Psychology-Careers.orgCareer Paths for Psychologists
A career in a specific field of psychology generally requires an advanced degree. Though there are plenty of options available to you if you have a bachelor's in psychology. The bachelor’s degree in psychology prepares you to think critically and tackle a variety of jobs.
If you are planning to obtain a master’s degree or doctorate in psychology your degree studies will be directed toward a certain profession. Before you begin your advanced studies you should have a general idea about what you want to with it: do you want to teach or perform research in an university setting? Are you interested in social work? Do you want to work in the educational sector? These are some broad questions to consider before you begin coursework. Below are some of the careers you can pursue once you’ve decided the type of position you are looking for.
Teaching
When you teach psychology at the university level you will probably being doing some research too. Generally you will be required to have a Ph.D. to teach, though with a master’s you can get teaching jobs at community colleges.
Careers in Applied Psychology
- Clinical Psychologists are the largest specialty group out of the different fields. They primarily deal with individuals and help to diagnosis and treat psychological disorders as well as more common issues such as grief and divorce. Clinical psychologists may work with people of varying demographics or specialize in specific groups such as children.
- Counseling Psychologists are trained to help with issues in day-to-day life. The profession is similar to clinical psychology except the focus is more on helping individuals to deal with difficulties in specific situations as opposed to those with severe psychological disorders. For example, counseling psychologists are often found in universities and help students to deal with the pressures of school.
- Forensic Psychologists apply a psychological framework to legal issues in order to help those involved with a trial understand the psychological underpinnings of a case. There are three areas to specialize in: family court, criminal court, and civil court.
- Industrial-Organizational Psychologists analyze the workplace to assess and improve its quality for workers. Work as an industrial psychologists is usually performed on a contractual basis.
- Sports psychologists are concerned with the psychological well-being of athletes and how that in turn relates to their performance.
Education
- School Counselors assist students that are having trouble with peers, teachers, their families, etc. The goal is to resolve the problems that are interfering with their education. School counselors find positions in elementary through high school.
- School Psychologists test students to pinpoint weak spots in their learning abilities. Through counseling and work with teachers, they finds ways to effectively teach those who are having difficulties in a normal school setting.
Social Work
Clinical social workers provide psychological services to members of the community they work in. They may work in hospitals, mental health centers, or shelters. A license in clinical social work is available to those with a master’s degree.
Sources:
Bureau of Labor Statistics BLS Occupational Outlook Handbook for Psychologists.
Psi Chi The International Honor Society in Psychology website with information on career options in the field of psychology.
Psych Web Comprehensive overview of career paths in all the various departments of psychology.