Arts(Psychology) in NUIG

Flecktarn

Hey just wondering did anyone do Psychology in Galway? And if so was it benefical? How many hours? Modules? Etc.

PomBear

I don't do it but many people LOVE it. you should keep legal science in mind too, very easy to love and soc and pol goes good with anything.

You can see hours and modules here at their website http://www.nuigalway.ie/psychology/timetables.htm

1BA is first arts

Flecktarn

Cheers for the link!

New.White.Socks

I did regular 1st arts and was offered a place in the denominated psych program, decided to take it and was generally pleased with the course.
The third year research is a great opportunity. Some really good and some average lecturers there. Not many hours a week, i think it was about 14, but if you want to do will you will have to put in significantly more then that.
Class is small which means you get to know people in the class well, good socially and we organised study group type things which were great around exam times.

Any more specific questions?

Flecktarn

Thanks. Ya, just wondering do you have to do arts first, then the pathway to psychology? Or is there any direct way in?

Is the degree nationally recognised? Could one go to clinical psy, etc. pretty easy after graduating?

Is it very abstract? Are you finished btw?

D.R cowboy

You could with psychology but not psychology through arts you would not be PSI accredited , the points are high for PSI courses there is about 6 in all in Ireland all over 500 pts , and there all in the university accept for the one in IADT which is 350 because it is a new course but will be over 400 pts next year

New.White.Socks

Yes, I've finished.

I would strongly reccomend doing a PSI accredited course. The PSI is the professional body. The course in Galway is, but this also means that it is quite difficult to get into. There are two ways. The first is through the CAO, or leaving cert points. Not sure exactly how many points but it is generally high, roughly mid 500s. So that means doing really well in all of your LC subjects. There are 15 places up for grabs through the CAO. In this case you study 4 subjects in first year, one of which has to be psychology and you can choose from loads of others for your other three. You are guarenteed a place in the denominated psychology class for 2nd and 3rd year this way though.
The second way to get into the class is by studying arts in first year, with psychology being one of your four subjects. This is easier to get in to fro the CAO as points are about 400 i think. You are not guarenteed a place, but if your 1st year psychology result is in the top 15 you are offered a place in the class. This is also very competitive, because it is popular and the class is very big, about 300 students i think. So either way it is very competitive.
So at in 2nd year, you have a class of 30 denominated psychology students. There is another option though; if you take 1st arts and don't get into the top 15 there is another class called psychological studies. The top 100 students based on 1st yr psy results (excluding the top 15 who are offered the denominated course) are offered a place in psych studies. In this case you take psychology and one other subject. This degree isn't PSI accredited, but you can do a one year higher diploma after your degree, where you take all the subjects you didn't do as part of your degree and once you get that you have the same qualification as you would have if you did denominated psychology.

The degree in Galway is both nationally (PSI) recognised and internationally. Basically it adheres to the same standards as psychological societies in other countries, so you are eligible to go study or practice in other countries with your degree if you wish.
About clinical psychology. Basically, you have to have this qualification to do clinical, but that really doesn't mean its easy. Its a long road. But then you have to recognise that there are very few degrees, especially as short as 3yrs where you'll easily go straight into a job. To do clinical, first you need your degree, and you need to get a 1st class honours. Then you need to get a place in the masters program, which is another 3yrs. But to get into this you need at least 2yrs experience under a clinical psychologist or 3 (i think) years relevant research experience. The experience under a clincal psychologist is genuinely extremely hard to get, and out of reach for the vast majority of graduates, so most do research, which usually means doing a phd.

Sorry the post is so long! Just wanted to give you a good picture of it all. I would advise not to be put off by the fact that a lot of the steps are competitive, if you want to do well whatever road you go down its not going to be easy, and it is all do-able.
What year are you in at the moment? Or are you a mature student?

New.White.Socks

Sorry, even with a post that long I didn't answer all of your questions!

Is it abstract.... I would say on the whole, no. But it is a very broad and varied course. Many parts are grounded in science. But there are parts (a minority) that are more philosophical. The course in Galway is definately focused on the science side of things though.

Flecktarn

Thanks very much for that. Em ya I'm in 6th year in Castlebar and picking courses for my CAO is just around the bend. So really need to get into gear. Stuck between law or psychology.
?!:S In NUIG or UL?!:S

One of my mates' dad is a clinical psychologist and I'm gonna have a talk with him about it.

