What education is needed to become a psychologist?
BS in Psychology is one of the most demanded professional degree today. It is also the first choice of many of the students who start their university career and have to choose their studies. To be a psychologist, whether specialized in the clinical, educational, or social field, specific studies and subsequent specialization are necessary. Don’t you know what to study to be a psychologist? Do you have doubts about the studies you need to be a psychologist? What education is needed to become a psychologist? Then do not hesitate to read on.
To be a psychologist, do you have to study science or literature?
Let’s solve, first, one of the most frequent doubts when studying psychology. Since the requirements have changed relatively recently.
The question, is psychology a career in literatures or science? Previously, Psychology was considered a career of literatures. Students who wanted to access the career of Psychology had to take a mixed or other options.
This has changed over the years since currently the branch of Psychology is considered a career in the health field as well as studies to be a doctor. Therefore, if you have decided that you want to study to be a psychologist and you have the opportunity to choose your Baccalaureate studies, we recommend that you bet on one of science.
What do you need to study to be a psychologist?
Then, depending on the branch of psychology in which you want to specialize, it is convenient that you take a related Master’s or Postgraduate degree. Some options are the Master in Clinical Psychology, the Master in Child Psychology, the Master in Sexology, among others.
Likewise, the profession of a psychologist is included in the list of professions with mandatory membership. Therefore, the last step to work as a psychologist is to register in the city where you want to practice the profession.
What do you have to study to be a Psychologist?
The first thing that we must be clear about is that there is a Baccalaureate modality that guides you towards that professional future. In that the subject of psychology is studied, and others such as biology, chemistry, or statistics, which open the doors of future knowledge that are necessary to study psychology. It is the first contact with the profession and can help you decide whether or not you are interested in the subject.
There are university studies that allow you access from any modality. Social Sciences and Humanities, Sciences and Technology or Art, although the Sciences modality ensures access if you reach the cut-off mark.
The Degree in Psychology is a career in Health Sciences that is offered in many universities both face-to-face and online. And it offers you even more possibilities, to access the faculty, to study the degree to be a psychologist at a distance university.
What you need to study psychology is to have as high a cut-off grade as you can. However, you have the option of private universities where a high score is not necessary to study this specialty and become a psychologist.
What subjects do I need to study psychology?
Psychology is a very broad discipline. Psychology is a broad field in which there are different specialties (clinical psychology, sports psychology, organizational psychology, etc.), so the educational needs are not always the same, depending, of course, on the field of specialization.
Below you can find the most important topics that are studied in the career of psychology:
- Biological bases of behavior
- Statistics and psychometrics
- History of Psychology
- Social psychology
- Clinical psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Psychology of personality
- Ethics in psychology
This article is all about, what education is needed to become a psychologist? but you must be thinking;
Is becoming a psychologist hard?
This is a very interesting subject to study and pursue it in professional career. It gives freedom to think of variety and different methods to apply. Students can relate much of it to the personal and others life experiences. That is where they get the advantage to give the best and most effective treatment to patients.
Below we will discuss few important points about psychology.
Biological bases of behavior:
The biological bases of behavior are an essential area of study in the psychology career since it allows to know how mental processes are produced, what is the main unit that propagates the nervous impulse or brain communication, or what is the connection between the parts of the brain and our body.
Throughout the psychology career, it is possible to find subjects such as psychobiology or psychophysiology, because, to be a good psychologist, it is necessary to know how mental processes occur.
History of psychology:
For this, it is necessary to know the history of this discipline and be very clear about what psychology is, what is its field of study.
Social psychology:
Social psychology is a branch of psychology that analyzes the psychological processes that influence the way a society functions, the way social interactions take place, and how social processes modulate the personality and characteristics of each person.
In the subject of social psychology, topics such as leadership or prejudices are studied, and important research in this field is reviewed, such as the Stanford prison experiment, by Philip.
Developmental psychology:
This branch of psychology is in charge of studying the behavioral and psychological changes of people throughout their life cycle, that is, from their birth to their death.
In addition to acquiring theoretical and practical knowledge for the correct development of their profession, the psychologist, throughout the career, must know the ethical principles that govern the exercise.
