Decide Which Psychology Classes You Should Take

As you head back to school, it is important to spend some time thinking about the classes you are going to take. Your course selection will depend upon a number of different variables, including where you are at in your degree completion, your unique interests and your career goals.

If you plan to apply to a graduate program in psychology, it is especially important to select undergraduate courses wisely. While all graduate schools differ, a 1994 survey analyzed the course requirements of more than 2,000 graduate programs to find which courses were most often required for admission.

Some of the courses most commonly required by psychology graduate programs include:

• Statistics
• Experimental Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Personality Psychology

In addition to thinking about long-range goals such as attending graduate school, there are a number of other things you need to consider before you sign up for a psychology class:

• The amount of time required each week for class sessions, studying and homework. Think about your current schedule and determine whether or not you have the time to devote your full attention to the class.
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• The expenses associated with the class. Consider tuition, class fees, textbook costs and software expenses. If you are on a budget, tuition and fees should definitely be on your list of questions. Think about looking for different ways to fund your educations, such as grants, loans and scholarships.
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• Online versus offline class options. Signing up for an online class is a great way to free up your schedule while still getting those credits that you need. Check your school's course schedule to find out which classes are available in an online format.

Learn more about some of the important factors you should consider before you take a psychology class.

Finally, be sure to check out my recommendations for the ten psychology classes you should consider taking. These courses may or may not be required by your psychology program, but they all make great electives and help foster critical-thinking skills, research competence and a richer understanding of psychology.

Links to Explore:

• Pre-requisite Courses for Psychology Graduate School
• Before You Sign Up for a Psychology Course
• 10 Psychology Classes You Should Take

Be sure to check back tomorrow for part three of our back-to-school series. We'll be covering tips, advice and resources that you can use to succeed in your psychology classes.

_{Part of the "Back-to-School Tips for Psychology Students" series.}

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