Project What's After SPM - Part 1/2

This project was initiated somewhere in 2009, was supposed to launch in 2010, but due to various issues ( I heard ) this project was delayed until July 2011. As I read my own story after buying 3 copies from MPH ( contributors were given a free copy, but I'm bought to support this project ), it doesn't reflect my situation anymore.

You can read the original write-up that I sent for this project below ;

Higher Education means Higher Career Prospect or Higher Debt ? Just Want to Rant!

As I'm writing my chapter 4 and 5 of my thesis, I have a strong sense of regret that I actually decided to pursue a Bachelors Degree after I completed my Diploma back in 2008.

It has been 3 years I'm at UCSI University, when I enrolled back in September 2008, they were still known as University College Sedaya International. But not long later, the Ministry of Higher Education recognized them as University status. But truth to be told, I don't feel any difference at all weather it's UCSI or UCSI University considering that nothing changed. They were the same old academic staff (our lecturers), with half-ass-ed facilities available. Library is half ass-ed, not to forget the online database for journals itself, is not even worth wasting my time login in. Thank god for a friend who's studying at University Malaya, I get all the awesome journals from their database. Oh wait, I actually forgot there is a difference when I receive my bills, they were more expensive!

Alright, enough about UCSI University already. This whole blog post is about my personal opinion on myself getting a Bachelors Degree.

From what I've calculated, I've spent RM36,000 at UCSI University since September 2008 until today, and these are for tuition fees, facilities and extra curricular activities fees - which are unnecessary extra charges just to suck up our pockets dry and bloat up the share holder's pocket. And additional RM7,000 back in TAR College for a 2 years Diploma course. That's about RM43,000 in total, these not including my petrol money to travel, crappy BUT expensive food in the campus (yeah, if you get my sarcasm), papers and cartridges to print my assignments, caffeinated drinks that I needed to survive the sleepless nights to do our look and sound like very important but useless assignments. Let's just say I spent RM1500 per month for all those necessasity stuffs, that makes up RM18,000 a year. RM18,000 x 5 years = RM90,000.

Holy crap! I've wasted RM133,000 in total to pursue a piece of paper that says "BA (Hons) Psychology", and hopefully that piece of paper could land me an interview, secure a 9am-5pm (but usually that means 8am-8pm or even later) as a fresh graduate with a pay of RM2,500, RM2,800 if I'm lucky. ALL IN THE NAME OF JOB SECURITY !!??

It Has Been A Year ...

since I'm studying at UCSI University ... I've been forcing myself to sleep on the bed that i've made. I would actually prefer studying about Health & Fitness and Sports Science. But, whatever now ...



Every end of a semester, getting to strike off the subjects with red highlighter makes my heart rate goes very high, excited to get all strike off and then graduate with my BA(Hons)Psychology.

Hueahuhea ... 1 year to go baby ... 1 year !!

Subjects To Be Completed Before Graduating

I decided to make this a post as it might serve as a helpful
read up to those who are planning to study/transfer to UCSI University in the future.

People has been asking me, how many more years before I complete my Degree?

The thing is, it doesn't work that way at UCSI University as we have the freedom to choose how many and what subjects every semester.

Therefore, the more subject you choose every semester, the faster you complete your studies. But of course, there are only certain maximum credit hours the University allows you to fill up every semester, meaning you can choose lesser subjects, but not more than the allowed maximum credit hours.

As for my case, I've been exempted from 10 subjects that I've completed in TARC. However, year 3 subjects are not given any exemptions, although I've done them in TARC. Abnormal Psychology for instance. Besides, exemptions are only given up to 30 credit hours, roughly 9-10 subjects. So don't expect to be given more than 12 subjects although you might have studied and pass with flying colours in your previous institution.

