Bachelor of Science in Psychology (Personnel Management and Industrial Psychology)

The Greek word ‘psyche’ signifies ‘mind’ or ‘soul’. Psych-ology, in other words, literally means the study of the human mind. Throughout the years, the discipline of psychology has increasingly become a strictly scientific field of study with its own methodology.

Nowadays, the discipline of psychology is identified as the study of the causes and effects of human behaviour and how this knowledge can be applied in a context of psychological services and counselling vis-à-vis clients in a variety of situations (family, school, work...).

Psychology not only studies directly observable behaviour (e.g. the ways in which children ask for attention) but also indirectly observable behaviour like thoughts, feelings, and personal nature. The concept of ‘behaviour’ should be considered in its broadest possible sense, including the underlying physical and neuropsychological processes. It should always be considered together with the situation, the entire personality and the reaction of others to a particular behaviour.

• Bachelor

In the Bachelor's programme you acquire a broad overview of the different disciplines of psychology, and you learn to apply these insights to research and practice. The curriculum contains a solid scientific-academic basis, an introduction to the major fields of practice in clinical psychology, industrial psychology and personnel management, and education. It offers a coherent whole of skills classes on research methods, processing and interpretation of research data, and psychodiagnostics.

• Master

The Master’s programme results in the professional title of psychologist. The main subjects each have their own structure and finality, but all of them have made sufficient room in the curriculum for a work placement.

Depending on your main subject, you may end up in a variety of sectors.

Clinical Psychology graduates primarily end up in the health care sector. Psychiatric hospitals are an obvious employer, but so are general hospitals, with psychologists catering to a variety of wards. In the mental health care sector outside of the hospital, too, psychologists are contacted for all sorts of personal issues. Psychologists also find employment in primary health care and the social welfare sector, in the forensic sector, disability care, special youth care, rehabilitation centres and medical-pedagogical institutes... . Last but not least, psychologists also become self-employed, either full-time or part-time, and often in a group practice with other medical experts.

Industrial psychologists are either in the service of a company, or are employed at a selection office or consultancy firm. They are usually in charge of recruitment, selection, HR policy, organisational development, training sessions, ... . In addition, they are usually called upon for change management. Although private companies have a long-standing tradition of employing industrial psychologists, more and more public services, hospitals and other organisations have shown increasing interest in how to run their day-to-day business efficiently.

Theoretical and experimental psychologists primarily end up in Research & Development (R&D), either at universities or private research centres, e.g. pharmaceutical labs (research into the effect of drugs on animal behaviour), consumer organisations’ research centres, or in the traffic psychology sector. Some end up in sports psychology, and others conduct research for computer manufacturers.

Education
Students opting for the Education main subject, possibly choose the Master of Science in Teaching. (120 ECTS credits). This Master’s programme prepares you for a teaching position in secondary education, higher education or adult education. But there are many other options beyond education, too.

Take a look at our faculty website for career testimonials by our graduates (in Dutch).