Should I major in psychology?

Doctor Ali Mattu2 minutes read

Dr. Ali Mattu shares his journey from a psychology major to an assistant professor, highlighting the diverse subfields and essential skills in psychology. Majoring in psychology exposes students to a wide range of information and real-world experience, preparing them for various career paths after graduation.

Insights

  • Psychology encompasses diverse subfields like cognitive psychology, biological psychology, and clinical psychology, emphasizing theory, scientific method application, ethics, critical thinking, and communication skills as core elements.
  • Real-world experience during college is crucial for psychology majors to apply knowledge and explore career paths, highlighting the practical preparation necessary for post-graduation opportunities.

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Recent questions

  • What is the field of psychology?

    The field of psychology encompasses various subfields.

  • How does psychology apply to other fields?

    Psychology is interconnected with various disciplines.

  • What skills does psychology develop?

    Psychology cultivates essential skills for various careers.

  • What are the different categories of psychology majors?

    Psychology majors have varied career paths.

  • Why is real-world experience important for psychology students?

    Real-world experience prepares psychology students for future opportunities.

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Summary

00:00

Psychology Major: A Journey of Exploration

  • Dr. Ali Mattu, a clinical psychologist, shares his journey from being a psychology major at UCLA to becoming an assistant professor at Columbia University.
  • He highlights the initial skepticism he had towards psychology classes but was captivated by the subject, leading him to pursue it further.
  • Early psychology classes are described as introductory and enticing, but the real challenges and depth come in later courses.
  • Psychology is depicted as a diverse field encompassing subfields like cognitive psychology, biological psychology, developmental psychology, social psychology, and clinical psychology.
  • The core of psychology is theory, scientific method application, ethics, critical thinking, and communication skills, making it a liberal arts degree with broad applicability.
  • Psychology is considered a hub science, interconnected with various fields like marketing, artificial intelligence, sociology, public health, neuroscience, psychiatry, education, nursing, and anthropology.
  • Majoring in psychology is portrayed as a journey that exposes students to a wide range of information without specializing in one area, emphasizing the development of essential skills.
  • Different categories of psychology majors are outlined: those aiming for graduate training in psychology, pre-professional students pursuing other fields, and those uncertain about career paths.
  • The importance of gaining real-world experience during college to apply psychological knowledge and explore potential career paths is emphasized, with a focus on practical preparation for post-graduation opportunities.
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