Are you good at sensing what other people are feeling, or figuring out what motivates people to act in certain ways? If you’re fascinated by what makes people tick, and enjoy helping people solve personal problems, then a psychology degree may be right for you. Psychologists are experts on the human mind. They study human behavior, provide counseling or mental health care to troubled patients, and help improve the quality of life in the workplace. A psychology degree program typically includes courses in the theory and science of psychology, counseling, statistics, behavior, human development, pathology, child and family psychology, industrial psychology, and research. To specialize in a particular branch of psychology requires increased coursework in that discipline.

A bachelor’s degree is the recommended psychology degree program. Clinical and counseling psychologists usually need a doctoral psychology degree and one or two years of professional experience. To accommodate graduate students who work fulltime, many schools are now providing psychologist degree programs online.

Psychology Degree Related Careers

• Clinical psychologist: treats clients suffering from emotional, mental, and physical problems. Clinical psychologists work in counseling centers, private practices, hospitals, and clinics.
• Counseling psychologist: helps individuals to develop insight and coping skills with regard to life transitions, grief, relationship issues, and stress. Counseling psychologists work in private practice, counseling centers, universities, and hospitals.
• School psychologist: works with students, parents, and school personnel to promote healthy learning environments and address individual students’ needs. School psychologists may be involved in everything from helping students manage academic pressure or challenging family circumstances to college selection and readiness.
• Industrial-organizational psychologist: uses the knowledge of human needs and behavior to improve productivity and quality of life in the workplace. The industrial-organizational psychologist works to improve communication between colleagues, help managers set appropriate expectations of employees, and develop leadership skills.
• Developmental psychologist: studies the changes in the human mind that occur between infancy and old age. The work of the developmental psychologist ranges from identifying developmental disabilities in children to helping senior citizens remain independent.
• Social psychologist: apply their knowledge to market research, systems design, organizational leadership, and other areas of social interaction.
• Research psychologist: studies human and animal societies to better understand human behavior. Research psychologists work for universities, private businesses, nonprofit organizations, and government agencies.

Psychologist Career Certification and Licensing

Every state has certification or licensing requirements for psychologists, but it may not be the same from state to state. You should find out what your state’s licensing requirements are. The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) certifies school psychologists and the American Board of Professional Psychology (ABPP) awards specialty certifications to psychologists who have specialized training and experience.

What’s the Job Outlook?

Job prospects for psychologists depend on your specific education. In general, the higher the degree you earn, the better your opportunity. Master’s degree holders are sought for a wide range of human services populations and settings, and holders of doctoral degrees often go into private practice. A bachelor’s degree is required for admission to any master’s or Ph.D. program.

How much does it pay?

Psychologists’ earnings vary with specialty. The middle 50 percent of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists earned from $45,000 to 78,000 in 2006. Industrial-organizational psychologists earned $66,000 to 115,000.

See Also: 3 Cool Psych Careers

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