Are you fascinated by people? Do you often wonder why people behave as they do? To be a successful psychologist you’ll need to be compassionate and empathetic, have a genuine interest in others and be a strong student with good analytical skills. Psychologists are engaged in an ongoing study of the human mind and human behavior. Through their work, psychologists help people deal with life’s ups and downs. Some psychologists may also be engaged in research, teaching or in diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
Psychologists work in a variety of settings, usually determined by their area of specialization. There are so many specialties within this field that psychologists can tailor their careers to their individual interests. School psychologists work at schools directly with students and are often engaged in testing and diagnosis of learning problems. The related field of educational psychology puts its focus on the learning process. Educational psychologists generally work in a private setting, diagnosing and treating learning disabilities. With the guidance of an educational psychologist, students learn to cope with their learning disabilities and to maximize their academic potential.
Clinical psychologists treat people with emotional, mental, or behavioral problems. Some are engaged in helping their clients adjust to life’s difficulties such as illness or loss. Industrial or organizational psychologists utilize psychological principles to enhance productivity in the workplace and to help employees gain satisfaction from their jobs. They may be employed by large companies or work as independent consultants.
Developmental psychologists study human development throughout the life cycle. Often, developmental psychologists specialize in a particular phase of life, focusing on behavioral issues that occur in childhood, in adolescence or in the elderly. Neuropsychologists often diagnose and treat individuals with brain injuries while rehabilitation psychologists help those affected by illness or accidents. There’s even a specialty in sports psychology in which practitioners help athletes deal with stress and focus on maximizing performance.
Students interested in many of these fields should plan on majoring in psychology, seeking out a college with a broad selection of courses in that Department. Look for a variety of offerings in the various subspecialties. You’ll need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree to work in the field of psychology, but a master’s degree is preferable and opens more career options, especially in school and organizational psychology. A doctoral degree (Ph.D or Psy.D) is necessary for work in clinical psychology. Internships are sometimes required for licensure.
To get more information about careers in psychology, contact the American Psychological Association at www.apa.org and the National Association of School Psychologists at www.nasponline.org.
A recent study indicates that only about 25% of psychology majors go on to earn an advanced degree in psychology. The 75% who do not often work in a related or seemingly unrelated field that values their understanding of human behavior. It is important to remember that psychology degrees are applicable to a wide variety of careers. For some ideas, see the following list.
Additional Career Paths for Psychology Majors
- Sales representative
- Advertising agent
- Career counselor
- Probation & parole officer
- Writer
- Market research analyst
- Social service specialist
- Teacher
- Attorney
- Physician
- Dentist
- Consultant
- Human resources manager
- Professor
- Principal
- Admissions officer
- Financial aid officer
- Customer service supervisor
- Employee relations worker
- Retail manager
- Substance abuse counselor
- Volunteer broker
- Law enforcement officer
- Hotel manager
- Public relations manager
- Social worker
- Insurance sales agent
