate the many social and mental problems prevalent in Cambodia. Graduates find work as counselors at mental health and community clinics, schools, rehabilitation centers, and non-government organizations. They also work for the government in areas such as the Ministry of Women's Affairs or Social Affairs. Some graduates continue their studies at the National Institute of Education and become teachers.
Background
The Department of Psychology was established in 1980 as a combined Psychology and Teacher-Training unit under the name of Faculty of Psycho-Pedagogy. From 1994, a psychology-specific degree was inaugurated, in keeping with international standards. Students who wished to become teachers at the end of their degree studied for an extra year at the National Institute in Education.
The Department of Psychology has developed links with many international and non-government organizations. The curriculum has been developed with the assistance of Monash University, Australia. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) also assists by offering funds for graduate work in Siem Reap. The Department has also developed practical links with many non-government organizations in Cambodia. These organizations offer practicum and work placements to students and graduates, and provide guest lecturers to the department. These organizations include:
- Transcultural Psychosocial Organization (TPO);
- World Vision Cambodia;
- Center for Child and Adolescent Mental Health (CCAMH);
- Agir pour les Femmes en Situation Précaire (AFESIP);
- Social Services of Cambodia (SSC);
- Cambodian Women's Crisis Center (CWCC);
- Preah Sihanouk Mental Health Clinic;
- Phsar Doeum Thkov Psychological Rehabilitation Center;
- Pour un Sourire d' Enfants (PSE);
- Cambodian Health Committee (CHC);
- Maddox Chivan Children's Center;
- Jane Lopacka Counseling and Mediation Services;
- Maryknoll Organization;
- Jeannine's Children's Association (JCA);
- ADRA Organization;
- Cornerstone Orphanage Cambodia (COC);
- Cambodian HIV/AIDS Education and Care (CHEC);
- Medecins du Monde (MDM);
- Palm Tree Foundation Organization;
- Save the Children Australia (SCA);
- Italian Association for Aid to Children (CIAI);
- Trauma Recovery Project;
- Hope and Peace ADP;
- Mercy Teams International Cambodia;
- The Cambodia Center for Protection of Children's Rights (CCPCR);
- Working Group for Weapons Reduction (WGWR);
- Bhrahmavihara Organization;
- Social Business Khmer (SBK);
- CRC (Children's House); and
- Friends Organization (Mith Samlanh).
Admission
Admission to the degree of Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) is administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, based on sound results in the High School Certificate subjects of Mathematics and Biology.
Assessment
Students are assessed by regular class-based and formal examinations. The final exam at the end of each subject is worth 50% of the assessment grade. In year four, top-ranking students are offered the opportunity to write a thesis on a subject of particular interest, and take a free elective course, instead of attending regular classes and sitting final exams. Students are required to maintain a high level of attendance and participation.
Curriculum
*Explanation: The code a(b-c) indicates the study load and number of credits. In this example: 'a'= number of credits, 'b' = number of lecture hours, and 'c' = number of tutorial or practical hours.
*Note: English language, run by ELSU, runs on a variable course code system, ENG001- ENG 412 depending on students' skill level.
Total Minimum Requirements: 132 Credits
Contact Info
Head of Department:
Mr Phan ChanPeou
Tel: (855) 12 603 017
Email: chanphan2002(at)yahoo.com
Office: Room 310, Building A
Our Team
Asst. Prof. PHAN Chanpeou
Head of Department
M.A. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2010; M.A. in Educational Management from the Khemarak University, Cambodia, 2007; B.A. in Psychology from RUPP, Cambodia, 1998; B.A+1 in Psycho-pedagogy from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Cambodia, 1999.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Physio-psychology, Gender-Social Psychology, Case management and Psychopathology (Clinical Psychologist & Counselor), and Research on Mental Health.
Employment Date: October 10, 1999.
Mr. CHHUON Tray
Deputy Head of Department
M.A. in Educational Management from the Khemarak University, Cambodia, 2010; B.Ed. in Psycho-pedagogy from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 1990.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Educational Psychology and Psychology of Management.
Employment Date: September 12, 1989.
Mr. SRUN Hour
Department Member
M.A. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2011; B.Ed. in Psycho-pedagogy from RUPP, Cambodia, 1990.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Evidence-based practices in Counselling and Psychotherapy with different approaches: Psychodynamic, Existential-humanistic and CBT.
Employment Date: September 12, 1989.