Year 1
Compulsory

• Study Skills & Employability
• Expository Writing
• Introduction to Public Speaking
• Introduction to Psychology I
• Introduction to Psychology II
• Introduction to Sociology
• Statistics for Psychology
• Lifespan Development
• Co-Operative Placement I

Elective A (Choose One)

• Introduction to Management & Organisational Theory
  
• Business Economics
• Fundamental of Marketing

Elective B (Choose One)

• Introduction to Advertising
• Introduction to Public Relations
• English for SP: Business Communications

Year 2

Compulsory

• Psychological Research Method I
• Cognitive Psychology
• Psychological Research Method II
• Personality Theories
• Social Psychology
• Physiological Psychology
• Industrial & Organizational Psychology
• Psychological Testing & Assessment
• Research Design & Analysis
• Co-Operative Placement II

Elective A (Choose One)

• Human Sexuality
• Sociology of the Family
• Sociology of Juvenile Delinquency

Elective B (Choose One)

• Educational Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Skills & Human Factors

Year 3
Compulsory

• Abnormal Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Philosophical Issues in Psychology
• Ethics & Professional Issues in Psychology
• Independent Project A
• Independent Project B
• Professional Development
• Co-Operative Placement III

Elective A (Choose One)

• Cross-cultural Psychology
• Training Skills for Psychologists

Strike off subjects are subjects that I've been exempted or completed.

Because so many people asked ...

Why did transfer to UCSI University instead of UTAR or continue Advanced Diploma in TARC and subsequently to LJMU for a Degree.

I've decided to make this a post, to make things easy for me :)

Firstly, I never liked the study environment in TARC. They have very good campus facilities, very impressive on first sight when I was at their open day. However, only to realized that their classroom was worst than my secondary school classrooms, it was too late to regret. Then, it made me realize that the campus is overcrowded, therefore facilities are considered lacking. Student:Facilities ratio cannot balance lah! And of course, the main language used in campus is English, but majority of the students doesn't. I seriously felt and know that my English was dropping.

And most importantly, the reason I did not choose to remain under TAR's umbrella was because of internship opportunities.

If I were to remain at TARC, the only internship is during Diploma level where we had a 7 weeks attachment, and only to be posted once a week. Meaning 7weeks x once a week, with a total of 7 times/days. How much can we benefit from that? And I got feedbacks from my coursemates that during their posting, they did things that are not related to our field; cleaning up centre, data entry etc. Luckier ones get to do survey, which is indirectly preparing them for thesis writing to a certain extend. And I was the luckiest to think about it, I managed to get myself posted to the Psychiatry Ward of UKM Medical Centre and experienced many things first hand.

As for UTAR, internship is only done once, which is the last semester if I'm not mistaken.

Institutions that I shortlisted to top up for my Degree such as HELP University College and UCSI University, are compulsory to have 3 internships done before graduating. Although it's only 2 months per-internship, but the opportunity to have it done in 3 different places/companies strucked my mind, and this is one of the main reasons.

So now, you know why? :)

Upgraded - UCSI University

I enrolled into University College Sedaya International, but now, I'm studying at UCSI University.
Yes, the University College has gained and upgraded to full fledge University status.
Weird name though .. UCSI University, what does UCSI stands for now?

Something to shout about? Not really.

Our school fees has been upgraded as well. And I believe the school fees will not only be upgraded, but in fact upgrading till no ending.

I hope the University facilities will be upgraded as well to be on par with it's University status.
Else, UCSI University will be better known to me as "U" "C" Shit Inside University.
Wait a second, I'm not saying UCSI's facilities are not good, just that it can be better.


Exams ended today, just 1 paper this semester. Till then for the new semester at 2nd January 2009.

Oh, Finally lahh ...

My resit paper result were released an hour ago.

Result

AHLA3154

METHODS OF RESEARCH IN PSYCHOLOGY & COUNSELLING

B+

So I finally managed to obtain my Diploma in Social Science, 1 semester later than expected.

If only the result above were to appear on the transcript back in May 2008, I would probably be a student of this course right now.

From C- , became B+ , not bad right, a bit more become A-
Aiyah!! terlepas one A !

Course Preview - 6th Semester

The last and final semester for our Diploma year started last week, 3rd March 2008. I'm looking forward to end what I've started back in May 2006, to graduate with my Diploma. 3 subjects to be completed within 7 weeks.

Abnormal Psychology
Our senior told us once that when we study this subject, we'll somehow go abnormal as well.

Well yeah, literally. I'm glad that Miss Aggy Hooi is teaching us this subject. Like what I've mentioned last semester(4th semester) on Industrial & Organizational Psychology, she can make a dry subject to be very interesting with her unique way of teaching. In her tutorial classes, we can just walk in without any pen and paper. It's all about application questions discussion in her classes. She never believes scoring in exams based on what's on the textbook, but she believes in critical thinking, what is applicable in the real world.

But personally I think that this subject should be taught in earlier semesters, or probably replace some other languages or nation building subjects. You'll know why I think this subject should be taught earlier later.

