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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do any of you have a psychology degree?

49 replies

Rachtoteach · 02/08/2013 10:07

I am seriously considering signing up to the OU to do a psychology degree over the next 4-5 years.

Do you have one and what can you use it for once you have it?!

Sorry if I'm being U in posting here, wasn't sure where else!

OP posts:
ruledbyheart · 02/08/2013 10:09

I'm watching with interest as just signed myself up for the same.

MurderOfGoths · 02/08/2013 10:15

I really want to do that as well, I started a psychology A level, but never finished it despite enjoying it. Still have my old text books.

coronalover · 02/08/2013 10:18

I have a Psychology BA and MA and havem't specifically used my qualifications for work. A degree doesn't qualify you for anything in particular but you could then follow up with a specific training course afterwards (eg teacher training, counselling). I loved studying for it's own sake though and didn't particularly want to work in the field.

What are you hoping to do afterwards?

LunaticFringe · 02/08/2013 10:25

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

DaPrincessBride · 02/08/2013 10:28

I have one...it's a bit of an 'all encompassing' degree, in that it involves statistical analysis, literature review, and a lot of written discussion etc. In my experience, I've found that employers seem to like this as it does give you a wide range of easily transferable skills. And of course, if you really enjoy a certain area you can go into that area - but be warned, getting further into certain areas e.g. forensic psych is VERY competitive and often involves unpaid internships etc.

Also - I am sure you know this - it can be very labour - intensive. It is heavily science based , there is a lot of mathematics and statistical analysis involved, as well as a lot of research and literature. V heavy on the essay writing too...basically it is a full on degree!

Having said all that, it is fascinating and rewarding and you have many different paths to take within psychology if you choose, or take those (diverse!) Skills to other jobs.

CustardOmlet · 02/08/2013 10:32

If you want to go on to have a psychology based job, you will have to do a masters and doctorate after. There are far to many psychology graduates for the number of jobs. If I were you I'd save my money or study something like mental health nursing where you can get a job and use psychology.

colourmehappytheresasofainhere · 02/08/2013 10:33

I am finishing a professional psychology doctorate and I've found it difficult, rewarding and very interesting. I went the confusion route so spent ten years in higher ed!!! I'm skint and quite old. Think about what not really want to do with it and focus on that.

colourmehappytheresasofainhere · 02/08/2013 10:34

Er conversion not confusion route... Although quite apt really!!

tedmundo · 02/08/2013 10:36

I have a Pyschology Bsc and Sociology BSc. Did not use either of them in my career (although the statistics studied has always helped me in reports and project management) but I really, really enjoyed studying these subjects.

A lot of my friends did more vocational degrees (law, med) and their career path was more focused. I liked that the world was my oyster after reading Psychology. I went into IT and project management.

Enjoy your degree! It will be wonderful to study again. I have my eye on a history degree when the DCs are older.

xylem8 · 02/08/2013 10:36

this is aibu there is a board dedicated to higher education :-)

colourmehappytheresasofainhere · 02/08/2013 10:37

that's what everyone told me custard

Cherriesarelovely · 02/08/2013 10:38

I do. I am a primary school teacher. I'm not sure that I use my degree that much in my work and I didn't particularly enjoy the degree course. Retrospectively I would have been much more suited to a social psychology degree but for some reason I decided a Bsc would have more kudos. I don't think it would have made any difference kudos wise and should have chosen the degree that interested me the most!

takeachillpill · 02/08/2013 10:56

I did a Psychology BSc at UCL. I really enjoyed it and did consider continuing in the field, but then I got pg shortly after I graduated and all my plans got waylaid! Have been a sahm now for 9 years but I'm sure I use some of the skills I learned in every day life!

ShabbyButNotChic · 02/08/2013 11:06

I do :) it has zero relevance to my job now but some parts do come in useful, eg cognitive development/learned behaviour etc. it also gives you a lot of transferable skills as it is very maths/statistics based, using spss software.

A lot of people think its a wishy washy course but it is very academic as it is a lot of maths and biology. It is interesting when you get to picking your modules though. I focused on crime/forensics/profiling watch too much csi and my lecturer was a profiler for the police so had some great stories.

Im glad i did it but it was a lot harder than i expected, massive jump from A level.

deepfriedsage · 02/08/2013 11:23

I don't think uabu to study psychology.

FruitOwl · 02/08/2013 11:27

I have a BSc. I would echo what others have said, on its own it doesn't qualify you for much and I didn't fancy studying any more at the time I graduated.

However I do feel that it gave me a lot of transferable skills, and was a really interesting course which I enjoyed. I know that being a graduate has given me an edge when applying for jobs. I currently work with a team of social workers to find foster care placements for children, and it has definitely been useful to have background knowledge about child development, attachment, neglect etc.

Good luck with the course if you decide to go for it!

Wholetthedogin · 02/08/2013 12:03

I studied Psychology with the OU. Found it to be really interesting course.

However, there are so many psychology graduates and if you want to actually work in his field you would have to go on and study more. Also as I studied with the OU I missed out on practice placements. You could gain some experience by volunteering with a Mental Health Charity?

If you are going to study for personal development then I would say go for it. If it's for a career then I would say do something else.

As for me, I've gone on to study something else. The psychology is relevant but not necessary.

BridgetBidet · 02/08/2013 12:08

My husband does but never used it in his career. He is a builder now.

Possibly because he got half way through and decided it was all bullshit designed to pigeon hole individuals into convenient little boxes.

FondantNancy · 02/08/2013 13:28

I have one, it's all but useless (in my experience) unless you do further study.

Bridget why did your DH keep studying it if was all bullshit?

Secretswitch · 02/08/2013 13:31

I have an MA in pyschology. It was useful when I was a social worker.

Figgygal · 02/08/2013 13:35

I do I dont directly use it in my career in HR but went into HR from the occupational elements of psychology so would never regret having studied it

Happiestinwellybobs · 02/08/2013 13:35

I do. I have a Bsc in Applied Psychology and it has been useful in my career (Human Resources). I find the whole subject fascinating and even now 14 years later reflect on some of the developmental psychology I studied when thinking about why DD does what she does :)

amessagetoyouYoni · 02/08/2013 13:35

Ino, but I have three good friends who did them.

One went on to do Masters and Doctorate and is a Clinical Psychologist with the NHS. Fiercely competitive to get in to. She had a First from Oxford, thiugh, which might have helped!

One went on and did a Masters, but couldnt get on to a clinical psych doctorate. She got a job as a mental health support worker and five years on manages a private practice for child psychs. A mangerial / administrative role, so not what she had originally aimed for, but she loves her job.

One stopped at a psych degree and then trained as a teacher and now works as a secondary school social sciences teacher.

Buddhagirl · 02/08/2013 15:57

I do, if I had my time again I would do mh nursing all the way. It's a core profession and you can do a lot more with it.

Sidge · 02/08/2013 16:02

I have a Bsc(Hons) in Psychology and Social Biology, but graduated donkey's years ago and don't really use my degree directly.

I did find it useful in that the elements such as analysis, statistics and research methodology come in handy for other things.

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