Pursuing a degree in Psychology opens various opportunities to study phenomena such as perception, cognition, attention, emotion, motivation, personality, behavior, attitude, and interpersonal relationships. Practitioners in psychology can learn how to better understand the unconscious mind and its relations to human activity.
A psychology degree program provides a solid background in science as well as in liberal arts, making it a great base to pursue not only a career in psychology but also careers in many various fields.
While a master’s or doctorate degree in psychology is required to be eligible to practice as a psychologist, and indeed, job prospects are best for those who hold advanced degrees, an associate or bachelor’s degree in psychology may actually give you an advantage over other potential employees in a variety of other professions too.
If you do pursue psychology as a career, you should know that psychologists work in different environments including schools, hospitals, clinics, prisons, and private offices. Job duties vary but most psychologists interview patients, perform tests, decide on courses of treatment, and conduct therapy sessions. Some may also work closely with other mental health professionals to provide more complete plans of care for patients.
In order to become a clinical or counseling psychologist, a doctoral degree is required. Although specific requirements vary by state, all psychologists are required to pass an examination and be licensed before they can practice.
But even if you don’t think you’ll want to be a psychologist, a psychology degree may still be the right choice for you. A degree in psychology is extremely versatile as you will emerge from your coursework with a deep understanding of human behavior-a skill that can enhance your skill set for just about every career. So, even if you decide you don’t want be a psychologist, with a psychology degree you can be an asset in many different fields from criminology to business.
What degrees are available?
Online psychology degrees are available at the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate levels. Psychology certificates and certifications are also available at some online schools.
While certain schools offer entirely online programs for associate and bachelor’s degrees in psychology, master’s and doctoral programs require at least some in-person clinical training such as residencies, practica, and internships. Be sure to read program descriptions carefully to find the one that best suits your educational, financial, and time requirements.
Within online psychology degree programs, you can pursue specialties including:
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Educational Psychology
- Evolutionary Psychology
- Experimental Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Geropsychology
- Health Psychology
- Industrial-Organizational Psychology
- Medical Psychology
- Neuropsychology
- Rehabilitation Psychology
- Research Psychology
- School Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Sports Psychology
What are programs like?
Associate and bachelor psychology degree programs focus on theory, both present and past from theorists like Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and Alfred Adler, as well as on cultural and political aspects of theory development. Programs also introduce proper medical techniques and professional ethics.
Some common courses in bachelor’s psychology degree programs include Introduction to Psychology, Statistics, and Abnormal Psychology. Electives and specializations may include courses on self-analysis, dream theory, motivation, perception, communication, free association, and transference theory.
More advanced psychology courses on the master’s and doctorate levels are much more specialized and students are encouraged to build their own theories using what they’ve learned, experiment with them, seek out and work with mentors, and conduct independent study and large research projects.
Students are also expected to prepare a thesis (master’s) or dissertation (doctorate) and will likely be required to orally defend their positions. Some graduate and post-graduate programs also require proficiency in at least one foreign language as well as proven technological skills.
Common courses and specializations available in master’s and doctorate psychology degree programs include:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Biology
- Clinical Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Cross-Cultural Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Dream Theory
- Experimental or Research Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Psychology and the Law
- Psychology and Religion
- Quantities
What is the job outlook and salary?
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the job outlook for psychologists is strong. Job prospects within the field of psychology are expected to increase by 15% through 2016. Demand for psychologists will continue to be particularly high in schools, hospitals, social service agencies, mental health centers, substance abuse clinics, private practices, and consulting firms.
Specializations in school, clinical, counseling, and industrial-organizational psychology have especially favorable prospects.
The 2006 median salary of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $59,440, with the lowest 10% earning less than $35,280 and the highest 10% earning more than $102,730.
What qualities should I have?
If you are planning to use your psychology degree in a career as a psychologist, you should be compassionate, empathetic, patient, objective, emotionally stable, curious about the human condition, an excellent communicator, and a good researcher with superb analytical skills.
What careers are available?
In addition to licensed psychologists, you can find psychology degree holders in a variety of careers. Many such positions require at least a bachelor’s degree, and some of the most popular career areas for psychology majors besides psychologist are:
- Accounting
- Criminology
- Health Education
- Human Education
- Human Resources
- Marketing
- Nursing
- Probation and Corrections
- Occupational Therapy
- Physician’s Assistant
- Recreational Therapy
- School Counseling
- Social Work
- Statistics
According to the College Board’s College Handbook, about half of psychology degree holders work in business and non-profit organizations, 16% with the government, 14% in educational institutions, 13% are self-employed, and 9% in private charitable organizations.
If you are already planning on pursuing a career outside of psychology, some undergraduate courses in the following areas of study may help you be a more marketable candidate upon graduation:
- Accounting
- Art
- Business Administration
- Communications
- Computer Science
- Consumer Education
- Economics
- English (including writing courses)
- Health Sciences
- Human Resources
- Journalism
- Marketing
- Mathematics
- Music
- Personnel Administration
- Political Science
- Social Sciences
- Social Work
- Sociology
- Statistics
