Clinical Psychological Syllabus 2024: Subjects, Semester-wise Syllabus PDF, Top Colleges, Books

Updated on Oct 30, 2024 01:22 IST
Parul Thapa

Parul ThapaSenior Executive Content

Clinical Psychology can be defined as a branch of Psychology that diagnoses and treats people with mental illnesses, abnormal behaviour, and other psychiatric issues. It is believed that Lightner Witmer was one of the first psychoanalysts who started Clinical Psychology in 1896.

Psychology is one of the most sought-after career alternatives for students who wish to work for society's benefit and are inclined to help people. A career as a Psychologist provides an opportunity to help people with mental issues and help them lead a normal and non-judgemental life. The students that aim to take up Clinical Psychology as a career choice need to opt for Psychology as a subject in Class 12.

To become a certified Clinical psychologist, a student must obtain a Bachelor's degree, then a Master's degree, and a doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

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Clinical Psychology Syllabus-Important Facts

Clinical Psychologists are required to identify the mental and emotional issues with the patient and curate a treatment plan that includes personal therapy and medication in some instances.

  • BSc in Clinical Psychology is a three-year undergraduate programme that can be pursued full-time, part-time, or through distance education. To apply for the course, the students must pass the entrance examination conducted online and offline mode. To get admitted to the course, the students need to obtain a required percentage score in the entrance examination. The universities decide on a cut-off every year, which is the percentage required score for that year.

  • MSc in Clinical Psychology is a two-year post-graduate course divided into four semesters. The students aspiring to pursue the course must have a BSc degree from a reputed college with a minimum of 50 per cent marks.

  • Doctorate (PhD) in Clinical Psychology is a three-year program divided into six semesters. The students wishing to pursue the program need to pass the qualifying entrance examination; however, students who have cleared the GATE/NET/SET/MPhil/JRF examinations are exempt and get direct admission.

Difference between Clinical Psychologists and Social Workers

A social worker is a medical personnel who provides psychological counselling to people struggling with an emotional issue. On the other hand, clinical psychologists are trained to assess and diagnose the problem and design a treatment plan.

Clinical Psychology

Social work

Uses theories and knowledge to diagnose

Uses information related to the social and economic background also

Requires a PhD.

Doesn’t require a PhD.

List of Subjects in Clinical Psychology Syllabus

The Clinical Psychology syllabus is segregated into core subjects and elective subjects. The below tables bring the list of core and elective Clinical Psychology subjects.

Typical core subjects for Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology Subject Title

Clinical Psychology Subject Details

Psychopathology

Psychopathology is a study of mental disorders and abnormal behaviour in patients. The main components of the study are:

  • Loss of freedom and inability to understand the alternatives

  • Loss of connection with one’s inner self and the inability to be productive

  • Dissociation with people

  • Mental distress

Community psychology

Community psychology studies the effect of community on people's mental well-being and health and how people form connections within their communities and social circles. The subject enables psychologists to look for disturbing or unpleasant situations in a community and understand their effect on the mental health of its residents. It focuses on several factors such as:

  • Cultural environment

  • Political environment

  • Economic environment

  • International influences

Statistics in Psychology

Statistics in Psychology helps students to understand data in a better manner and to reach a definite conclusion. Psychologists can discover patterns and arrive at viable conclusions to help the patients.

Developmental Psychology

Developmental Psychology refers to studying human growth and mental development that includes cognitive, physical, social, and intellectual aspects of human growth. It covers several stages of human development, such as:

  • Healthcare

  • Education

  • Medicine

  • Social work

Counselling Psychology

The subject covers the study of human behaviour and ethical and professional boundaries. Counselling can be various kinds like:

  • Event counselling

  • Performance counselling

  • Professional growth counselling

Typical elective subjects for clinical psychology

Clinical Psychology Subject Title

Clinical Psychology Subject Details

Psychology of Late Adulthood

The subject deals with the psychological study and understanding of people between 60-75. It covers several aspects of their mental capabilities like:

  • Physiological changes

  • Psychological changes

  • Social changes

Sports Psychology

Sports Psychology covers the mental well-being of sports persons and athletes. It talks about the co-dependency of an athlete's physical and psychological health. The sports psychologist works with the athletes to manage their mental health and the stress associated with the sport.

