A lot of people get the idea that they’d like to study psychology. Usually they have a curiosity about people combined with something they saw on TV, maybe a documentary that piqued their interest, or maybe something like Wire in the Blood. But many of these people have jobs and other commitments, and don’t have the flexibility to be at a specific place at a specific time each week.
If this sounds like you, but you still really want to study psychology, then distance learning might be the answer.
Distance Learning in Psychology
From A-level and equivalents, degree courses, and masters, the option is there to study psychology from home. Most institutions offer distance learning options, and often with distance learning courses, you find that the entry requirements are slightly looser, as they know that this from of study will appeal to mature students, people returning to study after a break, and so on. Some institutions, such as the open university, do not have any formal entry requirements.
Is Distance Learning Right for you?
If this is your computer, distance learning may not be for you… (credit: blakespot)
If you’ve been away from education for a while, then take this decision seriously. It will be a bigger commitment that you are probably expecting, in terms of time spent, but also the physical and mental energy you’ll need. And you won’t have regular face-to-face contact with your tutors, so you’ll have to be fairly self-regulated to do well, and study even during those times you might not feel like it, because the external pressure won’t be as hard.
On the plus side, you enjoy greater flexibility, you can study to your own schedule and work how, when and where you want. You’ll still have phone, email and sometimes conferencing contact with your tutors, and you may be able to locate other students in your area to buddy up with.
Tips for distance learning success
I don’t see the strategy for success in learning to be much different than on-campus study. Once the lectures are over, ‘normal’ students are in exactly the same position as you are. So your only difference would be in making sure you take advantage of any opportunity you can for actual contact with tutors to answer your questions and queries. On top of that:
1) Make sure you’re completely comfortable with the course materials, and in particular, the electronic resources you’ll be given access to.
2) Make sure you have reliable internet access that doesn’t cause any headaches.
3) Create a study schedule (buy an academic diary), and make sure you stick to it.
4) Never leave any assignments or reading until the last minute – make sure you stay on top of your work, and if you get behind, catch up.
5) Stay in regular contact with your tutors and teachers. Make sure they know who you are.
6) Form a study group in your local area if you can
7) Get access to other universities’ libraries. In the UK, you can use the SCONUL scheme for that. If your institution is far from where you live, this is absolutely essential.
Personally, I like distance learning. My course is a little of both, we have lectures once per month and are left to our own devices the rest of the month. I like the flexibility of being able to set my own schedule. If you’re similarly minded, then look into starting a distance learning psychology course. Browse the websites of a few universities to get a feel for what’s available, and of course, subscribe to this blog too!
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