Focusing on the mind

A career in psychology can be equally thrilling and lucrative, advises Dr Amrita Dass

Psychology is the systematic study of the mind and its processes through observing human behaviour and experience.

It uses scientific methods, statistics and research to observe and assess human and animal behaviour. It has social as well as scientific applications.

Career prospects in psychology depend on the area of specialisation and it is only after post graduation that specialised courses are offered.

Clinical psychology and industrial psychology are the most popular branches of specialisation.
Psychology, being a behavioural science, adds value to any "people-oriented career".

The main branches of psychology

Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology and behavioural medicine involves working in conjunction with doctors, psychiatrists and other medical staff, assessing and treating patients and training staff in interpersonal relationships.

Educational psychology
Educational psychology is based on school life. Here psychologists work with teachers and parents in assessing and treating children. Educational psychologists work in schools, social service establishments, child guidance clinics and paediatric departments of hospitals.

Occupational psychology
Occupational psychology handles the relationship between people, work and employing organisations. It takes a multi-disciplinary approach with experts in training, personnel, ergonomics and a range of related activities.

Market research and social psychology
Market research and social psychology provides expertise to government and commercial organisations in working out social, sales and other strategies through studying individuals, groups, their aspirations and behavioural responses.

Industrial psychology
Industrial psychology is also a promising avenue with industries striving towards innovation in thought, quality in work and financial success. As a large number of industrial houses and public organisations are applying psychology to problems of training and supervision of personnel, industrial psychology has received a boost in recent years.

Research and teaching
Research and teaching covers a wide range of fields including experimental psychology, developmental psychology, physiological psychology, comparative and animal psychology, social psychology, abnormal psychology, market research and social psychology, statistics and methodology.

Counselling psychology
Counselling psychology deals with minor emotional problems, decision-making problems and stress. The role of the counselling psychologist is to facilitate decision-making through a realistic orientation to an individual's self and the environment.

Profile of top campuses

Lady Sri Ram College, Delhi
Address: Lajpatnagar, New Delhi 110024
website :www.lsrcollege.org

About the institute
The core strengths that distinguish LSR from other institutions, even other women's colleges, is its ability to adapt itself to new socio-economic paradigms. Nevetheless, there is no compromise on ideals of tolerance, integrity and compassion towards the community at large.

Students discover that learning is joy, that creativity is empowering, that to be able to hear the language of your heart and mind is to live in the fullest way. They participate in a whole range of academic and extra-curricullar activities that characterise the college.

Courses
LSR is essentially a college of liberal arts and social sciences. Courses are offered in BA Integrated, BA (Hons), BCom (Hons), B.Sc (Hons) Statistics, MA and MCom. They do not offer courses in BSc General or BCom Pass.

The subjects offered in BA Integrated are: computer applications, economics, English, Hindi, history, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, Sanskrit, Bengali and Urdu.

The main subjects offered in the BA Honours courses are: economics, English, Hindi, history, journalism, mathematics, philosophy, political science, psychology, Sanskrit, sociology.

The medium of instruction is English, except for Sanskrit Honours and Hindi Honours, where the medium of instruction is Hindi. BA Honours (journalism) is also offered.

Eligibility for BA (Hons) Psychology
A candidate must have passed one of the following:
• The Senior School Certificate Examination (Class 12) of the Central Board of Secondary Education, New Delhi, or an examination recognised as equivalent, with at least 55 per cent in English.

• The Intermediate Examination of an Indian University or an Examination recognized as equivalent. Students should have passed in four subjects including English.

• The Indian School Certificate Examination (12 years) of the Council of Indian Schools Examination, New Delhi. Students should have passed in four written subjects including English. The aggregate requirement will be determined on the basis of English and three best elective subjects out of four.

• Pre-University Examination (two years after 10 years of schooling) of an Indian University recognised by the University of Delhi.

• The General Certificate of Education Examination of UK. Students should have passed with at least five subjects at the O level and at least in two subjects at the A level. These two A level courses may either be chosen from among the five O level subjects or from outside this group as prescribed by the University of Delhi.

Entrance exam
Admission is granted on the basis of academic record and an interview. Only the candidates with the required percentage of marks at the qualifying examination (plus 2 of CBSE or ISC or equivalent) are called for an interview. At present the cut off percentage is 91.75 per cent for B.A. Psychology (Hons).

A list of candidates selected for interview/admission to the Honours Courses of the college will be on the college notice board shortly after the last date of application.

Presidency College, Chennai
Address: Kamaraj Salai, Chennai 600005

About the College
Presidency College is one of the premier institutions of educational excellence in the country, founded in 1840. It was affiliated to the University of Madras in 1857 and was granted autonomy in 1987, though its degrees are still conferred by the University of Madras.

The college was accredited with four stars by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council. It offers 20 post graduate and 18 undergraduate courses through 24 departments and also provides facilities for research in many fields.

Courses
Undergraduate programmes are offered in botany, chemistry, geology, geography, physics, zoology, statistics, mathematics, psychology, history, economics, English literature, Hindi literature, Malayalam literature, political science, Urdu literature, and Tamil literature. It also offers MA, MSc, MPhil and PhD programmes.

Eligibility for BSc in Psychology
You should have passed the higher secondary examination of the State/Central Board of Secondary Education or any other equivalent exam. You should not be more than 21 years of age on July 1, of the year of application.

Entrance criteria for the course
Admission is based on the percentage of marks secured in your plus two exam.

Elphinstone College, Mumbai
Address: 156 Mahatma Gandhi Road, Fort, Mum