Health Psychology

Health Psychology focuses on the biological, social, and psychological factors affecting the health and fitness of people. It focuses on how some patients manage their illnesses and why some do not follow medical advice.

Cognitive Psychology

Cognitive Psychology is also known as the science of the brain. It covers how the brain functions and remembers and recalls essential information. Cognitive psychology includes:

  • Use of language

  • Problem-solving

  • Attention span

  • Perception

Psychological Analysis

Psychological analysis is also known as Psychoanalysis. It is used to understand the person’s inability to learn and understand things.

Detailed Clinical Psychology Syllabus

The syllabus for Clinical Psychology is similar in the majority of colleges in India; however, there might be slight variation depending on the internal policies of certain universities. The general overview of some of the core and elective Clinical Psychology subjects taught to BSc students is mentioned below:

Semester

Core/Elective Subject

Subject details

1

  • Foundation of Human Behaviour

  • Experiments in Psychology

  • Child Psychology

  • Schools of Psychology

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Definition and Goals of Psychology

  • Methods of Research in Psychology

  • Attention: Meaning and concept

  • Psychological experimentation

  • Weber’s law and its verification

  • Concept of development

  • Stages of prenatal stage

  • Development during infancy

  • Introduction to early childhood

2

  • Cognitive Processes

  • Physiological Psychology

  • Measurement in Psychology

  • Adolescent Psychology

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Learning

  • Memory and forgetting

  • Nervous system and its functions

  • Biochemical basis of behaviour

  • Testing in psychology

  • Reliability, validity and norms

  • Cognitive and social development

  • Personality development and issues

3

· Research methods

· Abnormal psychology

· Health psychology

· Basics of personality

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Sampling and its types

  • Cross-sectional search

  • History of depression

  • Model of abnormal behaviour

  • Health-promoting

  • Stress and coping

  • Genetics of Personality

4

  • Social psychology

  • Statistics in psychology

  • Psychology of intelligence

  • Industrial psychology

  • Gender studies

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Social perception

  • Aggression: causes & prevention

  • Types of statistics

  • Construct of intelligence

  • Emotional intelligence

  • Structure of a production unit

  • Work motivation

  • Gender discrimination

  • Sex-related comparison

5

  • Psychology of Adulthood and Ageing

  • Psychotherapeutic Intervention I

  • Guidance and Counselling

  • Neuropsychology

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Indian theory of Ashrams

  • Concerns of Ageing

  • Mesmerism and Hypnotherapy

  • Psychodynamic therapies

  • Vocational Guidance

  • Risk in counselling profession

6

  • Psychotherapeutic Intervention II

  • Integrated Psychological Interventions

  • Disability and Rehabilitation

  • Project

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Evidence-based Psychotherapies

  • Cognitive Therapy

  • Yoga and meditation

  • Introduction to disability

  • Empowerment and employment

Detailed Syllabus for MSc Clinical Psychology

The list of core and elective subjects taught under Msc Clinical Psychology syllabus is given below.

Semester

Core/Elective Subject

Subject details

1

  • History of Psychology

  • Cognitive Psychology

  • Research Design & Methods

  • Biopsychology

  • Experiments

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Origin of Scientific Psychology

  • Psychophysics

  • Psychoanalysis

  • Cognitive Neuroscience

  • Attention, Perception, Memory

  • Epidemiological research

  • APA code of ethics

2

  • Theories of Personality

  • Lifespan Development

  • Statistical Techniques in Psychology

  • Psychology of abnormal behaviour

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Freud’s Psychoanalytic theory

  • Roger’s self-theory

  • Hippocrates’ theory of personality

  • Influence of nature and nurture on development

  • Adolescence

  • Daily life in late adulthood

  • Stress Diathesis model

  • Anxiety disorder

3

  • Introduction to Clinical Psychology

  • Psycho-diagnostics

  • Psychotherapy I

  • Neuropsychology

  • Clinical field training

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • History of Clinical Psychology in India

  • Assessment of Clinical Psychology

  • Introduction of Psycho-diagnostic Assessment

  • Evidence-based psychotherapies

  • Freudian Psychoanalysis

  • Behaviour therapy

  • Neurotransmitters

4

  • Childhood disorders

  • Psychotherapy II

  • Personality Disorder

  • Psychological Intervention

Some topics that students would study are mentioned below:

  • Models of Child Psychopathology

  • Intervention in Children and Adolescents

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders

  • MCMI, RIBT

Specialisations offered in Clinical Psychology.

