Have you ever wondered how to switch disciplines at University?
You may be very happy with your current degree, but would like to see what options are out there to diversify your skills. Or you may know that your dream job requires you to know more about a specific area that you’re not currently studying.
And the benefits are quite tempting too - not only could you graduate with a postgraduate degree, which would potentially give you an edge over similar candidates with only undergraduate degrees, but you would have skills from different areas of study to call upon. Diversifying yourself will always put you a step ahead of others in your sector, and it can open opportunities that may have otherwise not been available to you.
This is quite a common occurrence in university life, and thankfully more and more institutions are offering courses that can help. Whether you are someone coming to the end of their undergraduate degree, or someone already in work looking for a change, there is a course out there for you.
Today, we’re going to look at how YOU can get into psychology and criminology with the School of Social Sciences at Birmingham City University, through one of our many courses open to graduates from different disciplines.
Talk to someone
First of all, it is important to really nail down why you want to make this change. As we mentioned above, for some getting a postgraduate degree in a different subject area was always the plan. There are a lot of careers out there that call for employees with very varied skillsets and knowledge bases. Others may have really enjoyed a criminology or psychology based module during their studies, and now want to expand that further into a full degree.
Either way, your personal tutor may be the best person to talk to if you’re still at University. Other lecturers who have taught you during your degree may also be useful in the decision making process. They can all help talk you through your options, and advise you on the best course to take that matches up to your needs and desires.
Look for the right course for you
The next step is to start looking into courses. At the School of Social Sciences, we offer a wide range of courses that can help you get into criminology and psychology based careers.
Our fully online MSc Psychology course allows you to carry on working whilst converting to a new area of academic study. Accredited by the British Psychological Society, it’s a great way to work towards a career as a psychologist.
We offer two Criminology courses that require no previous experience in the subject. Our MA Criminology degree combines both theory and practical skills to give you a great overall understanding of the field. And our MA Security Studies gives you insight into areas including war and modern conflict, terrorism and counter terrorism, cyber security, European foreign affairs, and intelligence and surveillance.
These are just some of the courses we offer for graduates from different backgrounds. As long as you have a qualifying degree, or the appropriate level of work experience, they could all be the jumping off point for a new career.
Attend one of our Master’s open events
Still undecided? Don’t worry – we know it’s a big step to take to change your area of study and embark on a degree at postgraduate level. This is why we are holding several events in February, March and April at our City Centre Campus. These free lunchtime events offer you the chance to talk to our academics about our courses, to make sure you’re making the right decision for you.
They’ll be able to answer any questions you might have, and can discuss with you which one of our courses is the best one for you. There’ll also be a free lunch provided! You can book onto these events now on our website.
So why wait – see if you can change your career with the School of Social Sciences today!