Methods of Research in Psychology & Counselling
This subject will lay the foundation of writing thesis in our degree level education.
Lectured and tutored by Mr Ooi Boon Kuan, whom I heard that he's a former military guy. Not sure about it, just hear say. While practical will be guided by one of our course all time favorite, Mr Phillip Chung.

Counselling Practicum
Once a week thinggy, which I personally feel it's not adequate for us to be exposed to what we need to be exposed to. I'm currently having my practicum attachment with Ezra at HUKM Psychiatry Department/Ward/Clinic. Under guidance of Counsellors, Medical Officers and Doctors (depending on who's free on the day we are at our practicum site). I shall not reveal too much on this due to confidentiality issue.

The reason I said that Abnormal Psychology should have been covered in earlier semester is because of our practicum placement. Be it in any NGO, Psychology,Psychiatry or Counselling centre, it would be good for us to cover that subject earlier to somehow or rather help us during our practicum placement.

Ezra and I for instance, sometimes we are lost during our discussions with the Psychiatry department staffs. Luckily we've made our own initiative for read ups before practicum started, else we'll probably look real stupid during our practicum.

And for this last and final semester, I'll have to resit Interpersonal Communication Skills from last semester. That was the only paper that I got C- . I probably paid too much attention on the hot lecturer and tutor instead of what they are teaching.

4 subjects in 7 weeks. I wish my course mates all the best! Let's graduate according to the expected time frame :-)

A Question Posted by My Coursemate

Ezra posted on Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course - Updated

Hey
i still cant figure out whether to take advance or degree
financial concerns and all
plus im not sure about the benefits of goin overseas to take my degree.
I thought we are supposed to learn about malaysian culture and not the culture from overseas so that we can counsel malaysians.
i hope that u could blog on that

Ezra's question;

1. Advance vs Degree

Based on my personal opinion after I've went through other institutions' Psychology programme syllabus, I would say that TAR College's Psychology programme standard is abysmally low for the course of it's kind that is available in Malaysia. Read more to know what's the main reason.

Before I proceed, let me explain the route of progression in TAR College. SPM leavers who has 5 credits including English are entitled to be enrolled into Diploma in Social Science (Counselling). It's a two years (4 semesters and 2 short semesters) programme. Upon completing Diploma, students who chooses to continue their education at TAR College progresses to Advanced Diploma in Social Science (Psychology) for another 2 years (4 semesters), and finally for a Bachelor Degree, students who chooses this route will HAVE to join Summer Semester Programme at Liverpool John Moores University(LJMU).

No doubt students enjoy the opportunity of Summer Semester Programme by going to LJMU for 3 months to complete their Bsc(Hons) Human Psychology, but in my humble opinion the period is too short for us to even start adapting to the new environment, or for some, just began to adapt.

A recent informal interaction between our course seniors who are in their 2nd year of Advanced Diploma with LJMU's Summer Semester Programme leader for Psychology, Professor Noel Sheehy ( which I shamelessly joined to in to ask questions although the meeting wasn't for us in Diploma level ), I understand that there will be no Industrial attachment/posting/training provided to students who complete their Degree via the route mentioned earlier.

The lack of or should I say non existence of industrial attachment/posting/training in our syllabus itself is a big lost for students in terms of exposure to the working world.

However, students do get a practicum experience during their last semester in Diploma level. But again, I do not believe that students will gain MUCH from the practicum arranged in our syllabus. Students are arranged for practicum once a week for the duration of 7 weeks. Summing them up, we only go to our practicum posting for a total of 7 times only.

But for students who are not concerned about industrial experience and intend to pursue a Post Graduate course that is offered by LJMU, this progression route would be for them because the courses are offered to the Summer Semester Students at discounted prices.

On the other hand, other institutions that I've mentioned in my previous post do have Industrial Posting/Placement as part of their syllabus, except for Raffles School of Psychology which I will inquire more later on in regards to Industrial Placement.

2. Financial concern

If you intend to pursue your Degree locally, you can always apply for PTPTN loan. But that doesn't mean your dreams of studying abroad is crushed because of financial issues, you can still apply for study loan from various organizations or bank, if you don't mind paying back with interest after graduating.

3. Benefits of studying abroad

Again, my personal opinion says It depends on individual. I think the article The Benefits of Study Abroad " by Mary M. Dwyer, Ph.D. and Courtney K. Peters would be a good read up.

