Psych query (1 Viewer)

[SkyScout]

Heys everyone... I am curentlly a Year 12 student probably intending to do a Bachelors of Commerce/Science next year at UNSW. I am just wondering can someone give their opinions about the Psychology major in the Science program? Like what isit about? Isit assessments of more assingments based? Is it HARD WORK!!?? lols... and wat are the career prospects from then on? Do you have to get accredited by a professional body..?

Sorry for the overload of questions... but any feedbacks would be greatly appreciated... Thank you!!!

N isit hard to transfer from a Bachelors of Commerce program to a Bachelors of Comm/Science program?

 

[bubble]

Im doing a Bachelor of Advanced Science majoring in Psych.

- Its about psych (obviously) but first year is pretty varied, you get a taste of all the different types of psych from Developmental, Abnormal, Memory, Perception etc etc.
- I find it really interesting, and i enjoy it alot more than most of my other subjects.
- Its really varied - there are ALOT of assessments (1 a week im averaging) some are big and some are little, some tests but mostly assignments and a final exam.
- it has lots of career prospects - if you wanna be a psychologist you have do a Masters or PHD or work under supervision for 2 years to become registered as a psychologist. Else you can work in business, pretty much anywhere.
- Its not hard to transfer from Commerce to Commerce/Science -if i remember you acutally get asked again if you want to do a double degree once your accepted into the commerce degree. If you get into commerce, then its easy to take on a double degree.


Wow that was an essay - Hope that helps

 

[SkyScout]

Hyes bubble thanx for the info...

So after Psychology.... you can further speacialise even further? like in perception, development etc? which is wat you do in 2nd year? or 2nd semester i presume?

so its more assingment based rather than exams based? I hope so caus I LOVE assingments but hate exams! not my specialty...

So in terms of working in a business I would most probably be the HR person right? and that doesn't require any Masters or PHD does it?

And is Psych a hardcore major? Like do you require lots of study time? Its probably lots of theory and analysis etc isint?

thanx lots for all your help... just wanted an insight to psych from a student itself...

 

[Rekkusu]

I may be wrong in this, but whenever you choose any degree which has "science" in it, you will most likely be looking at a Research career. Of course you will still attain a title of "Doctor" .

If you're into becoming a Psychology researcher, then you may choose any degree which has "science" in it i.e. B Com/B Sci, B Adv Sci, B sci, and major within Psychology.

If you're looking for a career as a Psychologist i.e. Helping/diagnosing patients, etc, then you should opt for Bachelor of Psychology. [Which roughly has a UAI of 98+ each year. Not sure if you need a UMAT, I think you do.

Completing a major of Psychology within the science program does not accredit you to becoming a Psychologist. In fact I think you don't get recognised by the board. Hence the big UAI difference between Bachelor of Adv Science (2005 UAI: 88), and Bachelor of Psychology

 

[SkyScout]

Yeah... thing is im interested in the PHD in Psych as i wana do both research and lecture... however it takes awhile to obviously get there... Hence that is why I am doing a combo with Commerce. This allows me to work somewhere in the Commerce line as i reach my goal slowly byt studying but still having some sort of income to support me.

Yeah I was looking at the Bachelors of Psych and BAcherlors of Adv. Science, unfortunately I can't make any double degrees with this degrees that I am interested in. Hence, that is why I am doing a psych degree and yeah it is hard work thats rite rekkusu, u have to do honours/masters and then a PHD to finally get accredited... but i think its highly unlikely for me to become a diagnostic psychologist...

thanx for both your advises Rekkusu and Bubbles...

Im sure Ill have more later... AFTER the HSC though... hehe ttyl laters...

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Hey, I'm doing an education degree which happens to have a heavy first year influence from psychology. So even though my experience is limited compared to someone who did a psych major/degree in first year, I think I could still, iuno, be of help.

The subject matter is indeed absurdly interesting. Edpsych 1, which dealt with memory modules in the brain and how students actually learn, and how they cognitively develop, whilst very brief was perhaps up there in my favourite topics at uni so far (after evolutionary bio and organic chemistry). It was well administered, it was fantastically taught (brilliant lecturers all around) and the whole thing was just really excellent. If the normal psych courses are anything like that, it'd be an awesome degree for sure.

Is it hard work? No. I find ed psych to be pretty bludgey in first term because everything was so interesting that nothing was a challenge. So long as you paid attention, everything was easy and extremely interesting. I went into uni not wanting to do anything like this, then found out that I had to and it became one of my favourites. I went into that course wanting nothing to do with psychology, and ended up coming out 4 marks below HD (damn exam). This term, we had a bit of a...not so great lecturer so the subject matter became a little less interesting, and hence the subject became somewhat harder due to lack of interest. The point? It's a very interesting subject none the less, and I think anyone that does it will enjoy it, providing it's like edpsych.

Yep.

 

[SkyScout]

Aihs I can see what you mean... I can't wait for PSych !! lols... I know it is very interesting... I enjoy analysing you konw characters and behavoiur... but i realise waht you meant by if you enjoy the subject, its a breeze... I do chem n physics in year 12, and i absolutely love chem caus 1) the teacher is awesome and 2) i love the subject and i jsut breeze through it there is no hardwork involved... however in phy... its always a drag to study and to get thigns done! lols...

So you're doing a science/educaiton degree?

Thanx for your opinions... it is well valued...

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Science/education indeed. Sadly, things look to move away from the psychology type field in second year and onward to focusing more on the classroom and classroom psychology/behaviour. Like, learning difficulties and stress and anxiety in teachers.

 

[SkyScout]

Nebuchanezzar...
Have you ever tried yourself in psychology? Well from what you said before... you do have the interest and enthusiasm for it that you truly enjoy the current psych subject ur studying now...

I dunno just a thought you mite want to dive into...

heheh

 

[Rekkusu]

Your welcome Sky!

Should you wish to discuss your degree enquiries any further, UNSW's Student central is the way to go:

You can contact us by email on studentcentral@unsw.edu.au or Tel: +61 2 9385 8500

OR, if you wish to discuss your Psychology matters (i.e. Career options, Entrance requirements), please call 93853041, or pop an E-mail to: Enquiries@psy.unsw.edu.au

Lmao, anyway as a sidenote, with Neb as your class teacher he'll be sure to pump in alot of politics into it, and by the looks of the current Neb, he'll be encouraging you to vote for Labor when you're 18!

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

'Sif you wouldn't vote Labor though.

Have you ever tried yourself in psychology? Well from what you said before... you do have the interest and enthusiasm for it that you truly enjoy the current psych subject ur studying now...

I don't quite get what you're asking, but I think you're either asking whether I've considered transfering to a psych only degree, or whether I've used what I've learned to examine myself and others.

Yes, I've considered changing to a science only degree in psychology, it'd be hella interesting but the career prospects aren't that great, especially considering that I don't believe my UAI was high enough to get into the psychology degree.

Have I used the stuff I've learned? Hell yes. It's all very applicable in the education field and in day to day life.

 

[bubble]

Before you go calling the psych department - look at the unsw undergrad handbook. Tells you whats required for the degrees. These are B psych and B Adv Science (Psych) Search around the website became my bestfriend this time last year haha. I could'nt find any commerce

http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/programs/2007/3432.html

http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/plans/2007/PSYCA13972.html

http://www.handbook.unsw.edu.au/undergraduate/programs/2007/3529.html


Just correcting somethings someone said earlier, you don't need UMAT, UAI is usually 95/96 or 88 for Advanced Science. You can still do research wth Advanced science, its entirely the same degree except a different in one or 2 subjects (Life Science vs Intro to psych applications).


Uhm as for business, your not neccesarily in HR, I know a woman with a psych degree who is the marketing manager of a magazine company. So its pretty varied - but theres a specific type of business psych called Organisational Psychology, which you can do a masters for. Which is basically HR but a little bit more specialised. The psych department raves on about how it trains its students with all these fantastic skills (blablablabla) which enable them to work in alot of different environments haha,

Studytime isn't huge (mind you im still first year -so i havent got the point where i actually care that much yet ) But its hard to get HD's in psych - you have to work hard for them, its not as easy as it was at school *cries*

Oh and for specialisation, in first year you do a general overview(psych 1a & 1b), 2nd year you do some specialised courses from the different areas, 3rd year is when you get to choose what psych electives u want to pick (depending on what your interested in) and 4th year is honours when you actualy specialise in your area n write your thesis.

O and with a double degree - you tend to get both degrees at the same time as they spread out the subjects from each degree. So im not sure about your earn money with the commerce degree while you get your psych degree plan Might work, dunno haha

Another essay - im procrastinating haha. (anything but study!) Hope my essay helps.

 

[gobi]

This could help you out: http://apac.psychology.org.au/Content.aspx?topicID=317
It's a list of all the courses acknowledged by the Australian Psychology Accreditation Council that will get you . . . accredited. The rest of that site could be useful for you as well.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

Psych @ UNSW = lots of time around Mathews Building.

Mathews Building lifts = unpleasant experience.

Choose wisely. I've always loved the look of the Mathews Building and the area around it, but those lifts scare the crap out of me.

 

[Rekkusu]

wow I always thought that the Mathews only consisted of those gigantic theatre-sized lecture rooms + those little CATS rooms near The Arcade.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

As in you haven't noticed the massive building above it yet?

 

[bubble]

Lol they aren't that scary, just a little slow.

The morven brown lifts scare me - my first day of uni they broke down...with me in them. Pitch black. Oh what fun. Mind you probably karma for not walking up the stairs for the 2 floors.

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

I was about to say, how hard is it to walk the height of the Morven Brown building? I don't use lifts unless it's over about 7 stories I have to travel, which explains why I've only used the library lifts once. They also scare me a bit.

Moral of the story: lifts suck

 

[SkyScout]

Thank you bubble and gobi for the information... I will definitely read them up...!! after my HSC this friday...

Lols Nebuchanezzar and Rekkusu... you guys are funny... but hey some srappy lift cant stop me claiming my dreams can it? hehehe..

Have a nice one...

 

[Nebuchanezzar]

If the elevator has an accident, yes, yes it can. Are you interested in USyd psychology, or is UNSW the one for you?