Bachelor of Psychology | Subjects & career prospects

Is a Bachelor of Psychology a good degree? Find out for yourself 

Explained as the study of the mind & behavior, Psychology is the active pursuit of learning and understanding the various mental processes, the functions of the brain, and its behavior. As mental health is gaining acceptance and traction in India as well as across the globe. Psychology presents itself as a highly lucrative and in-demand skill. Usually confused with the practice of Psychiatry, Psychology is a different field that provides a wide array of “talk therapies.” Psychologists are trained to provide psychological diagnosis and counseling/therapy. Meanwhile, Psychiatrists treat conditions rooted in biology and provide diagnoses and prescribe medications to patients. Let’s dive deeper into the Bachelor of Psychology courses available to aspirants.

Bachelors of Arts in Psychology (BA Psych.)

A three-year course designed for aspirants who wish to explore the complexities and mysteries that lie in human behavior. 

A few of the subjects explored in BA Psychology are as follows

• Basics of Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Industrial Psychology
• Psychopathology

These students are trained in the following

• Researching extensively on the patterns of human behavior 
• Diagnosing mental ailments and administering the correct measures to alleviate the condition faced
• Long-term counseling for individuals undergoing chronic illnesses such as anxiety

Career Opportunities post BA Psychology

• Counselor
• Clinical Psychologist
• Art Therapist
• Teaching
• Media & Advertising

Top Universities to Pursue BA Psychology

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• University of Oxford
• University of Cambridge
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Los Angeles
• Yale University
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• UCL, London

Bachelor of Science in Psychology (B.Sc Psychology)

The major difference between B.Sc Psychology and its BA counterpart lies in the coursework and syllabus. While BA in Psychology is more oriented towards liberal arts, B.Sc is more inclined towards technical and scientific aspects of the domain. 

B.Sc psychology is more suited for individuals who wish to enter the medical profession full-time.

Subjects covered under B.Sc Psychology

• Community Psychology
• Statistics in Psychology
• Organizational Behavior 
• Foundations of Human Behavior
• Biopsychology
• Psychological Approaches to the Environment

Top Universities to pursue B.Sc Psychology

• University of Cambridge, UK.
• Stanford University, US.
• Princeton University, US.
• Harvard University, US.
• University of California, Berkeley (UCB), US.
• University College London (UCL), UK.
• University of Chicago, US.
• Yale University, US.

Career Opportunities 

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you can pursue a wide range of innovative and creative occupations in psychology. Students typically opt to major in psychology for one of two reasons: either they want to advance in the profession or they want a solid educational foundation that will enable them to comprehend human behaviour and cognitive processes in order to pursue careers in business, sales, etc.

Post pursuing B.Sc Psychology, individuals can be employed as

• Child Care Workers
• Research Assistants
• Educators
• Career Counselors
• Family Counselors

Moving ahead, the domain of Psychology is bound to explode in terms of the opportunities on offer. With people becoming more receptive and aware of mental health problems, Psychology is becoming a more in-demand skill. Still a field of study in its nascent stages, Psychology offers excellent opportunities in a research-oriented context and provides individuals with the ability to perform breakthrough work in the area.

Employment trends indicate that job openings will increase multi-fold over the next decade in the field of Psychology. 

Scope in other domains 

Utilizing a BA in psychology in other professional domains need not be as challenging as one may believe. A solid understanding of human motivation and behavior can serve as the basis for a variety of meaningful careers. Indeed, HR specialists concur that applicants with a BA in psychology are highly sought after in the hiring process for a number of professions as well as great candidates for a career in the HR division itself. We had the chance to chat with one of the most well-known HR experts in the world on how businesses evaluate applicants with a BA in Psychology and how the HR field itself can make a good career choice.

Key takeaways

• A highly lucrative field of work, Psychology is now gaining global acceptance and would need enough qualified and practicing Psychologists to cater to the growing needs of individuals.
• BA Psychology is a liberal arts course that allows individuals to learn about Psychology and become practicing Psychologists, among other professions.
• BSc Psychology is a more technical course that emphasizes clinical and research-oriented work.

Did you find this blog insightful? Kindly drop your thoughts in the comments, and do let us know what you would like to read about next!

Liked this blog? Read next: The key factors and applications of equine psychology

FAQs

Q1. Are Psychologists equivalent to Doctors?

Answer: Unlike Doctors, Psychologists do not have medical training and are hence not called doctors. Though most Psychologists pursue Doctorates in the field, and therefore assume the title of Doctor.

Q2. Can Psychologists prescribe medicines?

Answer: No, unlike Psychiatrists and Doctors, Psychologists do not prescribe medicines to individuals. Psychology is more inclined towards being a social science that deals with “talk therapies.”

Q3. Which colleges offer the most acclaimed Psychology programs in the world?

Answer: Harvard University, the University of Oxford, and the University of British Columbia offer some of the acclaimed programs in Psychology.