MA Psychology

MA in Psychology is a two year program that prepares students for a career in psychology. The course typically includes coursework in research methods, psychological theory, and statistics. Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology provides students an in-depth insights into Clinical psychology, Health psychology, Work psychology, Social psychology, Neuropsychology, Emotions, Paradigm studies. The MA Psychology course syllabus typically includes topics such as Research methods, Psychological theory, Statistics and hands-on experience in the field. 

The MA Psychology also focus on understanding the complexity of human behavior, including Psychopathology, Abnormal behavior, Health psychology, Positive psychology, Organizational behavior. The MA Psychology subjects covers various psychology divisions, including Clinical psychology, Health psychology, Industrial psychology, Social psychology, Psychometry, Neuropsychology and the study of emotions and paradigms. To be eligible for MA Psychology admission 2024, candidates must have got at least 50% of their undergraduate degree. However, a Psychology Honours degree is required by the majority of reputable universities, or at the very least, psychology must be taken as a subject for graduation.

Master of Arts in Psychology, or MA Psychology, is one of the most sought after postgraduate degree programmes in the field of psychology. An MA in Psychology fee can vary between INR 10,000 and INR 50,000. Due to the growing demand for psychological counselling, there are numerous MA psychology job opportunities available. Clinical psychologists, psychological counsellors, rehabilitation centre psychologists, and even sports psychologists are among the jobs available to MA in Psychology graduates. They have the ability to collaborate with various social groups and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). In India, an MA in Psychology salary ranges from INR 4,75,000 to INR 8,75,000, depending on the position. After completing an MA in Psychology, candidates can pursue a PhD in any area of psychology, including industrial, clinical, or psychology.

Also Read: List of Professional Courses in India 

Here are some of the important MA psychology course highlights:

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MA Psychology admission 2024 is based on the CUET entrance exam. The CUET PG 2024 exam dates have been announced. The National Testing Agency will administer the CUET PG Exam 2024 from  March 11 to March 28, 2024. 

Candidates who are interested in learning more about the brain and human nature can pursue an MA in psychology. Psychologists must work in a variety of settings where they must comprehend both the patient's physical and emotional issues. The following are some key details on why someone should select an MA in psychology:

• The field of psychology is one that is expanding the fastest and has many applications in the modern world
• Candidates taking the MA Psychology course learn about the science of the human mind as well as its behavioural aspects
• Learning about human behaviour, brain development, personality, and other topics are required for the MA Psychology course
• Candidates can pursue an MA in psychology if they are interested in working with a variety of patients
• You can take the MA Psychology course offline or online
• Candidates for the MA Psychology programme learn about various schools of thought while taking the course, including biological psychology, behaviourist psychology, cognitive psychology, and social psychology

Most universities have similar eligibility criteria for students seeking an MA in Psychology. Students who fulfil the following criteria and hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant field are eligible to apply to several universities and affiliated colleges' MA Psychology programmes.

• To pursue an MA in Psychology, students must have a Bachelor's degree in any discipline from a recognised college or university with a minimum of 50%
• Students who have completed their undergraduate degree in BA Psychology or BSc Psychology have an advantage in that they already have prior knowledge in the field of Psychology
• In some MA Psychology colleges, candidates must pass an entrance exam in order to be admitted to the MA Psychology programme
• Some private MA Psychology colleges also provide admission without an entrance exam. If a student is unable to pass any entrance exam for any MA Psychology course, they can seek admission in private colleges

MA Psychology Required Skills 

MA psychology course is a bit different from the other social science course. In MA psychology course, students are required to literally understand the psyche of a person and gather thorough knowledge about it. Multiple skills and abilities are required in order to become a successful psychologist. Given below are some of the important skills that are required to pursue MA psychology courses. 

Various reputed institutes in India hold entrance exams for MA in psychology. The following are some of the important entrance exams for MA psychology admission. Candidates must take these exams to be admitted to MA in Psychology programmes at various prestigious colleges and universities in India.

TISSNET - MA psychology entrance exam is conducted by Tata Institute of Social Sciences every year. Candidates who have a minimum aggregate score of 50% can appear for MA psychology entrance exam. Candidates must clear the entrance exam as per the cut off released by the institute. TISS is one of the most reputed institutes in India for arts and humanities study.

CUET PG - Delhi University is one of the most prestigious universities in India. DU is located in the capital city of India, New Delhi. The cut off for getting enrolled in any course in DU is very high. Every year MA psychology entrance exam is conducted by NTA. Candidates who have a minimum score of 50% in their undergraduate degree can appear for the entrance exam. After the exam is conducted, the cut off list is released. Candidates are then offered admission as per their marks. The cut off for different categories is different. Candidates must prepare diligently in order to secure MA psychology admission in Delhi University.

