The etymology of the term ‘psychology’ says that it is the scientific study of the human mind and behaviour, however, it was not a widely accessed career option in India, at least not until the unexpected hit us all.
In 2020 when the pandemic took us with our guards down, a new wave of mental health issues started with the induction of a new stressor that every mental health professional has to now take into account.
There were rampant prejudices and overlooking with respect to psychology but recent times have taught us that it is important to get tough from the inside to have a trouble-free life.
The WHO recommends at least three mental health professionals per 1,00,000 people. There is a dearth of psychological professionals and mental health workers. Although, the backlash of the recent events has led to great demand among young people to study psychology, understand human behaviour and emotions, and equip themselves with the skills to sustain mental well-being.
Despite the challenges, many great institutions offer undergraduate and post-graduate degrees in Psychology with the opportunity to pursue a variety of specializations, ranging from, Counselling, Clinical, Child, Developmental, and Organisational to Forensic, Criminal, and Abnormal Psychology.
Opportunities are endless in this field and to pursue them you need to know which doors to knock on for guidance! Let us take a look at some of the top colleges in India that strive to be the ultimate destination for our budding mentalists.
Students are pretty clueless after school is done and they are pushed into a new phase in life: college. If you had humanities in 12th or you are just an avid follower of the science of the human mind, these colleges could be a great option to kick start your career.
You can either go on the Arts side of psychology and pursue a BA (Bachelors of Arts) or embrace the purely Science side of the subject and go for a BSc (Bachelors of science). If you intend to take the science route, you can become a psychiatrist, while taking the Arts route will lead you to become a psychologist or counselor.
*This list is not ranked but is listed through our research and recommendations. For further info visit the college website.
BSc in Psychology allows you to work in the medical field including the study of the human mind, behaviour, emotions, social and cognitive development. Pursuing a BSc from a good college will further enhance your career path and give you an edge over others.
*This list is not ranked but is listed through our research and recommendations. For further info visit the college website.
Once you are done with your graduation, there are venues of occupation, however, further studies are always recommended, especially if you are looking toward academics or specialisations. Here are some of the best Masters’ programs offered in India other than the ones mentioned in the Bachelors of Arts table:
*This list is not ranked but is listed through our research and recommendations. For further info visit the college website.
Many colleges offer integrated courses that ensure that you complete both your undergraduate and post-graduate degrees within a span of 4.5-5.5 years (maximum) as opposed to the complete 6 years (3 years bachelor + 2 years’ post-graduation). This kind of option is relatively new and is catching on. Some of the top colleges that offer integrated courses in psychology are given below:
*This list is not ranked but is listed through our research and recommendations. For further info visit the college website.
While the number of colleges offering 5-year integrated courses is low, as the field grows, we may see more such consolidated programs in the future.
Apart from these conventional routes, there are many distance learning opportunities for working professionals offered by Universities like IGNOU, NIMS, and many more. It is important to check if the said university is recognized by UGC as this can affect your further studies.
There can be many reasons for you to go for psychology as your career option but the curiosity in you to unearth the mysteries of the human mind has to be strong!
Studying psychology will not just remain a dream if you buckle up and start looking for the right kind of course structure for you. The first step is to understand what motivates you toward the subject and where you see yourself within the field. It is the most beautiful thing when career and passion come together and psychology might just be your cathartic vocation.
As seen in this article, there are a plethora of colleges offering various sub-fields in psychology catering to the demands of society. Many new sub-fields of Psychology have gained popularity in recent times, namely, Criminal, Forensic, Abnormal, Sports, School, Parent, Cognitive, Organisational, and Positive Psychology. This has to a great extent widened the scope of this dynamic subject with many career paths to choose from.
Apart from the mentioned above, many institutions are offering practical courses to upskill young psychologists with much-needed hands-on experience. Such training focuses on simplifying the way we learn about human psychology and gives you confidence about the subject. Counsel India is one such organisation aimed at expanding the network of counsellors and psychologists while ensuring counselling reaches every home across the globe. To know more about our practical courses, contact @CounselIndia.
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