An Overview of the Steps to Getting a Psychology Degree

Graduating with degree with Honours in Singapore

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Psychology is a truly fascinating subject to study. You get to explore the mind and human behavior, looking at how different social, biological, and environmental factors influence people’s actions, feelings, and thinking. This, in turn, can enable you to better understand yourself, those around you, and society at large. Interested? Keep reading to find out the steps you need to take to get a psychology degree.

Research Your Options

The first action to undertake is to do some research into the different types of psychology degrees available, from bachelor’s programs to master’s degrees and doctoral qualifications. The right choice for you will depend on your interests and ultimate career goals. You should also think about whether you want to study full-time or part-time, on campus, or online.

Choose Your Focus

Not all psychology degrees are the same. Some will specialize in particular fields, such as:

Child psychology
Clinical psychology
Developmental psychology
Experimental psychology
Forensic psychology
Social psychology
Sports psychology

Have a closer look at the curriculums for the different kinds of degrees and see which appeal the most to you and best suit your future aspirations. If you like the sound of them all, consider a broad psychology degree with lots of modules to choose between in various fields.

Apply

Having narrowed down your program choices, it will be time to start putting together your applications. You’ll normally need to complete a form, submit evidence of your existing qualifications, give details of two or three academic or professional references, and write a personal statement about why you want to take the course. This essay is crucial, so take your time over it and let your passion for psychology shine. Be sure to mention any relevant work or volunteering experience you have too.

Choose Your Modules

Having received the exciting news that you’ve been accepted for your psychology degree, the next step will be to choose which modules you want to take. Many will be compulsory, especially in the first couple of years of an undergrad program, but for others, you’ll get a choice from a list of electives. Make sure that you choose courses that both sound interesting and are relevant to your career goals. If you’re unsure, you can always ask your tutor for some guidance.

Complete Your Final Project

Most psychology degrees will involve completing an independent research project or senior thesis. You’ll choose a topic that particularly interests you, design, and carry out a research study on it, and then analyze, and evaluate your results. This is often the most stimulating and rewarding part of the program, as you can take a deep dive into a subject that fascinates you.

Graduate

Having passed all your examinations, coursework, and the final project, there will be nothing left to do but graduate. After that, you can begin looking for jobs in the area of psychology that you are most passionate about. Some of the many career options open to you include: