Psychology may explore different routes towards an understanding of behaviour and in NUI Galway options for studying psychology have been expanded, with many different routes now open to students. Starting in autumn 2001, there will be four options open to people who want to study psychology, whereas previously it had been open as a first-year arts subject, but only 26 students could be accepted into second and third year.

According to Jack James, many students were disappointed when they did not get into the top 26, which would have enabled them to study the subject past first year.

The wider access to study in this area was facilitated by the psychology department realising that there was a demand for more places on the psychology course. According to James, "there is a lot of interest in psychology" and the department wanted to fulfil a mission and so they thought about ways in which access to the subject could be expanded. In funding the new positions, he said, "we tried to be as user-friendly as we could and meet the diverse needs of the students."

By applying through the CAO for the denominated BA in psychology, students can gain direct admission to the three-year accredited honours programme. Students who choose this option just have to pass their exams to be guaranteed a place in second and third year. James expects the points to be very high due to the popularity of psychology.

The option of studying psychology through an arts degree has been expanded too. The popularity of the course has been increasing steadily over the last few years, said James. Two years ago there were 160-plus first-year arts psychology students; last year there were 220 and this year, 300. Whereas previously psychology could only be taken with other courses in first year only, it can now be combined with other arts courses throughout the three years of the BA honours degree.

Again students just need to obtain a pass in their exams to study psychology in second and third year. Students have plenty of time to study for their classes. In first year the number of hours are relatively low. Students have four lecture hours a week and a number of lab classes that they are required to participate in. A number of places in the second and third years of the denominated course have been put by for the hard workers who take the arts route. These are awarded on the order of results obtained in their first-year exams.

The four courses on offer will give students a provisional basis for professional training in the area. According to James, the four courses "are working from the same hymn sheet. We have given particular thought to meeting the consumers needs". In terms of someone applying direct from school through the CAO, James recommends that students put the denominated course down as number one and the faculty of arts option in second place. By doing this, he said, students "can keep their options open at no cost", as the points for the denominated course would be expected to be significantly higher.

There is an option for those who don't have enough points for a place on the denominated course. Students with a BA in psychological studies can do a one-year higher diploma conversion course in psychology to bring themselves up to the same level as the denominated course.

In 2002 a two-year higher diploma in psychology will be introduced which will be open to students who already have an honours degree in any subject area. In two years it will cover the same course content as the three-year denominated BA programme.

According to James, students who do the full psychology programme will find their degree of use in media, education, business management and IT jobs. However, those who want to go into the areas of clinical, health, counselling and education psychology will have to further their education with a psychology master's or doctorate.

However studying psychology in NUI Galway doesn't end with the aforementioned courses. The university is hoping to introduce a new programme in clinical psychology and has been offered funding from the State, which it is currently considering.