4.I thought we are supposed to learn about Malaysian culture and not the culture from overseas so that we can counsel Malaysians

If I can remember clearly, we do have a module called Malaysia: Cultural & Religious Practices during our 3rd semester. Although we used textbooks from United States, but the theories can still be applied here. Our assignment topics given during that semester for this particular subject was to analyze Malaysian culture based on a few local production movies.

I decided to make this entry a post instead of replying to Ezra's comment after having deep considerations for my course mates who are still undecided and not clear with what is lying ahead of them. I hope based on my limited knowledge,resource and survey, it will help them in their decision making. But then again, please do find out the information first hand by yourself as well before deciding/making any conclusion.

Disclaimer: Informations posted are correct at the time of posting and may change without notification. I shall not bear any responsibilities in anyways for any form of damages caused by reader's decision due to my entry posting.

Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course - Updated

Related Post:

• Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course (11 August, 2007)
• Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course - International Medical University
  (26 October, 2007)

Went to The Star Education Fair 2008 instead of studying today to inquire about Psychology programmes in other institutions in Malaysia.

In my previous write ups, I mentioned about HELP University College, Sunway University College, University College Sedaya International, Monash University, University Tunku Abdul Rahman and most recently, International Medical University offering Psychology as part of their new courses available.

And today I got to know that Nottingham University, Malaysia Campus and Raffless School of Psychology, Malaysia Campus will be offering Psychology programme as part of their new courses, just like IMU.




Raffless School of Psychology is actually from Singapore, and recently started their Malaysia campus. They will be awarding Diploma in Applied Psychology up to Specialist Diploma in Applied Psychology. To complete a Bachelor of Science (Hons) in Applied Psychology that is validated and awarded by University of Wales, students are required to complete it at Raffles School of Psychology Singapore campus at their third and final year. As an option, students can either do a 3+0 programme with Singapore Campus, or 2+1 with Malaysia Campus for the 1st two years and final year at Singapore.


On the other hand, Nottingham University, Malaysia Campus offers BSc (Honours) in Applied Psychology And Management Studies under their School Of Applied Psychology.

It seems that every year more and more institutions are offering Psychology programmes. A good sign indeed, for people who intend to study Psychology locally and most importantly to match up the ratio of Psychologist in Malaysia with the citizens.

And this certainly brings more joy to me as once I complete my diploma, I'll be having extra few more options to choose from. Infact, I've already submitted my application form to IMU today, and If I were to proceed to study at IMU, I'll get my application processing fees waived.

Till then, we'll see.

Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course - International Medical University

In my two previous post on Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course and Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course via ADP, I managed to list down quite a number of Institutions.

Recently International Medical University (IMU) introduced to the public about their new degree programmes which includes Psychology. Sounds interesting to me, and I was more than happy to know IMU will be offering Psychology by July 2008.

I was impressed with their programme structure arrangement, teaching-learning-approaches and features after checking IMU Psychology programme syllabus via their website.

But after clicking on IMU Psychology programme's fee structure, I got to think twice about it. It cost RM12,000 per semester and a total of RM76,000 for a 3 years IMU Bachelor of Science (Hons) Psychology programme.

Related post : Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course

Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course - via American Degree Programme

Let's go for American Degree Program!
Warning: DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO SUCH ARTWORK WITH JALUR GEMILANG

In my previous write up, I was focusing more on private institutions that offers undergraduate Psychology course based on UK and Australian education system. Whereas In the United States, they adapt a totally different system. They adapt the system of Liberal Arts.

Unlike UK based education system where the syllabus has been set since from Pre-University year until students finally graduate, Liberal Arts give students a considerable amount of freedom to choose their subjects, which consist of;

General Papers

• Compulsory to be taken

• Consist of papers from various fields such as Communication,Computer,Mathematic,Social Science, Arts and Humanities, Natural Science, English etc

• Certain amount of subjects are set by institution that has to be taken by students, on the other hand students are allowed to choose certain subjects related from the fields mentioned above that interest them. [ eg: In the field of Humanities, the institution requires student to choose 2 subjects out of the offered 5 subjects. ]
  

Major Related

• The name says it all. It's also known as the Core Requirements or Requirements for Specialization.

• A certain amount of subjects are being set by institution that has to be taken by students, another certain amount are to be chosen by students. In another words, students choose their Elective of the Major.
  

