B.Arts Psychology and B.Sci Psychology

[davidchak]

Whats the differences between these courses?

[PaTiEnT]

You generally take core Psychology subjects which are compulsory across both courses. The only difference is the elective subjects you have. E.g. An Arts Psychology student has the option of doing subjects (other than the Psychology ones) such as History, Criminology, Cultural Studies, Gender Studies etc. while a Science Psychology student can do Genetics, Neuroscience, Chemistry, Pharmacology etc.

[4seasonspring]

so, is it tat an arts psychology students can't do clinical psy afterwards since his electives do not include pharmacology and neuroscience?

[PaTiEnT]

You can. In fact, I was an arts student and went on to do a clinical psych course. Doing arts/science doesn't really have an impact on your later courses because within the psych major, both arts and science ugrads basically do the same subjects (which includes psychological neuroscience, brain and cognition etc). It's only the minor (i.e., non-psych) subjects that are different. Hmm.. lemme see if this is more helpful:


***** Psychology Subjects
-----------------------------------------
B. Arts (Psychology major, English minor)
Year 1, Sem 1
Intro. to Neuropsychology*****
Intro. to Personality and Social Psych. 1*****
Creative Writing A
Contemporary Arts and Culture

Year 1 Sem 2
Intro. to Child Psychology*****
Quantitative Methods A*****
Chinese History: Across the Dynasties
Contemporary Culture and Media

Year 2, Sem 1
Quantitative Methods A*****
Behavioural Neuroscience*****
Developmental Psychology*****
Creative Writing B

Year 2, Sem 2
Personality and Social Psychology 2*****
Personal and Social Development*****
Writing Extended Fiction
Shakespearean Worlds

Year 3, Sem 1
Quantitative Methods B*****
Brain, Cognition and Language*****
Cognitive Psychology*****
Writing Non-Fiction

Year 3, Sem 2
Psychological Disorders*****
Organisational Psychology*****
Psychological Assessment*****
Personality and Social Psychology 3*****


Bachelor of Science (Psychology major, Genetics minor)
Year 1, Sem 1
Intro. to Neuropsychology*****
Intro. to Personality and Social Psych. 1*****
Biology A
Chemistry A

Year 1 Sem 2
Intro. to Child Psychology*****
Quantitative Methods A*****
Genetics A
Theory of Evolution and Beyond

Year 2, Sem 1
Quantitative Methods A*****
Behavioural Neuroscience*****
Developmental Psychology*****
Genetics B

Year 2, Sem 2
Personality and Social Psychology 2*****
Personal and Social Development*****
Pharmacology
Experimental Genetics

Year 3, Sem 1
Quantitative Methods B*****
Brain, Cognition and Language*****
Cognitive Psychology*****
Advanced Principles of Genetics

Year 3, Sem 2
Psychological Disorders*****
Organisational Psychology*****
Psychological Assessment*****
Personality and Social Psychology 3*****

-----------------------------------

As you can see, the psychology subjects are the same whether you do B. Arts or B. Science and they cover the brain, basic biology and anything that will give you a general idea of what psychology is. So this does not impact on whether you can or cannot do clinical psychology later.

The only difference is, IF you do not have a basic biology background (i.e., you were in arts stream in secondary school), it is a bit of a disadvantage at first (a lot of my arts friends struggled at first). But this is not significant because you eventually catch up and it really is basic. The other subjects in the courses are basically the other stuff you choose to do other than psychology.

When you get to the clinical course, there is generally only ONE biology/pharmacology subject so you don't have to worry too much about that too. The only Psych course you have to have a solid bio background is if you want to do Clinical Neuropsychology. Only then, it is recommended that you do B. Science :)

Hope this helps!

[davidchak]

Thank you. That was really helpful!

Anyways, I am gonna do B.Arts in Psychology in McGill, Montreal, Canada this fall.

Maybe gonna major later in cognitive psych

[starlemon]

Did languange matter the most when one wants to become a psychologist?

[PaTiEnT]

I think that depends on where you're thinking about working. If you're thinking about English-speaking countries then you have to be understood at least. I know some seniors of mine who cope pretty well as long as your personality is suitable and you're confident, then language shouldn't be too much of a problem.

[milogal]

Thank you. That was really helpful!

Anyways, I am gonna do B.Arts in Psychology in McGill, Montreal, Canada this fall.

Maybe gonna major later in cognitive psych


wow wow wow wow!!!!
lolx. dats cool david. oh btw, i got the jpa thingy. i choose science. but when they asked, i told them i wana do psychology. n i duno where r they sending me yet. so yea, lolx.