Can I just ask what PSI stands for + means? So, all in all, your talking bout around 6 years?

Just wondering what are you up to now?

New.White.Socks

PSI is the psychological society of ireland. They're the professional body, which means they don't have any direct links with the universities, but the universities (or colleges) can apply to them to get accreditation. If the PSI look at the course and decide it meets their standards then accreditation is given. That then means that employers etc know that the standard of the course is high, so it's worth more to them.
Yeah, have a chat with your friend's dad and get to know a bit about clinical, but also keep in mind that psychology is actually really broad, and there are loads of different routes you could go down based on interest.
Typically for clinical your talking at least 6 years, which is a fairly long road. But to get to similar level/payscale in any area your talking that time. Seems like a long time but it really isn't.
If you choose to do arts you can go to introductory lectures on law and psych that might help you pick between them at the start of the year. But to be honest they're not likely to help that much. Maybe try looking at some of the stuff you'll be studying. I know you've plenty to be doing in your LC year, but both subjects are quite different to what people assume, so a quick review could be really helpful. Just as an aside, a few friends of mine graduated from Law in the last couple of years, and there are literally no jobs whatsoever. Hopefully will be changed by the time you get out, but worth considering anyway.
At the moment I'm doing a masters in occupational psychology in Nottingham.

4k

there are 730 doing first psychology this year in galway. nuts eh? so if you came in at the arts angle, you'd need to be in the top 100 out of these as was very well explained by white socks.

New.White.Socks

4k wrote: »

there are 730 doing first psychology this year in galway. nuts eh? so if you came in at the arts angle, you'd need to be in the top 100 out of these as was very well explained by white socks.

Top 115 to be in either of the two classes. If you don't get that it still isn't the end of the road if you really want to do it. There is a two year higher diploma that you can do, that will give you the same qualification, provided you've studied psych in your first year.

Flecktarn

Ya people who have just qualified in law are finding it difficult to get an apprenticeship now...
Oh whats occupational therapy like?

Ya so basically in Galway there's two ways;

1. Denominated. I'm guessing this is the higher of the two at 525 points

2.Undenominated/Omnibus entry. Which I gather is the long way around, by passing various exams to get that place into denominated. Think this one is 400 points, as you take it through arts.

So really I should be aiming for the denominated course. Am I correct in saying that?:S

fionaod

yeah I'm in second year denominated psychology now and I got in throught the 15 places with the cao, if you think you could get that definitely go for it because it is definitely tough to get top 15 (especially when you go into first year and all you want to do is party... )

If you do go in the arts way though its less than 400...I think arts is like 350. No special reuirements or anything, regular arts will get you in. You don't have to do any extra exams just the usual ones but to qualify for denominated you'll need to get the top 15 results out of the whole 700 doing first year psychology (keep in mind though alot wont pass or even want to keep it on) or else top 100 to do psychological studies which does half our modules with another subject.

mertyle

Hi, I have been offered denominated psychology in NUIG. I am confused about the course structure in first year. 15 people apparently are taken each year. Apparently the course layout is that students chose 3 subjects from the arts syllabus plus psychology. My query is do the core group of 15 have any tutorials or lectures together, this would help getting to know each other. It seems that first year psychology is exactly the same as first year arts.

Lucario

mertyle wrote: »

Hi, I have been offered denominated psychology in NUIG. I am confused about the course structure in first year. 15 people apparently are taken each year. Apparently the course layout is that students chose 3 subjects from the arts syllabus plus psychology. My query is do the core group of 15 have any tutorials or lectures together, this would help getting to know each other. It seems that first year psychology is exactly the same as first year arts.

That's because it basically is the same as first arts :P Kinda shíte in terms of getting to know the other 14, but that's how it is. There's meant to be 30 in total for the denominated Psychology course which starts in second year really, so 15 places are given to those who got the points through the CAO, and the other 15 places are awarded at the end of the year to those who did the best in Arts. Then in second year the full 30 do just Psychology lectures and are together most of the time. For now, you're basically doing Arts, except you don't have to compete for Psychology. You get into it in second year provided you pass all your subjects. So you've to just pick 3 other subjects for now and continue doing Arts really.

You more than likely won't get to know the other 14 this year. There's hundreds of people doing arts so it's a bit unlikely that you'll all meet at once. You might meet a few now and then but you probably won't find out everyone doing it until next year.