Interest in psychology is rapidly growing internationally and locally. In a recent survey by the American Psychological Association, psychology was the most popular intended undergraduate major among university freshmen. This is in part a reflection of the increasing demand for psychology majors across diverse industries and sectors.

Two-thirds of students surveyed with a psychology degree are in for-profit business settings, usually the sales/service sector. These students often have good research and writing skills, are good problem solvers, and have well-developed, critical thinking skills when it comes to analysing, synthesising, and evaluating information. Many find jobs in administrative support, public affairs, education, business, advertising, health, the media, the biological sciences, and computer programming. They work as employment counsellors, correction counsellor trainees, interviewers, personnel analysts, and writers. Two thirds believe their job is closely or somewhat related to their psychology background and that their jobs hold career potential.

Psychology graduates generally report being pleased with how their degree helped prepare them for both life and work. A vice-president of human resources of a notable multinational Singapore-based firm described psychology majors as having very useful skills for her business, stating, "after all, psychology is the business of life."

In Singapore and overseas, opportunities for graduates in psychology are increasing. The Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the Police are among the Singaporean government agencies interested in hiring psychology graduates. In the private sector opportunities range more widely.

For students who wish to work as professional psychologists, we strongly recommend that they receive training beyond the bachelor level. Typically these students go on to do a masters or a doctoral degree in one of the many subfields in psychology.

For more information as described by the American Psychological Association, click here.

Minor programmes equip students with multiple skills and broader knowledge, beyond what their major disciplines may provide.

More than 40 minors are available. Students will not be offered a minor in the same field as his major (single degree, double degree or double major programme). Students intending to pursue a minor are to indicate their intention and when they have fulfilled the minor requirements, they are to file for the award of the minor.

The award of minor will be reflected in a graduate’s transcript but not his degree certificate. No additional certificate will be issued.

Important Notes

• Students have to read minor courses as Unrestricted Electives and the academic units earned will count towards the students’ academic unit requirements for Unrestricted Electives. A minor course that is NOT read as Unrestricted Electives* (e.g. read as Major Prescribed Electives or GER Prescribed Electives) cannot be counted again towards fulfilling the minor.

  *Exception for the minors in Art History, Business, Communication Studies, Environmental Humanities, Environmental Sustainability, Finance, Modern Languages, Philosophy, Risk Management and Insurance
  Students who are admitted in AY2013 and onwards are allowed to count ONE (1) GER Core or GER Prescribed Elective or USP core or USP Elective towards the minor requirement IF the said GER Core/GER Prescribed Elective/USP core/USP Elective is also in the minor's list of courses. The remaining courses must be Unrestricted Electives.

• A course cannot be counted towards the requirements of two minors (unless otherwise stated).
  

• To be awarded a minor, students must not opt for these courses to be graded Satisfactory (S)/Un-Satisfactory (U).
  
• NIE students have to consult the NIE Office of Academic Administration and Services (OAAS) if they have intention to pursue a minor.