5 psychologists undergrads to every chemistry undergrad

[Guy_Montag]

in the UK.

I am the only one depressed by this?

Heard it on American radio (WAMU 88.5 Washington DC) too - a special report from the UK.

[skooooo]

1. Hey, at least there will be someone to treat your depression!

Some of those psyche majors may go on to medical school. And we probably need more psychologists/psychiatrists than chemists in society.

But..your points about the sciences not being studied is well taken. (If that was your point)

[Guy_Montag]

2. Over here medicine is an undergrad degree,

that is to say, university level psychology is not a normal entry to medical school. Most med students go straight from highschool to medical school.

Psychiatry is a post-grad extension of medicine, not psychology.

[skooooo]

3. doh!

Wow...so what brings you to DU? Interested in the U.S.? Just curious.

[Guy_Montag]

4. Well, your politics has a lot more influence

on the world. & we are apparently a satellite of the US just now.:shrug:

Have a look here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=191x312

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Well, in the U.S., the market for psychologists is good. 1 out of 5

Americans suffer from mental illness of various degrees according to an article in the New York Times, published 4-5 years ago. (I remember it because I clipped it and kept it in my desk at work to look at when my bosses went psycho.)

When science is elevated and financially recognized in this country, then more students will be encouraged to enroll in such programs in the universities.

[LeftishBrit]

6. I'm a university teacher of psychology...

And we do indeed get a huge number of very good applications.

Psychology at undergraduate degree level is not specific to treating psychological problems. It includes courses in abnormal psychology, but also child development and education (my field); personality; social psychology; brain function; memory and reasoning; etc.

People who want to specialize in clinical psychology have to take a more specialized postgraduate course after graduation. So do people who want to specialize in other fields: e.g. educational psychology; occupational psychology, etc. An undergraduate degree in psychology is helpful in getting into a number of less specialized fields.

I think its popularity is in part due to the fact that it is studied as a science, but at the same time involves learning about people and the human mind, so that it appeals to those interested in science and those interested in the humanities. Also, there have been a lot of good TV programmes about the brain and mind recently, which have no doubt been an attraction - e.g. those by Susan Greenfield and Robert Winston. Maybe someone should do something similar for Chemistry!

[sweetheart]

7. psychology as self discovery

Many kids i knew in college studied psychology and the human mind as
a way of using their school to study their own inner spiritualism...
and the degree was secondary to their interest in how their own
minds work. I used to borrow psyche textbooks and read them, as
indeed, there is a lotta general information that is good for all
people in psychology.

As for jobs, i guess people don't take university to get jobs. If i
were a UK 19 years old, i would study plumbing and construction.
It sounds boring, but it is the hottest long term profession going,
as most of the UK housing stock is in poor repair, with infinite
work for those with the skills. I guess those psychologists will
figure that out as well, and learn roofing. ;-)

Sadly, what happened to classical studies degrees? Real education
should include heavy philosophy, latin, history and art, as a way of
revealing what knowledge is, and how knowledge reveals truth...

but no mind my ranting... psyche is the degree of the day. I hope
they all become enlightened.