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Education Plus
Q&A: REPLIES TO READERS' COURSE AND CAREER RELATED QUERIES
Clinical psychology
Helping hand: Clinical psychologists have a role to play in a wide range of settings.
My wife is doing final year M.Sc. psychology, and after successful completion of the course, would like to do M.Phil. or Ph.D. in clinical psychology or neuro-psychology. Please let us know about the universities offering this course in South India and the related job prospects.
B.N. NAIR
E-MAIL
Clinical psychology is one among the specialisations related to psychology. Psychology is the science of the mind or mental states and processes. Clinical psychology is the discipline relating to the study of abnormal mental states, mental processes and mental behaviour. A clinical psychologist is a trained professional who offers counselling to people who show abnormal mental behaviour. Neuro-psychology is a subdivision of clinical psychology, and the related courses number only a few, none of which is available in Kerala.
Your wife can do M.Phil. or Ph.D. in clinical psychology after successful completion of M.Sc. psychology. Those who desire to go for Ph.D. should clear the National Eligibility Test for Junior Research Fellowship and lectureship conducted by the University Grants Commission or the university-level examination.
Study facilities
M.Phil. and doctoral degree courses in psychology give emphasis to research. Some of the universities which have Master’s degree courses, also offer M.Phil. and doctoral degree programmes in psychology.
The National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS), Bangalore; the Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP), Ranchi; and the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS), New Delhi; are the leading institutes offering M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes.
NIMHANS (deemed university), Bangalore – 560 029, offers M.Phil. and Ph.D. courses in mental health and social psychology. MA or M.Sc. degree holders in psychology with not less than 55 per cent marks are eligible for admission. For details, visit www.nimhanskar.nic.in
CIP, Ranchi – 834 006, offers an M.Phil. programme in medical and social psychology of two-year duration. Those who have MA or M.Sc. degree in psychology with 50 per cent marks in aggregate may apply. It offers a Ph.D. programme in clinical psychology of three-year duration. Meritorious MA or M.Sc. psychology degree holders are eligible for admission.
IHBAS, an autonomous body, conducts an M.Phil. course in clinical psychology. Those having MA or M.Sc. degree in psychology or applied psychology with minimum 55 per cent marks may apply.
In Kerala, M.Phil. and Ph.D. courses in clinical psychology are available in a few university departments.
•Department of Psychology, University of Kerala, Karyavattom campus, Thiruvananthapuram: M.Phil. and Ph.D.
•School of Behavioural Sciences, Mahatma Gandhi University, Priyadarshini Hills, Kottayam: M.Phil.
•Department of Psychology, University of Calicut, Tenhipalam, Malappuram district: M.Phil and PhD.
Details of more Universities offering M.Phil. and Ph.D. programmes in clinical psychology can be collected from the University Hand Book published by the Association of Indian Universities, New Delhi, which is available for reference in all University Employment Information and Guidance Bureaux functioning under all universities in Kerala.
The doctoral programmes are designed for students who wish to take up a career as a psychologist and involve themselves in psychological research and practice.
Career prospects
Clinical psychologists assess and treat people’s mental, emotional and behaviour disorders. These disorders range from mild to severe problems. One can set up a clinic and start counselling independently. Psychotherapy can be offered by trained clinical psychologists.
Teaching and research are two major avenues of employment for qualified psychologists who secure M.Phil. and Ph.D.
Several opportunities are available for clinical psychologists in U.K., the U.S., Australia, Singapore and so on.
Higher study in psychology
I have not studied psychology during graduation. But I seriously want to pursue a career in clinical psychology. Could you please let me know about the best universities offering regular postgraduate courses in this discipline?
SHILPA
E-MAIL
Postgraduate courses in psychology or clinical psychology are offered only to students who have graduated in psychology. As you have not studied psychology during graduation, you are not eligible to go for higher study in these disciplines. Those who wish to become a clinical psychologist should graduate in psychology and then opt for clinical psychology as a specialisation in the Master’s course.
GOPAKUMAR KARAKONAM
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