Clinical Psychology is a sought-after field of study in India. As a certified Clinical Psychologist, one can create a significant difference in the lives of people struggling with mental issues. The implementation of The Mental Healthcare Act 2017 has made it necessary to provide mental healthcare services to people suffering from mental issues. The students aiming to make a career as a Clinical Psychologists can opt from several specialisations, some of which are mentioned below:

Specialisation

Subjects

Details

Child Psychology

  • Introduction to child Psychology

  • Physical development and attachment

  • Social development

  • Aggressive behaviour and Bullying

  • Educational psychology of children with special needs

The specialisation would enable the students to understand the mental health issues in children. It covers how the brain of the child functions and how to manage their anxieties and insecurities. The specialisation also covers problems teenagers face and how they should manage their emotions.

Family Psychology

  • Human Development and Family relation

  • Counselling and family therapy

  • Applied Social Psychology

  • Marital and Family therapy

The changing social scenarios have resulted in many distress and mental pressures in the family setup. The specialisation would enable the students to tackle complex family-related issues such as maladaptive behaviour towards society, aggression amongst couples and children, and managing healthy marital relations.

Counselling Psychology

  • Fundamentals of Psychology

  • Psychopathology and Mental Health

  • Counselling and Health Psychology

  • Counselling Techniques and Assessment

The specialisation would enable the students to help people with advice and guidance. The students would learn to be more involved in support groups and self-help groups to help people struggling with mental diseases.

Books and Authors related to Clinical Psychology

To gain in-depth subject knowledge of Clinical Psychology, students must refer to the best and most recommended books by the faculty members and industry experts. Some such popular books on Clinical Psychology, along with their authors and a brief description are given in the table below.

Subject

Book title

Authors

Description of the book

Human Behaviour

Introduction to psychology

Hilgard Atkinson

The book is well written and covers all main topics, such as psychological development and treatment of psychological disorders. The author has presented different schools of thought relating to modern psychology.

Experiments in Psychology

Obedience to Authority

Stanley Milgram

The book is based on the study conducted by the author Stanley Milgram. The study revealed that people get influenced and affected by obedience and authority.

Child psychology

Child development

Laura. E. Berk

The book is well written and is one of the best-selling books on child psychology. The book covers various topics such as Theory & Research in Child Development, Physical Growth, and Cognitive and Language Development.

Cognitive Processes

Cognition: Theories and applications

Stephen K. Reed

The book highlights the theories relating to the underlying empirical data that establishes a traditional information processing approach to cognitive psychology. The book has up-to-date research data and the syllabus.

Abnormal Psychology

Textbook of Abnormal Psychology

D.H.Barlow

The book is well written, covering the topic of Abnormal Psychology. It talks about the factors behind psychological disorders, such as biological factors and cultural factors.

Statistics in Psychology

Research Methodology: Methods & Techniques

`C.R. Kothari

The book talks about the correct steps of doing research and the right way to design a research methodology.

Psychology of Adulthood

Journey of Adulthood

H. Bee and B.R. Bjorklund

The book discusses the various stages of ageing, from adulthood to old age. The book explains the developmental journey of a human from adolescence to adult years.

Entrance Exams for Clinical Psychology

Clinical Psychology is taught as a discipline at several Indian Institutes at Post Graduate and Graduate levels. The students need to pass the entrance exam to get admission to the courses.

Some are listed below:

  • Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences MA in Applied Psychology Entrance Exam

  • Agra University M.Sc Clinical Psychology Entrance Exam

  • Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham All India Entrance Examination

  • Annamalai University M.Sc Clinical Psychology Entrance Exam

  • Delhi University MA Applied Psychology Entrance Exam

  • Institute Of Human Behaviour & Allied Sciences (IHBAS) Clinical Psychology Entrance Exam

  • Bharathiar University MSc in Clinical Psychology Entrance Exam

  • National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences Entrance Exam

  • Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences MSc in Clinical Psychology Entrance Exam

  • Manipal University MA Clinical Psychology Entrance Exam

The entrance examination for Postgraduate or Master's programmes is relatively more challenging and requires a unique set of qualities to pass the test.

