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When it comes to venturing into the captivating field of psychology, one of the most critical decisions that aspiring psychologists will have to make is choosing the right academic track in senior high school. For those who are in the Philippines, the country now offers a senior high school program, where students can choose from various strands – each one catering to the different interests and career paths that a learner could take. This blog post is for students who aspire to become psychologists and the question that we aim to answer is — What senior high school strand is for psychology in the Philippines.

In the senior high school program in the Philippines, the curriculum is divided into various strands. This design ensures that students are provided with a specialized curriculum that is suitable for the career or field of study that they want to proceed in college. The four strands are: Academic, Technical-Vocational-Livelihood (TVL), Arts and Design, and Sports.

Academic Strand – If you aspire to take a degree in any field, including psychology, the Academic Strand is the best option for you. It has a balanced curriculum in different fields and you are free to choose later on, what you want to specialize in your college degree.

Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) Strand – Within the Academic Strand, the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) strand is the most relevant for those who are interested in taking psychology. HUMSS is full of subjects that are relevant to the field of psychology and social sciences in general, that it is almost tailor-fitted for those who want to take a BS Psychology course.

HUMSS Subjects – When you take up HUMSS you will probably be studying subjects such as General Psychology, Sociology, Anthropology, and Humanities, among others. These courses will give you a very good idea of human behavior, society, and culture; which is very important for those who are interested to know as much as they can about psychology.

Research and Communication Skills – HUMSS is also heavy in research and communication skills. The strand is so heavy in these because these are two qualifications that are very helpful if you are studying an AB course.

Research is very important in a lot of the major subjects in psychology, where they have to develop good studies to test hypotheses, have to collect and analyze data, find trends, and sometimes present solutions to problems. Communication is of course very important, as psychologists do not study them when they are young for them not to tell what they think to other people.

College Readiness: The Academic Strand, particularly the HUMSS variant, is designed to prepare students for the demands of college. In many higher educational settings, psychology degree programs tend to build upon the foundational knowledge students gain during their senior high school years, making for a seamless transition.

Career Exploration: The flexibility and array of subjects covered in the Academic Strand allow students to explore a variety of career paths, particularly within the field of social sciences . Taking up several psychology-related subjects allows students to confirm their interest in the field before committing to a program in college.

Extracurricular Activities: From psychology clubs to seminars to workshops, students giddy over the prospects of psychology-related extracurricular activities can delve into these opportunities no matter what strand they take. Such activities provide additional perspectives about the field, on top of practical knowledge.

Internships and Volunteering: Snagging an internship or volunteer opportunity in a psychology-related field during the tail-end of senior high school gives aspiring students the opportunity for hands-on experience and a deeper understanding of the discipline.

For students that have already set their sights on pursuing a degree in psychology in college, the Academic Strand under the Humanities and Social Sciences (HUMSS) variant is best suited for their chosen path. This strand’s curriculum already provides a solid foundation for what awaits college students majoring in Psychology. Complementing academic studies with extracurricular activities and experiences in the real-world gives students the full picture of a multi-faceted field of inquiry. In this light, the right strand in the student’s senior high school journey is only the commencement of a fulfilling career in psychology.