Also Read: Important Topics for CUET Psychology 2024

The application process for MA Psychology programmes in India may differ slightly from that of other programmes due to the required skills and criteria. Most MA Psychology programmes still select candidates via entrance exams, which are followed by interviews or group discussions. The admissions processes for MA Psychology programmes in India are as follows.

• Entrance-Based MA Psychology Admissions
• Merit-Based MA Psychology Admissions

The general steps to admission for an MA in Psychology vary depending on the college, but they are as follows: 

Step 1: Complete the online MA Psychology application. 
Step 2: Pay the registration fee and any additional costs that might be incurred in the event that admission is decided by merit. Exams must be taken and passed in order to be considered for entrance-based MA Psychology admissions. 
Step 3: Those who made the short list will be invited to move on to the next round of interviews, group discussions, or counselling, depending on the nature of the process. 
Step 4: Candidates must submit all necessary paperwork and fees in order to be accepted into the MA Psychology programme, having completed the previous steps. 

At most universities and colleges, admissions to MA Psychology programmes are based on merit. A written 10+2 exam, a series of in-person interviews, and/or a qualifying exam relevant to the programme will determine which candidates are accepted into the MA Psychology programme. Candidates in these situations are usually selected for further consideration based on their academic standing and results on a prior relevant exam. 

Candidates can pursue various types of psychology specialisation degrees based on their interests. Psychology is a very versatile field that provides candidates with numerous options. Following completion of the MA Psychology course, a candidate can pursue the following types of psychology:

• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Educational Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Social Psychology
• Health Psychology

MA Psychology is a branch of science which deals with various aspects about the working of the human brain. Given below are some of the important school of thoughts related to MA Psychology course:

Biological Psychology

Behavioral neuroscience, also known as biological psychology, involves the application of biological principles to the study of physiological and genetic mechanisms underlying behavior in humans and other animals. This field includes the study of both human and non-human animals. 

Behaviorist Psychology

In this field of psychology, human behavior is studied. In this field of study, various kind of techniques are developed which help the patient to replace the unwanted behavior habits with desirable behavior habits. 

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive Psychology involves the study of mental processes of human beings. This field of psychology includes the study of language comprehension, perception, memory and other problem solving techniques. 

Social Psychology

Social psychology is the study of human behavior, thoughts and feelings. It deals with the analytical research on the influence of social surroundings on human behavior. 

Psychoanalytic

Psychoanalytic psychology is the field of psychology that deals with the study of the unconscious mind and how it affects the daily functioning of a person's life. The techniques used in psychoanalysis help in the treatment of mental disorders of different kinds of patients. Various kinds of dream interpretation techniques are also used in this branch of psychology. 

Existential-humanistic

Humanistic psychology has been influenced by existentialism and phenomenology, stresses free will and self-actualization. This field of psychology tends to study the whole person’s personality and not just one aspect about it. Humanistic psychology focuses on various important aspects about human behavior such as loneliness, personal-growth, death, and freedom.

There are different kinds of courses that a candidate can pursue in MA Psychology courses. Candidates can do MA or even MSc in psychology. Given below are mentioned courses that a candidate can do in MA psychology courses:

• Master of Arts (MA) in Psychology
• Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Psychology
• Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
• MSc in Psychology

Candidates who can not do a regular MA psychology course can go for MA psychology distance education course as well. The eligibility criteria for MA psychology distance education course is almost the same as the regular one. Candidates with undergraduate degree in any field can apply for MA Psychology admission. Candidates must have secured a 50% aggregate score in their undergraduate degree. Some of the best universities and colleges offering MA psychology distance education course are as follows:

• Osmania University
• Chandigarh University
• IGNOU
• Nalanda Open University
• Jamia Millia Islamia University
• Ambedkar University of Delhi
• Amity University

Also Read: Top 10 Distance Education Universities in India

Masters in Psychology can be completed as either an MSc or an MA. The two streams have slightly different focuses, but the eligibility is very similar. Although it is recommended that you pursue the stream in which you completed your graduation, colleges do not use this as an eligibility criterion. Below is a comparison of MSc Psychology and MA Psychology.

The average fee for an MA psychology course ranges from INR 10,000 to INR 50,000. However, MA psychology fees vary between colleges and universities as colleges have a distinct fee structure that appears to be set by the institution's management. For instance, the fees for MA psychology at government colleges are lower than those at private colleges.

MA Psychology is a very versatile course that teaches candidates fascinating things about the human brain and behaviour. The MA Psychology curriculum is designed to provide candidates with a thorough understanding of human psychology. The MA Psychology syllabus is listed below by semester. It should be noted that the curriculum for MA psychology courses may differ depending on the course. Candidates must consult their respective MA Psychology colleges to gain a thorough understanding of the MA Psychology curriculum.