Elective

• The widest range of subjects are available in this slot. Some might not be related to your major at all.

How the actual system works might vary from different institutions to another. So i'll just write roughly about it.

The minimum requirement for Malaysian students to enroll into ADP is SPM or it's equilavent.
It will be a 4 years duration of study years and the indication used on students to indicate the level of advancement are Freshmen(1st year), Sophomore(2nd year), Junior(3rd year) and finally Senior(4th year).

By Junior year(3rd year), students are required to declare their Major, and to graduate with a major, students are required to have a good amount of courses for them to be an expert in the field chosen. For example, a student who choses Psychology major, but only done two courses on Psychology, sounds unrealistic isn't it? That student has to take courses that makes him/her familiar with the basics of the different fields in Psychology.

And finally, to graduate, student has to fulfill a certain amount of credit hours. 100 credit hours for instance. You've accumulated 50 credit hours from your Core subjects, and you'll have to accumulated another 50 credit hours combined from both Minor and Electives paper. If student thinks that it's useless for them to study unrelated subjects to their major, they can still choose elective of their major. It's up to students to be narrow or broad.

*credits to Lowyat.Net forumers for sharing information that contributes to the write up above.



Usually private institutions in Malaysia offers student 2+2, where 2 years program are completed locally, and the remainder of 2 years will be completed in their respective Universities overseas. So basically Freshmen and Sophomore years are done locally, while Junior and Senior years are done overseas.

• Taylor's University College - American Degree Transfer Program
• Sunway University College - American Degree Transfer Program
• HELP University College - Department of American Degree Program
• Inti International University College - American Degree Transfer Program
• Nilai International University College - American Degree Transfer Program
• Stamford College - North American Degree Program
• SEGi College - Faculty of American Degree Program ( 4+0 programme with Upper Iowa University )

The number of institutions offering American Degree Transfer Program is not limited to the list above. Those that are not listed above means their institution doesn't offer Psychology in their American Degree Program list. This could be due to the institutions lacking on resources.

Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course

As far as we know there isn't many Private Institutions offering undergraduate Psychology course in Malaysia. Being a student who is interested to pursue a degree in Psychology myself, I used to face difficulty on getting information that I wanted/needed after I completed my SPM(equivalent to GCE "O" Levels). When I was at college, I was quite surprise to find that most of my course mates doesn't know WHERE and HOW to acquire for such information. They just enroll and study without knowing what's their next direction?

I'm doing this writeup hoping that it will be useful to prospect students of Psychology. Take note that I'm not endorsing any of the institutions mentioned nor being affiliated to them. This will just serve as a shallow platform of information and It's based on my personal survey with limited resources, therefore I do not guarantee full accuracy of information provided as institutions mentioned might alter them from time to time.


To date, there are 5 private institutions that offers Undergraduate Psychology course;


HELP University College

• Offers their own 3+0 HELP University College Bachelor of Psychology(Hons) Program under the Faculty of Behavioral Sciences
  

• Students may also opt to transfer credits to leading universities in Australia, United Kingdom or New Zealand

Sunway University College

• Offers Bachelor of Psychology(Hons), a joint Honours Degree with Lancaster University under the Department of Psychology
  
  

University College Sedaya International

• Offers a 3+0 Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology under the School of Social Science & Liberal Arts.

• Student may opt for UCSI's International Degree Pathway with Universties in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom or USA

Monash University, Malaysia Campus

• Offers 3+0 Bachelor of Arts with a few major to choose from, Communication, International Studies, Writing and Psychology. Offered under the School of Arts and Sciences.

• Under the School of Business Bachelor of Psychology & Business is being offered as well.
  

University Tunku Abdul Rahman

• Offers 3+0 Bachelor of Social Science (Hons) Psychology program under the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences(FAS)

All 5 institutions requires student to go through a Pre-University programme before being allowed to enroll into their undergraduate programme. It could be the generally accepted GCE 'A' Levels, STPM, AUSMAT, SAM, CIMP to name a few, or the institution's very own foundation programme. However, due to the fact that there is no 1 standardized foundation programme in Malaysia, every institution sets their own standard for their offered foundation programme. Students who opt for Institution's own foundation program may need to resit certain subject papers if they were to transfer to another institution.


My next writeup would be Private Institutions That Offers Undergraduate Psychology Course - via American Degree Programme.