Syllabus for Distance Programme in Clinical Psychology

The BSc in Clinical Psychology can be studied through correspondence or distance education programmes. The distance BSc Clinical Psychology is a two-year undergraduate programme that can be studied flexibly and affordably. Some of the famous institutes providing the distance Clinical Psychology programme are IGNOU, NIMS University, Kalinga University, and Jaipur National University.

The distance clinical psychology programs are affiliated with and recognised under UGC/AICTE. A regular Clinical Psychology programme is relatively costly, while the cost of a distance school is very affordable. The average fee for distance programs is around INR 10,000 to INR 50,000.

Top Colleges for Clinical Psychology

The Clinical Psychology syllabus of the top colleges offering them is given below. The table contains the official and complete syllabus of Clinical Psychology across the top colleges.

S.No.

College/University/Institution

Syllabus (URLs)

1.

Annamalai University, Chidambaram

To be uploaded soon

2.

NIMS University, Jaipur

To be uploaded soon

3.

SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai

To be uploaded soon

4.

Amity University, Mumbai

To be uploaded soon

5.

SGT University, Gurgaon

To be uploaded soon

6.

B.R Ambedkar Bihar University, Muzaffarpur

To be uploaded soon

7.

Chettinad Academy of Research and Education

To be uploaded soon

8.

Yenepoya University, Mangalore

To be uploaded soon

9.

Srinivas University, Mangalore

To be uploaded soon

10.

Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik

To be uploaded soon

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FAQs Regarding Clinical Psychology Syllabus

Q: Is Clinical Psychology a good career in India?

A: Yes, Clinical Psychology is one of the most popular careers in India. The other well-known fields of Psychology are Clinical Counselling, Forensic Psychology, and Educational Psychology.

 

Q: Who can practise Clinical Psychology in India?

A: The students wishing to pursue Clinical Psychology as a career in India need to obtain a Bachelor's Degree (BSc) in Clinical Psychology. The students can obtain a Master's Degree as well to increase their job prospects.

Q: What is the scope of Child Psychology in India?

A: Child psychologists have a prominent role in the special education centres for children. They work closely with schools, child therapy centres, and NGOs.

Q: What is the role of Cognitive Behaviour?

A: The knowledge of Cognitive Psychology is important as it helps understand the processes that facilitate memory retention and learning.

Q: What are the main Cognitive Theories?

A: The three main Cognitive theories are

  1. Dual Coding Theory
  2. Cognitive load theory
  3. Cognitive Theory of Multimedia learning

 

Q: What are the main theories relating to human behaviour in psychology?

A: The main theories relating to human behaviour are:

  1. Social Cognitive theory
  2. Transtheoretical model
  3. Theory of planned theory

Q: What is the main part of counselling?

A: The most effective parts of counselling are:

  1. Alliance
  2. Empathy
  3. Goal Consensus & collaboration
  4. Cohesion

 

Q: What is the four-level of Psychological Analysis?

A: The four levels of Psychological Analysis are:

  1. Positional
  2. Ideological
  3. Intraindividual
  4. Interindividual

Q: What kind of jobs are available for clinical psychologists?

A: A Clinical Psychologist can apply for a job in the Clinical Psychology department of hospitals, work in a health care centre or an NGO or work as an independent counsellor.

 

Q: What are different types of family therapies?

A: There are mainly four types of family therapies:

  1. Cognitive-behavioural therapy
  2. Systemic family therapy
  3. Psychodynamic family therapy
  4. Supportive family therapy

Q: What is the effectiveness of counselling?

A: It helps the person understand a different viewpoint and helps solve the problem in a non-judgemental environment. Counselling helps in achieving the overall well-being of the person.

 

Q: Is counselling different from Psychotherapy?

A: Counselling is meant to guide towards the goal of mental peace more instantly. Psychotherapy is a little indirect in the guidance.