Many private colleges in India offer MA psychology courses. Private colleges, on the other hand, are significantly more expensive than public universities, despite the fact that many candidates prefer them. The following is a list of the top private colleges offering an MA in psychology.

Note: The fees mentioned above are subject to change.

Private colleges charge more in fees than government or public universities. The following list includes a few of the best government universities that grant an MA in psychology:

Note: The fees mentioned above are subject to change.

MA psychology courses are offered by almost every college and university in India. In order to gain subtle experience in the psychology field, it is necessary to have appropriate knowledge and education in it. Candidates can take an idea from the list provided here and chose a MA Psychology college most suitable for them. 

Given below is the list of top 10 MA psychology colleges in India 2024. 

• Fergusson College, Pune
• Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce, Pune
• St Xavier's College, Ahmedabad
• MCM DAV College for Women, Chandigarh
• Patna Women's College, Patna
• DAV College, Chandigarh
• Indian Institute of Psychology and Research, Bangalore
• St Xaviers College, Mumbai
• School of Distance Education, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam
• Nowrosjee Wadia College, Pune

Candidates can also look at Top Colleges in Delhi University (DU) Based on NIRF Ranking 2024 here!

The MA Psychology cut-off is a set of criteria used to determine a candidate's eligibility or entrance exam scores. The M.A. Psychology cutoff varies by college and is determined by the number of students who pass the qualifying examinations.

Nowadays, the demand for professional psychology is rising constantly in several sectors. With people finally being able to talk about their mental health issues, the need for professionals in the field of psychology is becoming quite important. Many schools and colleges have counselors or psychologists so that the students can always reach out in case they have any problems related to their mental health. Trained people with an in-depth knowledge of psychology are recruited at welfare organizations, community mental health centers, colleges, hospitals, clinics, etc. Some of the major job profiles at which postgraduates with an MA Psychology get to work are given below.

Clinical Psychologist - Clinical psychologists deal with the behavior changes in humans. They are required to do the necessary research in this field and educate the common people. A clinical psychologist is a profession which deals with diagnosing the patients and treating the uncommon or harmful behavior habits in individuals and in groups. 

Professor - Candidates can go for higher studies after completing MA psychology course and can do PhD in Psychology. Candidates who wish to become a professor in psychology subject need to have deep knowledge about the subject and its related branches. The scope for psychology courses is gradually increasing with time. Hence becoming professor in MA psychology subject can turn out to be a successful career option for most of the candidates.

Neuropsychologist - This profession deals with the study of human behavior and the human brain. This branch of psychology deals with the study of different kinds of nervous system disease and how they can be treated. In this profession, candidates have to study about the various nervous system diseases and how they are linked with human brain and behavior.

Teacher - Candidates can also become teacher in a school after completing MA psychology course. Through this profession, candidates get a chance to interact with young minds and share ones’ knowledge with them. The profession of a teacher is a very significant profession as it deals with educating young minds. 

Other kind of professions to pursue after MA psychology are given below:

• Mental Health Counselor
• Psychologist
• Supervising Counselor
• Youth Development Manager
• Youth Care Specialist
• Adoption Services Director
• Alcohol and Drug Counselor
• Therapist
• Career Advisor
• Community Relations Officer
• Social Worker

MA Psychology Salary

Candidates can start to earn just after completing MA psychology course. The salary of the candidates depends on the experience they have in the psychology field. Given below is the detailed analysis of MA psychology salary:

MA Psychology Salary: Experience Level

MA Psychology Salary: Profession wise

Note: The figures mentioned above are subject to change.

MA Psychology Top Recruiters

Candidates have plenty of career options after completing MA Psychology. Given below are some of the to recruiters who hire candidates with MA psychology degree:

• Vcare Counseling Centre
• Medanta
• Veda Rehab and Wellness Private Limited
• The Mind Clinic
• Fortis
• Mind Care centre for counselling
• Apollo
• Institute Of Psychiatry
• Delhi University
• Jamia Millia Islamia University
• Over a Cup of Tea - Psychological Wellness Centre
• Central Institute of Psychiatry

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Candidates after completing MA psychology course can go for higher studies as well. Some of the top courses that a candidate can pursue after completing MA psychology are as follows:

• PhD Psychology

There are plenty of renowned colleges and universities that offer admission in MA Psychology course. Below are some of the renowned MA Psychology colleges where a candidate can pursue higher studies in psychology:

• Guwahati University
• Banaras Hindu University
• Amity University
• Allahabad University
• Banasthali University
• Central University of Karnataka

Also Read: PhD Admission 2024