With theoretical knowledge and practical training in basic/ applied research, students can serve as consultants to communities and organizations. Why people do the things they do is an age-old question. Psychology is the study that aims to answer this question by studying the human mind and behavior using careful observation, experimentation, and analysis.
Besides just being scientific, Psychologists also need to be creative in the way they apply scientific findings. They are innovators, evolving new approaches to meet the changing needs of people, organizations, and societies.
Psychology degree program exposes you to the tremendously varied field of Psychology. It equips you with the theoretical knowledge and practical training to conduct both basic and applied research, serve as consultants to communities and organizations and diagnose and treat people. You will gain insight into the human mind and their behavior, enabling you to explore the processes involved in normal and abnormal thoughts, feelings and actions.
Psychology is one of the most popular subjects to study at degree level. This is important if you want to pursue a career as a practicing psychologist with chartered status. Courses can focus on scientific research and/or applied psychology. Many course providers will, therefore, offer research facilities for studying perception, developmental psychology, cognition, and behavioral neuroscience, as well as for the applied side, such as studying neurorehabilitation, education, and health.
Major Fields of Study Include:
Clinical Psychology
This study focuses on assessing and treating mental, emotional and behavioral disorders.
Counseling Psychology
Learn how to help people accommodate to change and deal with problems in their everyday lives using various techniques.
Development Psychology
This study focuses on the physiological, cognitive and social development of human beings throughout their lives, and also developmental disabilities and their effects on the individual.
Educational Psychology
This study involves learning effective teaching and learning methods to influence a student’s motivation and classroom behavior.
Experimental Psychology
This study focuses on the behavior processes of human beings and animals. Prominent areas of study include motivation, learning, attention, sensory and perceptual process, substance abuse and its effects, cognition, as well as genetic and neurological factors affecting human behavior.
Forensic Psychology
This study focuses on psychological principles applied to legal issues.
Industrial/Organisational Psychology
This study focuses on principles and research methods applied to the workplace to improve productivity and quality of work.
School Psychology
This study involves classroom management strategies and skills, parenting skills, how to deal with substance abuse, students with disabilities and gifted students.
Social Psychology
This study focuses on how a person’s mental life and behavior is shaped by interaction with other people.
Sports Psychology
This study will enable you to help athletes to focus on goals, motivation and dealing with the fear of failure in competition.
Requirements for a study in the field of Psychology -related degree, you will usually need an HSC minimum GPA 3.5 or A levels – While you don’t need to have all three sciences at A level for a psychology degree, most universities prefer at least one out of chemistry, physics, biology, or maths.
Key areas of Employment
There are some professional careers requiring or directly relevant to, studying psychology. Some of these require postgraduate-level qualifications, so you will need to consider further study after getting your degree.
Clinical psychologist
Counseling psychologist
Educational psychologist
Forensic psychologist
Further education teacher
Health psychologist
High-intensity therapist
Occupational psychologist
Primary care graduate mental health worker
Psychological wellbeing practitioner
Sport and exercise psychologist
Note: If you are interested in becoming a psychiatrist, you need to qualify as a doctor/medical degree, and then go on to train in psychiatry.
Related Careers
A psychology degree would be useful in the following careers:
Advice worker
Careers adviser
Counselor
Detective
Human resources officer
Market researcher
Play therapist
Psychotherapist
Mental health nurse