Neuropsychology:
This field of study uses experimental techniques and examinations that offer images of the brain area (for example, CT, MRI, PET, fMRI). What functions do neurotransmitters have? or what causes aphasias? are some questions to which neuropsychology answers.
Differential psychology:
Therefore, this branch of psychology is responsible for the description, prediction, and explanation of the intraindividual, interindividual, or intergroup variability of behavior and psychological processes (for example, intelligence).
Group psychology:
Although group psychology was part of the social psychology course in its early days, many universities, aware of its importance, teach compulsory group psychology courses.
The study of groups focuses on the understanding and explanation of group processes, the relationships between its members and between different groups, group formation, roles, norms, group cohesion, communication, etc.
Linguistic psychology:
With human language, it is possible to produce an unlimited number of messages and to establish a true dialogue.
Learning psychology:
Human behavior cannot be understood without learning. Through this, habits, skills, values , or knowledge are acquired, and it is intimately related to the development of individuals.
Experimental methodology:
In addition, he must know how to use documentary sources of information in this discipline, with capacity for critical analysis and synthesis.
Specialty: Sports Psychology, Organizational Psychology, and Legal Psychology.
Therefore, once the degree is finished, there are different master’s degrees to continue growing at an academic and professional level and obtain a master’s degree in a specific field of behavioral science.
How long does it take to become a psychologist?
A person who is interested in carrying out psychology as profession, it takes 4 years to complete bachelors in psychology that consists of 8 semesters. To further specialize in the field students further choose masters and doctorate degrees. It takes two years for each degree. Hence, it depends on the psychologist to choose and acquire professional education options accordingly. Also internships and initial practice tenure is added to the learning period.
How does a psychologist contribute to society?
A professional psychology career can analyze and present solutions to problems derived from social and organizational interaction between people, groups, institutions, or communities. It also allows us to adopt healthy behaviors, through mental health achieved with a responsible study focused on human self-realization. Be emotionally intelligent, assertive, and tolerant of frustration. Proactive, altruistic, and philanthropic. Among the subjects that stand out in the career are counseling and Psychotherapy, Language Development and Disorders, Ethics and Social Morality, Educational Psychology, and Family Psychology.
Where can a psychology graduate work?
In the public sector, you can work in state agencies, in the administrative, health, education areas or implementing public policies.
Read on and discover more about psychology and its importance!
How does a psychologist contribute to society?
A professional psychology career can analyze and present solutions to problems derived from social and organizational interaction between people, groups, institutions, or communities.
It also allows us to adopt healthy behaviors, through mental health achieved with a responsible study focused on human self-realization.
Where can a psychology graduate work?
In the public sector, you can work in state agencies, in the administrative, health, education areas or implementing public policies.
What training is required to become a psychologist?
What do you need to study to be a psychologist? Then, depending on the branch of psychology in which you want to specialize, it is convenient that you take a related Master’s or Postgraduate degree. Study the relevant option of psychology and apply those techniques in your practice as a psychologist career field.
After knowing in detail, what education is needed to become a psychologist? we must also know about;
What qualities should psychologists have?
Be emotionally intelligent, assertive, and tolerant of frustration. Proactive, altruistic, and philanthropic. Among the subjects that stand out in the career are counseling and Psychotherapy, Language Development and Disorders, Ethics and Social Morality, Educational Psychology, and Family Psychology.
Qualities and requirements to be a psychologist:
Being a psychologist is being a professional who helps patients who suffer from mental illnesses, but also those who go through a moment of disorientation and doubts. The range of work is very wide and a psychologist must be, above all, an empathetic professional who knows how to guide others but without imposing their opinions.
He will be a person who knows how to listen, with a positive attitude, and with the ability to have a hand out to others. But beyond the personal qualities, a series of skills must be acquired through the training and studies necessary to be a psychologist. This is achieved with a Degree in Psychology.
In the fourth year, subjects such as health psychology, personal and social autonomy skills, or stress management are studied. And it is necessary to prepare the Final Degree Project, an investigation on the subject that interests you most in your training and that contributes new knowledge to university science.
The degree that belongs to the branch of Social and Legal Sciences has a total of 240 credits. Throughout the training, the student learns a theoretical-practical teaching methodology that combines research work with individual practices. In psychology, the knowledge and skills necessary to guarantee and promote the mental health of each patient and the groups are acquired.
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