 

Q: What is the scope of distance study in Clinical Psychology?

A: The students can opt to study Clinical psychology at open universities like IGNOU to pursue a career in Clinical Psychology.

Q: Is Clinical Psychology a competitive career in India?

A: Clinical psychology is quite competitive as it is a doctorate program that requires intensive study and research.

Q: Can I practise as a Clinical Psychologist without any degree?

A: No, you can't. To practise as a clinical psychologist, you must obtain a graduate, post-graduate, and doctorate in Clinical Psychology.

 

Popular Exams

Following are the top exams for Clinical Psychology. Students interested in pursuing a career on Clinical Psychology, generally take these important exams.You can also download the exam guide to get more insights.

Mar '25

NEET 2025 Application Process

TENTATIVE

Apr '25

NEET 2025 Application Correction

TENTATIVE

13 Dec ' 24 - 20 Dec ' 24

NEET PG 2024 round-2 counselling reporting

26 Dec ' 24 - 1 Jan ' 25

NEET PG 2024 round-3 counselling registration

10 Dec ' 24 - 18 Dec ' 24

INI CET 2025 round 1 Choice filling

19 Dec ' 24

INI CET 2025 round-1 seat allotment result

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Counselling Start

TENTATIVE

Jun '24

CT SET 2024 Result

TENTATIVE

Most Popular Courses

Popular Clinical Psychology Colleges in India

Following are the most popular Clinical Psychology Colleges in India. Learn more about these Clinical Psychology colleges (Courses, Reviews, Answers & more) by downloading the Brochure.
1 Course
31.73 K
2 L
6.45 LPA

#12 NIRF

1.2 L
1 Course
3 L
5.25 LPA

#20 NIRF

6.12 L
11.75 LPA

#33 NIRF

Popular Private Clinical Psychology Colleges in India

1 Course
6 L
1.2 L
1 Course
31.73 K
2 L
6.45 LPA

#12 NIRF

1 Course
3 L
5.25 LPA

#20 NIRF

6.12 L
11.75 LPA

#33 NIRF

Popular Clinical Psychology UG Courses

Following are the most popular Clinical Psychology UG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these UG Courses by clicking the links below.

UG Courses

Popular Clinical Psychology PG Courses

Following are the most popular Clinical Psychology PG Courses . You can explore the top Colleges offering these PG Courses by clicking the links below.

PG Courses

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Student Forum

chatAnything you would want to ask experts?
Write here...

Answered a week ago

There are many BSc psychology colleges in India, including prestigious institutions like Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Amity University, Delhi University (DU), and Christ University.

 

 

Y

Yash Goswami

Contributor-Level 10

Answered a week ago

Here is a list of some prominent government colleges in India that offer M.Sc. in Clinical Psychology:

 

1. National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU)

NFSU has campuses across India, including Gujarat, Delhi, and Tripura. The programme is well-structured with foundational, specialization, and skill-b

...more

K

Kartikey Goyal

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 weeks ago

Yes, you can generally pursue a M.Sc in Clinical Psychology after completing a B.Sc in Biology, but you will likely need to take additional psychology courses to meet the eligibility criteria of most programs, as most require a bachelor's degree in psychology or a closely related field with relevant

...more

N

NIKHIL GAUR

Contributor-Level 7

Answered a month ago

In order for an applicant to be successfully enrolled into the PG Diploma in Clinical Psychology course at the B.M. Institute of Mental Health, a few important pointers generally have to be observed :-

Academic Qualification :- The basic requirement is a bachelor's in psychology or related fields suc

...more

A

Arindam Modak

Contributor-Level 9

Answered a month ago

No, in order to get admission to the MSc Clinical Psychology programme at Calicut University, aspirants must have a BA or BSc degree in Psychology from Calicut University or some other recognised institute. 

A

Aayushi Madavi

Contributor-Level 8

Answered 2 months ago

Yenepoya University offers a comprehensive BSc course. In this course, students get to study various aspects related to Psychology. Some of the subjects included in the curriculum are:

  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Development Psychology
  • Introduction to Psychology
  • Psychopathology
  • Psychotherapy
  • Abnormal Psych

...more

S

Shailja Rawat

Contributor-Level 10

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