[starlemon]

science can do psychology?
i wonder that whether humanity can do psychology oso..

[starlemon]

Bachelor arts in psycho deal a lot with english writting?
can anyone clarify that?

[davidchak]

The name of your bachelor doesnt really matter actually.

Most if not all social science have lotsa things to do with research and writing skill.
You dont really have to worry about that.

You will get to brush up your skill when you goes into Pre-U, after all, thats what Pre-U is all about -- Preparing for University level learningS

[PaTiEnT]

Bachelor arts in psycho deal a lot with english writting?
can anyone clarify that?

helo!

English writing = lit, creative writing etc
or = essays?

:)

Lit and creative writing, no.
Essays yes. Lotsa reports too. You gotta be prepared to do lots of writing. But this is the same with other course such as Commerce and Law. Don't worry. like david says, Pre-U will prepare you for that. When I was in first year uni I was still blur :P

[starlemon]

wat types of essay did we required to write?on wat topics?is it facts?

Hw bout the exam? essay is oso required?

[sNaiL0810]

wat types of essay did we required to write?on wat topics?is it facts?

Hw bout the exam? essay is oso required?

u will need to do a research type essay on ur own, find some source and give ur opinion about that topic. For instance, abortion, terrorism, United Nation....
Essay is needed in every final exam one

[davidchak]

Sample Psychological Essay topic:

- The cause of Conformity effect on human behaviour
- The paradigm in human's perception of object
- Child-developmental and its contribution to human stereotype perception
- Freud's theory in modern world and the application of it.
- ...

SOmething liek that, if you are going for psychology.

[PaTiEnT]

wat types of essay did we required to write?on wat topics?is it facts?

Hw bout the exam? essay is oso required?

You start of with general topics in first year, then they train you to think critically with more specific topics. But this is not especially for psychology, it's the same for all courses.

My first year was mainly MCQ in exams, second year a mix of MCQ and short answers with an essay or two. Third year is all short answer and essays. Apart from exams, you can expect about 2 to 3 reports or essays overall for each subject. So a total of about 4 or 5 assignments per semester. We had no midterm exams, except once I remember which was 8 short answers.

[Jonathan]

Hi I just got my SPM results last month. I was a Science student in Form 5 and I am planning to do Arts in Form 6. I would like to pursue my career in Psychology. I am wondering whether does psychology require the basic foundation in any of the Science subjects such as Biology. Please lend me a helping hand. Thx..........

[tent]

Hi,jonathan ...I can offer my view since i experienced it before.
I think that other than academia or being a therapist, psychology has little career prospects, precisely because of the bureaucratics of the professors sitting in their university offices caring little about their students careers and more about their prestige in their field/area. initially, i thought of taking psycho since i am attached to MOE scholarships , they allowa me to opt either ways. at last i make up my decision to take up speech therapy rather than psycho. I've also read numerous articles about PHD grads from psych going away from academia and rather going into industry or government jobs, ie environments where they can maintain their sanity and actually make a decent enough living (after all if you've got a PHD why be limited to a salary lower than most BA engineering and computer science grads!)
if you aim for malaysia, definetely it is just a pure arts course.Only overseas universities do offer a science psychology. maybe HELP uni and sunway uni is one of private institutions that offer behavioural science psychology.Basically, you would learn everything no matter it is arts or science psycho, u got to take arts subjects as well.it is all about the social science fields and science do involve neuroscience and biology.
most of the time,they accept either arts or science students to do psycho.


I've known other psych grads who've gone into human resources, publishing (although that's the family business), and school teaching。

[Jonathan]

I just received my SPM results last month and I am planning to continue with my Form 6 studies. I was a Science stream student and I want to switch to Arts stream in Form 6. I would like to pursue my career in Psychology. Since Psychology is a social science subject, does Psychology require basic foundation in any of the Science subjects especially Biology. If yes, maybe I would change my mind to do Science in Form 6. Pls do reply to me asap. Thx a lot.......

[tent]

There is a slight stigma difference between B.A./B.S., but it is not a huge difference when applying to grad programs.Like My mom have a B.A. and almost an M.A., but the "arts" doesn't mean my mum devoid of the "science" of research. So that in itself isn't a huge deal.
so having a science background doesnt do with the degree that u may take later. But it is quite advanatgeuos to you ...I do think that taking extra math and science classes are very useful, especially if you plan to pursue a graduate level degree. Most programs in the graduate level pay attention to the specific courses you have taken and the grades you received in them versus whether or not you have a BA or BS.