Your education questions answered

I constantly get questions from parents and students about studying psychology. Below I answer three questions: What is psychology? What is studied in a psychology degree? Which colleges and what courses does the Psychological Society of Ireland (PSI) accredit, for further study as a psychologist?

What is psychology?

Psychology is the study of the mind and human behaviour. Over the past 100 years, a scientific account of psychology has developed, and it is the science of psychology that is taught in universities. This science has many facets, covering, for example, child development, social behaviour, personality, perception, learning, memory and the relation between psychology and the brain.

It is, however, quite distinct from psychiatry, which is the medical approach to psychological problems, or psychoanalysis, which is a distinctive approach to therapy and has no connection with modern psychology. Indeed, psychology as a discipline is not primarily about therapy or treatment of psychological problems. Instead, it is concerned with scientific understanding of how the "normal" person functions psychologically, and how this can sometimes lead to "abnormality" or psychological problems.

As this scientific knowledge grows, it generates science-based treatments for psychological problems that can be used effectively in therapy.

What is studied in a psychology degree?

All recognised degrees in psychology cover many of the main facets of modern psychology listed above, and they do so in the context of developing an understanding in the student of how to approach human psychology in a scientific way. This means that it is desirable, but not usually essential, to have studied science to an advanced level in school.

All degrees involve practical work and related training in research methods and statistical techniques. Psychology degrees contain aspects of both social sciences and biological sciences.

Accreditation of undergraduate degrees in psychology

Completion of an accredited degree confers eligibility for graduate membership of the Psychological Society of Ireland.

At the present time, graduates holding degrees recognised by the British Psychological Society, such as psychology degrees awarded by the Open University, must apply individually to the Psychological Society of Ireland for recognition of their degrees, as the basis for graduate membership.

The following courses are accredited by the PSI: University College Dublin - BA (Hons) psychology, BSc (Hons) psychology, Higher Diploma in psychology; University of Ulster, Magee College - BSc (Hons) psychology with organisational science; Trinity College Dublin - BA (Mod) psychology; National University of Ireland, Maynooth - BA (Hons) psychology, BSc psychology; Dublin Business School - BA (Hons) psychology, BA (Hons) psychology (part-time); American College Dublin - BA behavioural science (psychology); University College Cork -BA (Hons) psychology, BSc (Hons) psychology, Higher Diploma in psychology; Dún Laoghaire Institute for Art, Design and Technology - BSc psychology - applied to information technology; NUI Galway - BA in psychology

Brian Mooney is president of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors. E-mail questions to bmooney@irish-times.ie