Presentation
The history
The field of psychological sciences has experienced significant development in Italy over the last thirty years, alongside advancements in both basic and applied research. Although psychological research and education are informed by various disciplines and research fields—ranging from biology and medicine to the human and social sciences, from philosophy and the humanities to computer science and cognitive engineering—psychology has achieved conceptual and methodological autonomy, which has directly influenced its institutional status.
A brief historical overview reveals key developmental milestones. In the 1980s, several factors—such as the growing demand for psychology education, the need to define specialized research and application areas, and the solidified theoretical and methodological autonomy from other sciences—led to two major institutional breakthroughs: in 1989, the Ossicini Law regulating the psychology profession (establishing a professional register and governing body) was passed, and in 1991, the first Faculty of Psychology was established at the University of Rome "La Sapienza."
In the past decade, psychology education and research have increasingly been entrusted to independent Faculties of Psychology, established at various institutions across the country. Demand for psychology education has continued to grow, with exponential increases in enrollment at certain universities, such as the University of Florence. The scientific output of Italian professors and researchers has achieved international standards, with a growing number of publications by Italian authors in high-impact international psychology journals.
Florence holds particular importance in the history of psychology in Italy, as it was in this city that one of the first Experimental Psychology Laboratories was founded in 1903. Florence also benefited from the contributions of distinguished psychologists—such as Francesco De Sarlo, Enzo Bonaventura, and Alberto Marzi—who made significant scientific contributions throughout the history of the Laboratory, and later the Institute, and then the Department of Psychology.
Despite these promising beginnings, the establishment of an independent Degree Program in Psychology occurred only in 1992-93, within the Faculty of Education, which later became the Faculty of Education Sciences. Once instituted, the Degree Program in Psychology at the University of Florence saw rapid and substantial growth, unleashing previously untapped potential and establishing a notable reputation both nationally and internationally.
The Degree Program in Psychology (currently referred to as the "Old System") initially comprised a five-year structure, divided into a two-year foundational phase followed by three years focusing on four specific tracks (briefly: Developmental, Work, General, and Clinical). In the 2001-2002 academic year, following the university reform enacted by Ministerial Decree 509/1999 concerning academic frameworks, degree programs transitioned to a 3 + 2 model—consisting of a three-year undergraduate program followed by a two-year specialized master's program. In psychology, this structure aligned with the Class 34 (three-year programs, Psychological Sciences and Techniques) and Class 58/S (Specialist Degree in Psychology) categories. In response to stakeholder input, the academic framework was restructured to include four undergraduate degrees under Class 34 and four specialist degrees under Class 58/S, thereby addressing the increasingly diverse and specific educational needs of a rapidly expanding student body.
The increasing recognition of the quality of education offered under Class 34 (with 1,720 new enrollments in 2001-02 and over 2,000 in 2002-03) and the university's acknowledgment of psychology’s unique scientific, methodological, and educational qualities were among the factors that led to the establishment of the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Florence in the 2002-2003 academic year. In this context of growth and complexity, Florence has proven to be a significant attraction for Italian students.
In the 2008-2009 academic year, following further reform under Ministerial Decree 270/2004, the four undergraduate programs under Class 34 were consolidated into a single program within Class L-24 (Bachelor's Degree in Psychological Sciences and Techniques), and the four specialist degrees under Class 58/S were merged into a single master's degree program in Class LM-51 (Master’s Degree in Psychology), each divided into four tracks.
To align the educational frameworks of the Bachelor's program in Class L-24 (Psychological Sciences and Techniques) and the Master’s program in Psychology (Class LM-51) with Ministerial Decree 17/2010, a series of changes were implemented, effective from the 2011-2012 academic year.
Starting in the 2014-2015 academic year, two new Master’s Degree programs in Class LM-51 were introduced: one in Clinical and Health Psychology and Neuropsychology, and another in Life Cycle Psychology and Contexts, replacing the previous Master’s program in Psychology.
In 2013, in compliance with Law 240/2010, the Faculty of Psychology was dissolved, and the School of Psychology was established, responsible for coordinating educational activities within the Bachelor's Degree in Psychological Sciences and Techniques and the Master’s Degree in Psychology of Life Cycle and Contexts.
The School of Psychology is responsible for overseeing admissions, ongoing and exit counseling, administering entrance and preparatory exams, managing additional academic requirements, coordinating and supporting annual educational planning, and facilitating international mobility for students and faculty.
The School of Psychology is composed of the following Departments:
Last update
09.01.2025