What is Psychology?
Psychology refers to the scientific study of the mind, behaviour, cognition, emotions, and mental processes. The study of psychology helps us understand the complex workings of the human mind and aids behavioural predictions and remediations of psychological ailments of the mind.
Psychology comprises a variety of specialisations and streams, some of which include clinical psychology, developmental psychology, educational psychology, neuropsychology, and counselling psychology.
Undergraduate Psychology Degrees Offered
Candidates aspiring towards a career in Psychology can opt for the following undergraduate degrees-
- Bachelor of Science (BSc)- 3 years
- Bachelor of Arts (BA)- 3 years
- Undergraduate Diploma
- Certificate Courses
Specialisations in Psychology
Specialisations offered in psychology include the following-
- Applied Psychology
- Child Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Development Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Psychology and Behaviour
- Psychology and Economics
- Psychology and English
- Psychology, Sociology, English
- Psychology, Sociology, Economics
- Social Psychology
Eligibility and Requirements for Psychology
Students can enrol in psychology colleges and courses after appearing for entrance exams across the country. The eligibility criteria are as follows-
- Candidates enrolling on psychology courses and entrances must have passed their 10+2 (or equivalent) examinations from a recognised Indian board with a minimum aggregate of 50-55% marks.
- Candidates from any stream (Science/Commerce/Humanities) can apply who had Psychology as a compulsory subject at the 10+2 level.
- Candidates applying for B.Sc. Psychology must have chosen the science stream in their 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Psychology as compulsory subjects.
Admission Procedure for Psychology
The admission procedure for psychology colleges and courses in India is as follows-
- Candidates applying for psychology courses must qualify for the minimum eligibility to apply for admissions/entrance exams. Candidates can apply for the entrance examinations, if applicable, by registering in the online portal and submitting the required documents.
- After appearing for the entrance exams, candidates will be shortlisted based on scores, ranks, and merit lists in the counselling session for the respective colleges/entrances. Some colleges also have group discussions and private interviews (GD/PI) for further screening of candidates.
- In the case of merit-based admissions, candidates will be shortlisted based on their 10+2 examination scores.
- Shortlisted candidates may finalise their admission at the concerned college by paying the fees and submitting the required documents for verification.
Entrance Tests for Psychology Courses
Some of the important entrance tests offering admission into undergraduate psychology courses include the following-
- Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET-UG)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET-PG)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Christ University Entrance Test (CUET)- conducted by Christ University, Bengaluru
- Manipal Entrance Test (MET) conducted by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)
- Banaras Hindu University Undergraduate Entrance Test (BHU UET)- conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Integral University Entrance Test (IUET)- conducted by Integral University, Lucknow
Aptitude for Psychology
Students with an interest in the workings of the human mind will find psychology the ideal study goal for them. Students may gauge their aptitude for psychology with the following criteria:
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills
- Sensitive approach
- Problem-solving skills
- Logical reasoning
- Time management
- Knowledge of the human mind
- Strong observation skills
- Pragmatism
- Emotional Stability
Psychology Subjects
Psychology courses comprise subjects and topics such as-
- Biopsychology
- Stress and Wellbeing
- Physiological Psychology
- Nervous System
- Endocrine System
- Emotional and Social Development
- Human Development Issues
- Psychoanalytic Theory
- Statistical Research Methodologies
- Cultural Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Conflict Resolution
- Organisational Behaviour
- Psychopathological Behaviours
- Personality Development
- Counselling Psychology
- Social Physiology
- Cognitive Processes
- Listening and Communicating
- Psychological Testing Practices
Top Psychology Specialisations for the Future
Psychology has immense potential across numerous streams and disciplines and has diverse prospects. Top psychology specialisations for the future include-
- Abnormal Behavior
- Sports Psychology
- Infancy and Early Childhood Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Counselling Psychology
- Rehabilitation
- Virtual Reality and Artificial Intelligence in Psychology
Post-graduate Study/Research Opportunities in Psychology
After completing their undergraduate degrees, candidates can further their psychology study goals through postgraduate and research degrees.
The eligibility criteria for pursuing postgraduate courses is completing an undergraduate psychology degree in the specialisation/course of choice from a recognised university with a minimum aggregate of 55% marks.
Popular postgraduate degrees in psychology include-
- Master of Science (MSc)- 2 years
- Master of Arts (MA)- 2 years
- Post-graduate Diploma- 9 months to 2 years
- Master of Philosophy (M Phil)- 2 years
- Doctorate of Philosophy (PhD)
Important entrance exams for admission into postgraduate psychology programmes include-
- Common Universities Entrance Test (CUET-PG)- conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Delhi University Entrance Test (DUET-PG)- conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Jawaharlal Nehru University Entrance Examination (JNUEE)- conducted by JNU
- Banaras Hindu University Postgraduate Entrance Test (BHU PET)- conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Christ University Entrance Test (CUET)- conducted by Christ University, Bengaluru
- Manipal Entrance Test (MET) conducted by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE)
Career Prospects/Placements in Psychology
Psychology is a promising study goal and a highly coveted stream in the sciences. Psychology offers several career avenues and job prospects in the public and private sectors. Psychology graduates receive placement offers from prominent and reputed companies visiting their college during campus placement programmes organised by the training and placement cell.
Popular and coveted career prospects in Psychology include the following-
- Psychiatrist
- Child Counsellor
- Sports Counsellor
- Career Counsellor
- Clinical Psychologist
- Rehabilitation Expert
- Research Psychologist
- Forensic Psychologist
- Therapist
- Psychotherapist
- Social Psychologist
- Mediator
- Neuroscientist
- Social Worker
Starting Salaries in Psychology
Starting salaries in psychology range between INR 4 to 5 LPA, and can go as high as 50 LPA for experienced senior technicians.
Subjects Similar to Psychology
Candidates with a propensity for psychology might be interested in similar subjects like-
- Neuroscience
- Social Sciences
- Biology
- Sociology
- Cultural Studies
- Anthropology
- Medical Sciences
- Forensic Science