Everything about Applied Psychology: Branches, Courses, Colleges, Jobs, Careers

Who doesn’t want the answers to their life problems? Applied Psychology is a form of psychology that although can’t provide you with direct answers (nobody can), works to apply the researched methods, principles, concepts, and theories to help identify and design solutions for individuals as well as organizations. This field works to support individuals in their emotional distress, mental health, as well as illnesses. If this field interests you enough to want to know more about the same, then this blog provides everything you need about applied psychology, including its branches, levels of courses, colleges, jobs, and career prospects. Continue reading to know more.

Why Study Applied Psychology? 

It is an attractive field for many, but what are some of its features that make it significant enough for students to pursue it? Let’s discuss the points below. 

1. Through the study of applied psychology, students can make use of discovered information, helping people and bringing a change to people’s lives with the field’s specialties and knowledge. 
2. Students gain better insights into the area of psychology where the application of the same help them work with people and their problems, making the job of applied psychology a fulfilling one. 
3. More and more information is discovered while pursuing research in the field, adding resources to help the mental health of humans, making applied psychology a vital field. 
4. The career prospects in the field are highly respected and provide students with not only a great remuneration package but also professional growth. 

Also Read: 100 Psychology Facts You Must Know!

Branches of Applied Psychology 

There are certain branches of applied psychology that students can plan to work towards. They are mentioned below. 

1. Clinical Psychology: The professionals in this field work directly with their patients to diagnose and treat their mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, etc. 

2. Forensic Psychology: The professionals in this field use their knowledge to work around criminal cases and support the justice system. 

3. Sports Psychology: The professionals in this field help professional sports players with their mental well-being, along with the proper intake of nutrition. 

4. Organizational Psychology: The professionals in this field help members of an organization work with stress and burnout and help improve their productivity. 

Types of Courses Offered and their Eligibility Criteria 

Now that the blog has discussed some of the basic aspects, it’s time to come to its academic aspect. Below tabulated information below mentions the course levels that are offered under applied psychology. 

Course Level	Duration	Degrees
Undergraduate	3 years	Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology;  Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology
Postgraduate	2 years	Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Psychology; Master of Science (MSc) in Psychology; and  Master of Philosophy (MPhil) in Applied Psychology
Doctorate	2 years	Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Applied Psychology

Also Read: Difference Between BA Psychology and BSc Psychology

Eligibility Criteria 

Taking the above into consideration, the eligibility criteria are mentioned below. 

Course Level	Eligibility Criteria
Undergraduate	The students should have completed a valid undergraduate degree in psychology as a major from a recognized university with a minimum aggregate of 50% to 55%.
Postgraduate	The students should have completed a valid undergraduate degree in psychology as a major from a recognised university with a minimum aggregate of 50% to 55%.
Doctoral	The students should have completed their education at 10+2 level with a minimum aggregate of 45% from a recognized board.

Application Process 

Choosing the right university and course is the main factor before the start of the application process. Follow the larger steps below to get started on the application process for applied psychology courses. 

1. Do your research and decide on the course and university that suits your preferences and budget constraints the most. 
2. Check all the details associated with the degree and the university, including the course fee, the duration, the eligibility criteria, particular specifications, the timeline of the application process, the deadlines, and more. 
3. Moving forward, cross-check whether the universities require entrance examination results or are only merit-based. In the case of India, there might be entrances that you have to clear to pursue applied psychology, while universities abroad could have their own set criteria. 
4. Collect all the documents that are required for admission and get ready to fill out the application form. 
5. In the case of abroad universities, you also have to submit a statement of purpose/a motivation form; letters of recommendation; and English language proficiency scores. 
6. Finally, submit your application form and application fee to finalise your application process. 
7. Await results. 

Documents Required 

The basic documents required for applying for an applied psychology degree abroad are listed below. 

• Official academic transcripts
• Scanned copy of passport
• CV/ Resume
• Letter of Recommendation
• English language proficiency test scores
• Statement of Purpose

Top Global Universities for Psychology 

Applied Psychology is a branch of psychology itself. Therefore, the universities mentioned below are the top-ranked universities in this field. 

Name of University	QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023: Psychology
Harvard University, USA	1
University of Oxford, UK	2
University of Cambridge, UK	3
Stanford University, USA	4
UCL, UK	5
Yale University, USA	6
Columbia University, USA	7
University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, USA	8
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA	9
University of Amsterdam, Netherlands	10

Also Read: Psychology Scholarships

Top Indian Universities for Applied Psychology 

For students planning to apply to Indian universities, the below-mentioned colleges/universities are the way to go. 

Name of College	Location
University of Madras	Chennai
Amity University	Noida
Jamia Millia Islamia	Delhi
Lady Shri Ram College for Women	Delhi
Sri Ramchandra Institute of Higher Education and Research	Chennai

Also Read: Entrance Exams for Psychology After 12th

Syllabus for Applied Psychology 

An example of the syllabus for applied psychology is mentioned below for your reference. 

Semester I	Psychology and Its Applications I Research Methodology & Statistics I Practicum based on Papers I & II Concurrent – Qualifying Language
Semester II	Applied Social Psychology II Communication Skills Practicum Based on Paper X Concurrent – Discipline-Centred I
Semester III	Applied Social Psychology I Practicum based on paper VII Concurrent – Interdisciplinary
Semester IV	Applied Social Psychology II Communication Skills Practicum Based on Paper X Concurrent – Discipline Centred I
Semester V	Counselling Psychology Clinical Psychology I Practicum based on Paper XII
Semester VI	Project/Internship Concurrent – Discipline Centred II

Also Read: Best Psychology Books

Skills Required

Having covered more than half information related to everything about this field, it’s now the turn to discuss the skills required for the field. 

1. Patience
2. Analytical Skills 
3. Organizational skills 
4. Critical thinking skills 
5. Problem-Solving skills
6. Communication Skills 
7. Research Skills 
8. Logical Skills 
9. Leadership Skills 
10. Team Management Skills 
11. Conflict Management Skills 

Career Prospects 

After having completed their education, students can explore various career prospects. Some job designations and their respective salaries are tabulated below. 

Jobs and Salary 

Job	Salary
Clinical Psychologist	INR 4 lakh
Forensic Psychologist	INR 5.6 lakh
Recreation therapist	INR 5.5 lakh
Education Psychologist	INR 10 lakh
Industrial/Organisational Psychologist	INR 4.25 lakh

Top Recruiting Areas

Listed below are employment areas where prospectively applied psychologists can find recruitment. 

• Hospitals and Clinics 
• Psychiatric Hospitals
• Substance Abuse Hospitals 
• Centre for Health Research and Development, Society for Applied Studies
• Defense Forces 
• Research Centres 
• Mental Health Organisations

Also Read: Scope of Psychology

FAQs

The blog has covered almost everything about applied psychology. If you want to study abroad in this field, you can contact Leverage Edu experts and counselors at 1800572000 to book a free consultation today!