University of New South Wales - School of Psychology

What competencies do I develop as a Psychology graduate?

Psychology graduates are equipped with a number of skills that can be applied both to specific problems and can also be generalised to a variety of areas. The research-oriented and scientific approach of psychology allows students to form and test hypotheses and to critically evaluate information. It also facilitates the development of analytical and problem-solving ability, numerical reasoning ability and statistical reasoning skills. The study of psychology also requires the need for communicating complex and well-argued ideas. Therefore, psychology plays a vital role in the development of both oral and written communication skills.

For further information on skills that are developed during graduate study in psychology go to: http://www.apa.org/science/skills.html for ‘Skills (That May Be) Obtained During Graduate Study in Psychology’.

Generic Skills acquired through Psychology Degrees

Psychology graduates from Australian Universities have awarded a 5 star rating for the enhancement of generic skills that are acquired as a result of studying psychology.

(The Good Universities Guide; Universities, TAFE & Private Colleges in 2000)

Generic skills include:

Problem-solving skills
Analytical skills
Teamwork skills
Written communication skills
Planning and Organisation skills
Undertaking novel and unfamiliar problems

(GCCA; 1998 Course Experience Questionnaire p.19)

What do employers think?

Employers value the skills developed by Psychology graduates:

Good research and written communication skills
A keen awareness of group and individual interpersonal interaction
Well-developed skills in the analysis, synthesis and evaluation of information

(Careers in Psychology: Or what can I do with a bachelor’s degree; Carroll, J.L., Shmidt, J.R., & Sorenson, R. (1992), Psychological reports, 71, 1151-1154)

Psychology graduates possess a number of skills and competencies that are currently in high demand.

Moreover, several of such skills have been identified as particularly valuable over the next few years.

These include:

Basic skills and organisational skills:

Communication and analytical skills
Problem solving skills
Interpersonal skills (including negotiation skills and self management)

Other skills that will be in high demand include:

Technical skills (computer skills)
Company specific skills

(Source: 21st Century Skills for 21st Century jobs, report by the US Departments of Commerce; Education; and Labour, National Institute of Literacy, and the Small Business Administration, January, 1999; cited in Source: Department of Employment, Workplace Relations, and Small Business; http://www.dewrsb.gov.au/department/employment)

Australian Psychological Society

(ACN 000 543 788 ISSN 0157-9517)

The following set of competencies have been developed by the Australian Psychological Society (APS) in order to reflect the range of skills, knowledge and expertise that are required to be demonstrated by psychologists (with 6 years of training

Competencies

1. Discipline knowledge
2. Research
3. Framing, measuring and solving problems
4. Service implementation
5. Professional legal and ethical approach
6. Communication
7. Professional and community relations
8. Influence and change

1. Discipline knowledge

This set of competencies encompasses the knowledge base of the discipline of Psychology.

It incudes the capacity to demonstrate knowledge about:

Theories, major data, and methods of inquiry that relate to the bases of behaviour, cognition and emotion.
Theories and major data that underlie the major forms of psychological intervention.
The major methods of psychological investigation and techniques of measurement.
The application and updating of discipline knowledge.

2. Research

This set of competencies addresses the skills required to gain further knowledge of the discipline of Psychology.