In today’s competitive job market, there are many questions that come up surrounding what careers you can follow with a psychology degree. Psychology is a popular field of study among college students. It is often thought of as a practical major because it prepares you for various career options while providing you with a solid understanding of the world around you. While there are many careers available to graduates with a psychology degree, it can be difficult to find exactly which careers may be right for you if this major is your first time experience.
There are many careers that you can pursue with a degree in psychology. The field of psychology covers a wide range of topics, such as mental health, personality, relationships and more. If you want to work in clinical settings, you may want to consider becoming certified in clinical psychology or another related field.
Psychology majors are also well suited for careers in research and teaching. Students who want to go into business may want to consider getting an MBA or applying their skills in other areas such as sales or marketing.
If you’re interested in working with animals or nature, you might be interested in animal behavior or conservation psychology. Some people choose to pursue law or medicine after earning a degree in psychology; however, these fields require additional training and certification beyond what is offered through most undergraduate programs.
What careers with a psychology degree
Introduction
In the past, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology was often seen as a springboard to graduate school, where students would go on to become clinical therapists or researchers. However, people with degrees in psychology have gained increasing career opportunities outside of academia and research fields. Although many graduates go on to work as psychologists or counselors, training in psychological theory and methods can position you for success in a wide variety of careers. If you’re interested in pursuing a career outside of academia after graduation, here are some alternate paths to explore:
Counseling Psychology
Counseling psychology is a field that focuses on helping people solve problems in their lives. It’s a broad term, encompassing several different subfields that can include research, teaching and administration. Counseling psychologists work with patients who have mental, emotional or behavioral disorders. These professionals may also be called clinical psychologists or mental health counselors. They can work in hospitals, schools and private practices to provide therapy for individuals and families affected by such issues as depression, anxiety or substance abuse
Counseling psychology is one of the largest branches within psychology — there are more than 200 doctoral programs available nationwide — but it remains less well-known than other fields like social work or clinical psychology (which requires only a master’s degree). The demand for counseling psychologists has grown steadily over the years despite this lack of recognition; according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment is expected to increase by 17% between 2016 and 2026.*
Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychologists work in the legal system. They are not lawyers; rather, they assist with understanding the mental state of defendants and in selecting appropriate treatments for offenders. Forensic psychologists may be called upon to testify in court about their findings.
Psychologists can also be employed by social service organizations or other government agencies to help individuals manage their disabilities, like addiction or mental illness. Psychologists may also work with families who want to understand how best to support loved ones with any sort of disability (for example: physical, psychological) so that everyone can live a more fulfilling life together.
School Psychologist
School psychologists are licensed professionals who assess, diagnose and treat students with learning, behavioral, emotional and social problems. As part of this process they work with teachers, parents and other school staff to develop individualized education plans that help students reach their full potential. School psychologists can be found in public schools across the country.
Sports Psychology
Sports Psychology is a field of study and practice that looks at the psychological factors that affect performance in athletes, and the effect of sports participation on the development of young people.
Sports psychologists help athletes cope with the intense pressure associated with competition. They also work to improve athletic performance through mental skills training, counseling and therapy. A sports psychologist may be employed by an athletic team or organization to help enhance the mental dimension of their players’ (or other participants’) game performance; they may also work with individuals who want to improve their physical activities by helping them learn how to set goals and stay motivated.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
Industrial/organizational psychology, or I/O psychology, is a branch of the field that focuses on how people interact with their work environment. It differs from clinical and counseling psychology because it doesn’t look at mental health issues; instead, it looks at how to make sure people are healthy and happy in their job settings.
Industrial-organizational (I/O) psychologists aim to maximize employee productivity by improving performance through effective design and management of processes, systems, policies and procedures. They also help organizations create better working conditions for employees so they can be happier and more productive. Some examples include helping companies decide what kind of rewards system will motivate workers or how to manage an office restructuring project.
