There’s a chance you might have to take a psychology class at some point in your life. Taking a psych class can have many benefits, even if you’re not a psychology major. Think of it as a great opportunity to learn more about yourself and the people in your life. It’s a great way to learn more about the human mind and behavior, which can serve you well at work and in life.
It can give you a richer understanding of the scientific research process that social scientists use to answer questions about the human mind and behavior. Plus, you’ll foster better communication abilities and learn how to apply those skills to your life and relationships!
In fact, many universities require students to take at least one class in psychology or a related topic such as sociology or anthropology.1
At a Glance
A psychology class can help you better understand how people think and why they do the things they do. You might not be planning on majoring in psychology or becoming a psychologist, but having a solid understanding of the human mind and behavior can help you in almost any field. It can also help you understand yourself a little better, too!
Why You Might Need to Take a Psychology Class
Why is psychology often included as part of a core general education requirement? There are a few great reasons.
Psychology knowledge is helpful in almost every discipline, including areas like:
- Marketing
- Sales
- Customer relations
- Business
- Education
- Healthcare
Even if you’re not a psych major, taking a psych course helps ensure you have a comprehensive, well-rounded education.
Psychology classes can also help students succeed in other academic areas. Such classes can help you learn how to study effectively and stay motivated. They can also help you learn how to manage your time and cope with stress.2
Benefits of Taking a Psychology Class
Whether you’re planning to pursue a career in psychology or are just trying to fulfill a general education requirement, psychology classes can help you achieve your professional and personal goals. The following are just a few great reasons to learn more about psychology:
You Really Will Understand People Better
Are you planning to work in a field where you’ll need to spend lots of time talking to others? Even if you’re not a big “people person,” you’ll be interacting with co-workers, friends, and employers. And jobs like teaching and nursing, for example, involve working with a wide variety of people from all kinds of backgrounds.
Knowing more about people, including how they think and act, can help you respond to others with greater empathy and understanding.
Even if you don’t plan to work with people, psychology is still beneficial in helping you understand how and why the people in your life think and behave the way they do.
You’ll Know More About Yourself
Just like it helps you better understand others, taking a psychology class can help you learn about parts of yourself too. You’ll get a better understanding of what motivates you, what sort of personality you have, and how your personality contributes to the way you think and behave.
Knowing more about what makes you tick can help you improve your relationships with others, your communication skills, your motivation, and how you relate to the world around you.3
The study of psychology helps you understand yourself and others, which can be extremely fulfilling and lead to better, stronger relationships with your family, friends, and co-workers.
You Can Hone Your Critical Thinking Skills
Psychology classes help you learn the scientific method, how to evaluate sources of information, and how to think critically about the information you encounter every day. These classes can help you hone these skills, which prove useful in a variety of careers and different areas of life.
An understanding of the psychology research process can also make you a better consumer of psychology information. When you encounter news stories and social media claims, you’ll be in a better position to evaluate such stories and determine if they are applicable to your own life.
You’ll Gain Transferable Skills and Knowledge
Psychology classes don’t just teach the subject of psychology–they can also help you strengthen your research, critical thinking, and writing skills. These are transferable skills that can help you in any field where you might work and make you more appealing to potential employers.
Recap
Taking a psychology class is an excellent way to learn more about yourself and others. You’ll also gain valuable skills that will help you in the future, such as critical thinking, research, and writing skills.
What Do You Learn in a Psychology Class?
So, what exactly do you learn about in a psychology class? The answer really depends on the type of class you are taking.
You might be expected to take one introductory psychology class, which can be a great way to get a basic grounding in the topic. In an introductory class, you will learn about a range of topics including:4
- Cognitive psychology
- History of psychology
- Human development
- Personality psychology
You’ll also learn about things like learning and memory, human development, brain function, psychological disorders, sleep, and more.
Sometimes your major might require you to take a class such as abnormal psychology or developmental psychology as part of your core requirements. Health majors, in particular, can benefit from taking such classes.5
These topics can help prepare you to work with individuals experiencing some form of mental illness and teach you more about human behavior and development. By learning more about the symptoms and treatments of such disorders, you can develop greater empathy and understanding when working with people experiencing psychological problems.
What to Do If You’re Struggling With a Psychology Class
Of course, knowing why your university requires you to take a psychology class doesn’t necessarily make it any easier. If you know little about the topic, or if you’re struggling in your class, there are several things you can do to find help.
Many universities offer free tutoring centers or academic assistance labs, but you can also turn to online resources to help you make sense of the subject.