Assoc. Prof. KHANN Sareth
Department Member
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), Vietnam, 2021; M.A. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2010; M.A. in Development Management from the Norton University (NU), Cambodia, 2007; B.A. in Psychology from RUPP, Cambodia, 1998; B.A+1 in Psycho-pedagogy from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Cambodia, 1999.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Training and Research projects on Mental Health Issues among Cambodian Young Adults by focusing on Cultural Specific Syndromes, Depression, Anxiety, PTSD, and Functional Impairment.
Employment Date: October 10, 1999.
Dr. RET Thearom
Department Member
Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Laboratoire de Psychologie Sociale (UR 849) of the Aix-Marseille University (AMU), France, 2021; M.A. in Child and Adolescent Developmental Psychology from the University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail (UTM), France, 2010; B.A. in Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2009.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Impact of urban environments mental health and combining elements of social and environmental psychology to examine urban norms.
Employment Date: March 01, 2011.
Asst. Prof. HENG Chhorvon
Department Member
M.A. in Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development from the University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail (UTM), France, 2011; B.A. in Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2010.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Research in the field of Personality and Youth Issues.
Employment Date: June 01, 2012.
Assoc. Prof. EAN Nil
Department Member
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU), Vietnam, 2021; M.A. in Clinical and Counseling Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2010; B.A. in Psychology RUPP, Cambodia, 2002.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Psychological Trauma, Trauma-Related Mental Health Disorders, Substance Use Disorders, and Trauma Therapy.
Employment Date: December 12, 2012
Assoc. Prof. KAO Sovandara
Department Member
Ph.D. in Education Science at Asia Europe University, Cambodia; M.A. in Clinical Psychology and Trauma Treatment from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2013; B.A. in Psychology from RUPP, Cambodia, 2010.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Youth Positive Development Family Therapy, Cognitive Psychology, and Child Development.
Employment Date: January 01, 2014
Mrs. NHONG Hema
Contractual Staff
M.A. in Counseling from the Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines, 2004; B.Ed. in Psycho-pedagogy from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), 1987.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Psychological Trauma, Family Therapy, Cognitive Psychology, and Theories of Personality.
Employment Date: 1982
Mrs. SEK Sisokhom
Contractual Staff
Diploma in Monitoring and Evaluation in Public Health Program Implementation from the East-West Center, USA, 2003; Postgraduate diploma in Applied Computer in Education System from the Free University of Brussels (ULB), Belgium, 1996; M.Ed. in Education from the Sofia University, Bulgaria, 1987; B.Ed. in Education from the Sofia University, Bulgaria, 1985.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Experimental Psychology, Research on Reproductive Health, Rights and Gender Equality, and Monitoring and Evaluation.
Employment Date: October 01, 1987.
Mr. SOMCHAN Sovandara
Contractual Staff
M.B.A. from the Preston University, USA, 2004; B.Ed. in Psycho-pedagogy from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 1989. Higher Education Diploma from the National Institute of Education (NIE), Cambodia, 1991.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Research in the field of Cross-Cultural Psychology.
Employment Date: September 12, 1989
Mr. LOR Monirith
Contractual Staff
M.A. in Social Psychology from the Saint Petersburg University (SPBU), Russia, 1989; B.A. in Psychology from SPBU, Russia, 1987.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Social Psychology and Research on Sexual Health and Gender Inequality (Trafficking and Violence against Children and Women).
M.A. (Developmental Psychology), Saint Petersurg University, Russia, 1989.
Employment Date: January 10, 1990.
Dr. OP Vanna
Contractual Staff
Ph.D. in Developmental Psychology from the University of Toulouse – Jean Jaurès, France, 2017; M.A. in Psychology of Child and Adolescent Development from the University of Toulouse II-Le Mirail (UTM), France, 2008; B.A. in Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodia, 2007.
Research Interests / Areas of Expertise: Psychoanalysis, Conflicts, Coping, Psychological Resilience, Children and Adolescent Development, Emotions and Pro-Environmental Behavior, and Media Psychology.
Employment Date: March 01, 2011.
Mr. YEUN Channith
Contractual Staff
M.A. in Clinical and Counselling Psychology at the Royal University; B.A. in Psychology from the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP), Cambodian, 2018.
Employment Date: Department Assistant since 2017.
Miss. Khorn Socheata
Volunteer
M.A. in Clinical and Counselling Psychology (2026) at Royal University ; B.A. in Psychology (2022) from Royal University of Phnom Penh.
Employment Date: October 02, 2023
Contact Details
Address
Asst. Prof. PHAN Chanpeou, Head of Department Office: Room 310, Building A, RUPP Russian Federation Blvd, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
