Pursuing B.A. In Psychology

                        

Rohit Bhutani 

Taking the first step on your journey
 

Wondering how to take the first step to pursue psychology in college? Read to know everything about B.A. in Psychology. 

 

Psychology has always been a field surrounded by curiosity and fascination. In recent times, the field has received a great amount of admiration by the young brains that are planning their career ahead in different expertise of psychology.

 

To pursue psychology for higher studies, the first step you need to take is to enroll for a Bachelor’s degree in psychology. You can opt to learn psychology in different ways, depending upon the course you choose to study in. 

At the Bachelor’s level, psychology is offered essentially as three different programs in India, i.e., BA program, BA honors, and BSc.

 

 

Let us explore the BA program and BA honors in detail and understand the underlying differences between the two courses. 

 

BA PROGRAM

• In the BA program, psychology is offered as a subject along with a combination of some other subjects opted in major and minor. Hence, it is not the only subject which you get to read.
• The merit cutoff to get admission for the BA program is considerably less as compared to other programs.
• Suggested combinations along with psychology are English, Political Science, Human Resource Management, Economics, Philosophy, etc.
• A student is expected to learn a more theoretical perspective and considerably less practical knowledge as compared to other programs in psychology.

 

BA HONORS DEGREE

• BA Honors psychology offers a various array of subjects within Psychology itself and the students get to learn about various subfields of psychology much in detail along with better practical exposure as compared to a BA program degree.
• However, the merit cutoff to get admitted to a BA honors degree is comparatively higher than that of a BA degree.
• You can opt for an honors degree in psychology as well as in applied psychology, based on the choices offered by the institution. 

In India, B.Sc. and B.A. in psychology are considered more or less similar. They provide you with some kind of opportunities and an equitable amount of theoretical and practical learning regarding the subject. 

However, abroad, there seems a remarkable difference between the two, where BSc seems to be a more science-oriented study of psychological phenomenon.  

 

 

ADMISSION

 

• Merit-based: Different universities across the country generates cut-off lists for the scores obtained in 12^th, serving as a criterion for admission
• Entrance-based: Entrance test accompanies by a minimal requirement of percentage in 12^th to appear for the exam; may also be followed by a brief walk-in-interview.

 

ELIGIBILITY

 

• Any student who meets the criterion for admission (whichever put up by the institution they applied; merit or entrance) can opt for a Bachelor’s in psychology irrespective of the stream opted in 12^th 
• You can choose to study psychology in Bachelor’s even if they have not studied psychology earlier in school. However, different institutions imply different conditions regarding the same.

 

For instance, Delhi University deducts 2.5% from the aggregate of the best 4 subjects to match against the cut off list if the student has not studied psychology in the 12^th.

 

LIST OF COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES

 

TOP RECOMMENDATIONS

   

Certain institutions also provide an opportunity to avail admissions on the basis of certain quotas (sports, ECA, etc.) and reservations for the students belonging to different categories. 

 

Earning a graduation degree marks the first step in becoming a professional in the field of psychology. Once you graduate, there are many avenues open for you to proceed within your professional life. You can learn further expertise in several fields, go for master’s, and hence, proceed with your career.