Education and Training

Obtaining a psychology degree can open the door to a number of occupations, though you will need to obtain a doctoral level psychology degree if you hope to work as a licensed psychologist. With a bachelor’s level psychology degree, however, you will be able to work as an assistant to a psychologist. Aside from taking a number of courses that are specific to the field of psychology, you will also need to take courses in the physical sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, mathematics, and statistics in order to earn a psychology degree.

Employment Opportunities

The employment opportunities available to someone with a psychology degree varies according to the level of the degree. Aside from working as an assistant to a psychologist, a bachelor’s level psychology degree is also desirable in the fields of marketing, business management, and sales.

With a master’s level psychology degree, you may find employment as an industrial-organizational psychologist. Or, you may be able to find employment as a researcher working beneath a psychologist with a doctoral degree. After earning your doctoral level psychology degree, you can open up your own clinic. Or, you may find employment as a college professor, lead research studies, or obtain a counseling position at a university, health care facility, school, or government office.

There are several different areas of psychology in which you can specialize, including:

• Clinical psychologist
• Counseling psychologist
• Industrial-organizational psychologist
• School psychologist
• Developmental psychologist
• Social psychologist
• Research psychologist

A clinical psychologist works primarily in hospitals, counseling centers, or clinics. They are responsible for assisting individuals that are emotionally disturbed or mentally ill. Some also work in rehabilitation centers treating patients that have suffered from severe illnesses or injuries.

Counseling psychologists help individuals deal with the problems then encounter in their daily lives. They are typically employed in hospitals and counseling centers. Or, they open their own private practices.

School psychologists are responsible for working with students in both elementary and secondary schools. They must work closely with parents, teachers, and other school personnel in order to create a healthy and safe learning environment. They also conduct testing to determine whether or not a student is eligible for special education placement.

Industrial-organizational psychologists use the knowledge they gained while earning their psychology degree to improve productivity in the workplace. They also develop methods to increase morale and the quality of worklife.

Developmental psychologists study the changes individuals go through as they progress through life. These include the cognitive, physiological and social changes. They may study developmental disabilities or they may develop methods for helping individuals progress through each of life’s stages.

Social psychologists examine how people interact with each other and with their environment, while research psychologists work in research centers studying the general behaviors of humans and other animals.

Job Outlook and Salary

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment opportunities for individuals with a psychology degree are expected to grow faster than average. The Bureau reports that the median annual salary for those employed as school, clinical, and counseling psychologists was $54,950 in May 2004. Those employed as industrial-organizational psychologists earned $71,400 that same year.

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