Psychology is offered as a subject at the Plus Two or equivalent level with
a combination of other social sciences and statistics. At the graduate level,
one can study psychology as an Honors subject in most universities. After graduation,
one can opt for an MA or MSc in Psychology, Social work or Counseling. Specialisations in the subject can be pursued at the post
graduate level or at the doctoral level- M.Phil or Ph.D, after post graduation. At the
master's and doctoral level, education becomes increasingly specialized.
Post graduate courses in psychology are offered only to students who have
graduated with psychology. Post graduate and doctoral degrees in Psychology
puts emphasis on research. If your interest is in practice, i.e helping people
with problems (counseling ) you could opt for Psychology-related graduate
programs such as education and social work
For those who do not wish to put
in too many years of study, there are one year Diploma courses in Special
Education
or Mental Retardation.
Educational :
For Bachelor programme in psychology - 10+2
For Post graduate courses in psychology
- Bachelor degree in psychology
For Ph.D./ M.Phil - PG or Diploma in psychology
Duration
:
Graduation
in psychology is a 3 year programme.
Post graduation is of 2 years duration and during
the course, specialization in a special branch of psychology is possible.
M.Phil or Ph.D. is of 2 year duration.
Personal
Skills : Good communication
skills, patience, ability to work with all
kinds of social/ cultural and age groups are the essential qualities of a
psychologist. They
should have a genuine interest in people, their behaviour and have
empathy for their problems. They have to be sensitive and caring and also have the
ability to understand people of very different backgrounds and upbringing.
Course area
Study
of psychology includes a diverse
range of activities such as the processes of thinking, learning and
perceiving, remembering, forgetting, physiology of the nervous system,
development of children, social relationships and their effect on
personality development, mental disorders, applications of psychology to
the study of society, industry, education etc., techniques of
experimenting and testing, and statistics. There is a wide variety of
topics in the professional study of psychology and some overlapping
occurs between the different specialized branches. Good at science,
math, critical reading and writing.