Psychology

[Gobon]

Would it be preferable to complete a masters if I wanted to maximise my career prospects?

I heard that you need to have completed 4th year Psychology honours to do a masters but I can't really find anything that confirms this. If this is true, what happens if I don't get into honours, would there be another way of doing a masters?

Lastly, I heard psychology is rather competitive, would this mean that getting a job in psychology would also be difficult, or is it only competitive at a university level.

Thanks.

[Gloamglozer]

Would it be preferable to complete a masters if I wanted to maximise my career prospects?

I heard that you need to have completed 4th year Psychology honours to do a masters but I can't really find anything that confirms this. If this is true, what happens if I don't get into honours, would there be another way of doing a masters?

Lastly, I heard psychology is rather competitive, would this mean that getting a job in psychology would also be difficult, or is it only competitive at a university level.

Thanks.

For masters, I thought you just needed an undergraduate degree with a reasonable average to get into masters.

EDIT:  Following Damo's reply below, please disregard this post.

[Damo17]

I heard that you need to have completed 4th year Psychology honours to do a masters but I can't really find anything that confirms this. If this is true, what happens if I don't get into honours, would there be another way of doing a masters?

Yes, you need to do honours to get into the psych masters at monash. I don't know if there is any other way to get into psych masters without doing honours.

Admission to the program requires four years of APAC-approved study in psychology.

http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3231/domestic-requirements.html
http://www.monash.edu/study/coursefinder/course/3232/domestic-requirements.html

[Gobon]

Alright, thanks. What happens if I don't get into honours but I still want to do masters, do I just wait and try again for honours for the next year. What do I do in the mean time, repeat the year?

[Muuru]

If you don't do Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology can be used as a prerequisite for entry into Masters at most universities.

Also, to answer this question:

Would it be preferable to complete a masters if I wanted to maximise my career prospects?

Are you intending on becoming a licensed psychologist, or are you just talking about improving your career prospects in general?

If you're intending on becoming a qualified psychologist, you need to do a Masters and some other professional development activities. Not including your undergraduate studies, this can last anywhere between 2-5 years (depending on what type of psychologist you want to be). So yes, a Masters is absolutely integral if you want to break into that field.

[Gobon]

If you don't do Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology can be used as a prerequisite for entry into Masters at most universities.

I heard that honours was much more useful in getting into masters than the diploma. That theres more honours students doing masters. And that the diploma is more of a practical thing to start work in psychology straight after wards. True? I'm guessing the diploma is much less competitive than honours, is there any competition at all? As in, if I get above the minimum requirements is there still a chance I won't get accepted.

If you're intending on becoming a qualified psychologist, you need to do a Masters and some other professional development activities. Not including your undergraduate studies, this can last anywhere between 2-5 years (depending on what type of psychologist you want to be). So yes, a Masters is absolutely integral if you want to break into that field.

The APAC site just said that I just needed 4 years in studying psychology to be a registered psychologist, didn't really mention masters specifically.

[Glockmeister]

If you don't do Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology can be used as a prerequisite for entry into Masters at most universities.

I heard that honours was much more useful in getting into masters than the diploma. That theres more honours students doing masters. And that the diploma is more of a practical thing to start work in psychology straight after wards. True? I'm guessing the diploma is much less competitive than honours, is there any competition at all? As in, if I get above the minimum requirements is there still a chance I won't get accepted.

If you're intending on becoming a qualified psychologist, you need to do a Masters and some other professional development activities. Not including your undergraduate studies, this can last anywhere between 2-5 years (depending on what type of psychologist you want to be). So yes, a Masters is absolutely integral if you want to break into that field.

The APAC site just said that I just needed 4 years in studying psychology to be a registered psychologist, didn't really mention masters specifically.

Many people go via the Post-graduate diploma option, if you only just make the minimum requirements, you will definitely not make it in. To be able to realistically have a chance to get into an Honours programme, at least at Monash is around a 78-83% average in the third year Psych units.

I believe there are moves to eliminate the option to be able to do 2 years intershhip only so that you have to do a masters at least (the Australian Psychological Society is campaigning on that point). Either way, most people tend would do a post-graduate course (Masters or Doctorate) before registering to practice.

[fagsu]

Would it be preferable to complete a masters if I wanted to maximise my career prospects?

A career? In psychology?

...

[Russ]

Would it be preferable to complete a masters if I wanted to maximise my career prospects?

A career? In psychology?

...

Yeah, you know those guys that charge $150+ for a consultation?

[fagsu]

Psychologists do what friends can do for free. You're welcome.

[Russ]

*headdesk*

[fagsu]

Oh I forgot! People are ignorant so they go and pay these freeloaders!

[Russ]

Yeah, they're the ones who are ignorant in this discussion...

[Gobon]

If you don't do Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology can be used as a prerequisite for entry into Masters at most universities.

I heard that honours was much more useful in getting into masters than the diploma. That theres more honours students doing masters. And that the diploma is more of a practical thing to start work in psychology straight after wards. True? I'm guessing the diploma is much less competitive than honours, is there any competition at all? As in, if I get above the minimum requirements is there still a chance I won't get accepted.

If you're intending on becoming a qualified psychologist, you need to do a Masters and some other professional development activities. Not including your undergraduate studies, this can last anywhere between 2-5 years (depending on what type of psychologist you want to be). So yes, a Masters is absolutely integral if you want to break into that field.

The APAC site just said that I just needed 4 years in studying psychology to be a registered psychologist, didn't really mention masters specifically.

Many people go via the Post-graduate diploma option, if you only just make the minimum requirements, you will definitely not make it in. To be able to realistically have a chance to get into an Honours programme, at least at Monash is around a 78-83% average in the third year Psych units.

Does the "78-83%" thing apply to the diploma too, similar competitiveness to honours?

Oh I forgot! People are ignorant so they go and pay these freeloaders!

[Glockmeister]

If you don't do Honours, a Postgraduate Diploma in Psychology can be used as a prerequisite for entry into Masters at most universities.

I heard that honours was much more useful in getting into masters than the diploma. That theres more honours students doing masters. And that the diploma is more of a practical thing to start work in psychology straight after wards. True? I'm guessing the diploma is much less competitive than honours, is there any competition at all? As in, if I get above the minimum requirements is there still a chance I won't get accepted.

If you're intending on becoming a qualified psychologist, you need to do a Masters and some other professional development activities. Not including your undergraduate studies, this can last anywhere between 2-5 years (depending on what type of psychologist you want to be). So yes, a Masters is absolutely integral if you want to break into that field.

The APAC site just said that I just needed 4 years in studying psychology to be a registered psychologist, didn't really mention masters specifically.

Many people go via the Post-graduate diploma option, if you only just make the minimum requirements, you will definitely not make it in. To be able to realistically have a chance to get into an Honours programme, at least at Monash is around a 78-83% average in the third year Psych units.

Does the "78-83%" thing apply to the diploma too, similar competitiveness to honours?

I believe the diploma is easier to get into, lower marks, which is why it is a popular way to get in.