Psychology Courses In India: Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. Psychologists study a person’s reactions, emotions, and behavior, and apply their understanding of that behavior to treat the associated behavioral problems.
I will discuss with you how to become a Psychologist, what a BA in Psychology is all about, eligibility as well as the admission process. But before we proceed, take note of these points because I will be discussing them with you
What is the BA Psychology Course?
In BA Psychology, students learn mainly about the processing of the human mind and human behavior. They study how humans behave differently in different circumstances while dealing with different sets of people. Based on this, various conclusions are drawn.
The average course fee ranges from INR 20,000 to INR 3,00,000 depending upon the college in which admission is sought. The graduates get job opportunities in hospitals, educational institutes, corporate organizations, etc. The average starting salary for such graduates is something around INR 1.2 to INR 3 Lakhs per annum.
How to Become a Psychologist
The requirements to become a licensed psychologist are:
- Pass the 10+2 exam preferably with Psychology as one of the subjects
- Complete a Bachelor (BA or BS) in Psychology degree (the curriculum of which focuses on “personality development, psychotherapy, stress management, and neuro-psychology”)
- Specialization at the postgraduate level, where one can get an M.A. or M.Sc. in either Psychology, Social Work, or Counseling
- Further specialization at the level is available as well via Ph.D. or M.Phil
The postgraduate and doctoral programs focus their studies more on research, which is great for pursuing either a research or teaching job, whereas the graduate degrees (Bachelors) emphasize practice, such as counseling. To practice Counseling Psychology, you only need to have a BA/BS in Psychology, or a related field (like Education or Social Work).
Graduate (Bachelors’s) degree programs are 3 years long, Postgraduate (Masters) degree programs are 2 years long, and Doctoral (MPhil or Ph.D.) programs are 2 years long (can extend depending on research and studies involved).
Courses After 12th
Here are some of the undergraduate programs, which you may pursue after completing 12th class –
- BA in Psychology
- B.Sc. in Psychology
- BA in Applied Psychology
- Diploma in Psychology
- Diploma in Child Psychology
Courses after Graduation
- MA in Psychology
- MA in Applied Psychology
- MA in Child Psychology
- M.Sc. in Psychology
- MA in Counseling Psychology
- M.Phil. Psychology
- M.Phil. Child Psychology
- PG Diploma in Psychology
- Advanced Diploma in Child Psychology
- Professional Diploma in Counseling Psychology
- PG Certificate in Child Psychology
By pursuing relevant PG courses, Psychology graduates may specialize in areas such as –
- Child Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Educational and Career Psychology
- Industrial Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
Doctoral Degree Courses
Eligibility Criteria
- Undergraduate courses: Passed 12th standard (Arts, Commerce or Science) from a recognized board OR equivalent.
- Postgraduate courses: Completed relevant Bachelor’s Degree course from a recognized College/University.
- Doctoral Degree courses: Completed relevant Master’s Degree course from a recognized College/University.
BA Psychology: Admission Process
Admission to BA degree begins after the results of intermediate exams are declared. The admission process for regular college is generally through a cut off list which is published by the concerned university. The process for admission can be best explained as:
- Universities release Application Form (Online/Offline)
- Cut off Percentage/CGPA Announcement
- Admission Formalities begin
Universities offering undergraduate courses, ideally, announce the beginning of the application process in May and June. After the first phase is over where interested candidates fill the application forms, universities announce cut-offs required for admission to the program.
There are other universities like Banaras Hindu University, which apart from a certain weightage to marks scored in 10+2, also conduct entrance tests for admission to the BA Psychology program.
Duration
- Bachelor’s Degree courses: 3 years long.
- Master’s Degree courses: 2 years long.
- PG Diploma courses: 1-2 years long.
- PG Certificate courses: 6-12 months long.
Job Prospects for a Psychologist
Aspirants who have completed their training in psychology can make their mark and pursue a career as a psychologist in the following lucrative branches of psychology.
Clinical Psychology
assess and treat people with psychological problems. They may act as therapists for people who are experiencing normal psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders.
Some clinical psychologists are generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while others work with specific groups such as children, the elderly, or those with specific disorders
Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychologists do many of the same things that clinical psychologists do. However, counseling psychologists tend to focus more on persons with adjustment problems rather than on persons suffering from severe psychological disorders.
They may be trained in psychology departments or education departments. Counseling psychologists are employed in academic settings, college counseling centers, community mental health centers.
Health Psychology
Health psychologists are concerned with psychology’s contributions to the promotion and maintenance of good health and the prevention and treatment of illness.
They may design and conduct programs to help individuals stop smoking, lose weight, shed alcoholism, manage stress, and stay physically fit. They are employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, academic settings, and private practice.
Teaching and Research
If you’re interested in teaching undergraduate, masters-level, or doctoral-level students, you will probably work in a university setting, where you will probably also do research.
If an individual is not interested in teaching and wants to focus on research, he/she can work for government agencies (for example, the Center for Disease Control) or private research organizations. To work as a psychologist in these settings, one would need a Ph.D. in psychology.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
I/O psychologists (as they are usually called) are concerned with the relationships between people and their work environments. They may develop new ways to increase workplace productivity or be involved in personnel selection. They are employed in business, government agencies, factories, industrial set-ups, corporate houses, and academic establishments.
Sports Psychology
Sports psychologists are concerned with the psychological factors that improve athletic performance. They also look at the effects of exercise and physical activity on psychological adjustment and health. Sports psychologists typically work in academic settings and/or as consultants for sports teams.
Jain University, Bangalore & Amity School of Physical Education & Sports Sciences offers a Postgraduate Diploma in Sports Psychology
Agency/Community Counseling
Graduate programs in agency or community counseling train you to provide counseling services in human service agencies in the local community–for example, in community mental health centers. They may also train you to administer a limited number of psychological tests (vocational interest tests, for example).
The work is similar to that done by a person with a master’s or doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology, psychotherapy, and, perhaps, limited psychological testing.
Educational Psychology
Educational psychologists attempt to understand the basic aspects of human learning and to develop materials and strategies for enhancing the learning process. For example, an educational psychologist might study reading and then develop a new technique for teaching reading. Educational psychologists are typically trained in departments of education (known as departments of psychology) and employed in colleges and universities.
School Counseling
School counselors work with troubled children, helping such children function more effectively with their peers and teachers, deal with family problems, etc. They work at the elementary, middle, and high school levels.
School Psychology
School psychologists do a lot of testing–mostly of children who are encountering difficulties in school–to try to diagnose the problem and, sometimes, to suggest ways of dealing with the problem. School psychologists are typically trained in departments of education (vs. departments of psychology) and work in public school systems.
Social Work
Another career option to consider if you’re interested in counseling is social work. As is true with other disciplines, there are a variety of allied fields in social work. Social workers who practice psychotherapy are usually called either clinical social workers or psychiatric social workers.
Clinical social workers are trained to diagnose and treat psychological problems. Psychiatric social workers provide services to individuals, married couples, families, and small groups.
They work in mental health centers, counseling centers, sheltered workshops, hospitals, and schools. They may also have their private practice.
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StudentsandScholarship Team.
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