In order for industrial-organizational psychologists to do this kind of work effectively, they must have extensive knowledge about human behavior—how we think about our jobs, why we act certain ways at work when we’re stressed out or excited about something new coming up on the horizon etcetera – so they can determine which elements of an organization might need improvement based on employee feedback surveys conducted over time.”
Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology is the study of how the brain works, and how it affects behavior and mental processes. Neuropsychologists are trained to understand how the brain works and how it affects behavior and mental processes.
Neuropsychologists work with many different kinds of patients, including those who have experienced a stroke or head injury; those with Alzheimer’s disease or other dementias; people with autism spectrum disorder; individuals who have experienced psychological trauma like abuse or sexual assault in childhood; children who were born prematurely at low birth weight (especially babies born before 28 weeks gestational age); children who are considered gifted academically; young adults that are transitioning into adulthood following high school graduation; older adults experiencing cognitive decline due to aging or lifestyle factors like smoking cigarettes over time
Psychiatric Technicians and Aides
A psychiatric technician or aide works with patients to provide treatment, help with daily tasks and assist with record keeping. They work in hospitals, clinics, and private practices.
A psychiatric technician has a high school diploma or equivalent and attends an accredited program to receive training in mental health issues. Aides may only need a high school diploma or equivalent to get hired for this position.
Mental health counselor
If you want to work as a mental health counselor, your best bet is to get a bachelor’s degree in psychology. You’ll need at least a 3.0 GPA and a minimum score of 100 on the verbal reasoning section of the GRE. A master’s degree is also required if you want to become licensed by your state.
Another option for those with a passion for counseling is becoming an educational psychologist or school psychologist. These professionals evaluate children when they have learning disabilities and provide behavioral therapy as well as academic counseling. An undergraduate degree in education or psychology is all that’s required for this career path, but most states require candidates to pass their respective licensing exams before they can practice professionally within their state’s borders (and even then there may be further requirements).
Neuropsychologists
Neuropsychologists are trained to work with people who have brain injuries, brain disorders, and other brain-related problems. They are also trained to work with people who have learning disabilities, autism, and other developmental disabilities.
Neuropsychologists may be employed at hospitals or medical centers in a variety of settings including psychiatry clinics; psychiatric units; neurology departments; rehabilitation units (such as physical therapy); outpatient clinics; long-term care facilities such as nursing homes or residential treatment centers for individuals with mental illness; forensic programs that provide services to criminal offenders who have various types of mental disorders; and research settings working on issues related to cognition or behavior.
In the United States alone there were over 30,000 practicing neuropsychologists in 2008 according to The American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP).
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical Psychologists are the most likely to be employed in a clinical setting, where they work with a team of psychologists, psychiatrists and social workers. These professionals diagnose and treat mental health disorders using therapy or medication. They may also conduct psychological testing, research and write about psychological topics or teach psychology at the university level.
Psychologists who wish to work as clinical psychologists will need to earn their Ph.D., PsyD or EdD degree in clinical psychology from an accredited institution before they can become licensed by their state board of licensing examiners (or equivalent).
Know what career you can get with a psych degree.
Psychology is a broad degree that can lead to many different careers. The psychology degree can be used to pursue a variety of professions, including clinical psychologist and social worker. While these two careers share the same general field, they each utilize different methods and techniques in order to achieve their goals.
Psychology degrees are also useful for those who want to work in education or research fields. A psychology degree opens up many opportunities in these areas as well because it encompasses such a wide range of topics related to mental health issues, learning disabilities, behavior patterns and development skills necessary for children throughout life stages from infancy through college years into adulthood when making daily decisions about career paths among other things such as relationships with family members friends fellow employees colleagues etcetera.”
Conclusion
We hope this article has given you some information that will help you decide if studying psychology is right for you. There are many careers and jobs you can do with a psychology degree, but remember that no matter what field of study interests you most, there will always be something valuable to learn from others around us.
