Careers in Psychology
Do you find psychology interesting? What kind of careers could this lead to?
The American Psychological Association estimates that psychology is the most popular undergraduate major and that 67% of bachelor degree graduates find work in a related field. If you have a Bachelor's degree in psychology you can use your knowledge of Psychology in many different careers, including education, business, health care and rehabilitation, working with special populations such as the disabled, or caring for children or the elderly, in service industries, police work, etc. In fact, a knowledge of psychology can help you in any career, as well as in your personal relationships. A study of business executives found that more fail because of a lack of people skills and emotional intelligence than because of a lack of technical skills. Of course, psychology can not magically make you better at getting along with others, but it can teach you about people and the reasons for their behaviour, and that can help you understand yourself and others. And that is useful in any career.
With a graduate degree (M.A./M.Sc. or Ph.D.), psychologists specialize in many different areas within the field. Once you have your B.A. in Psychology, it typically takes 2-3 years to complete a master's degree (M.A. or M.Sc.) and another 4-5 years to complete a doctoral degree (Ph.D.), including internships for clinical or counselling psychologists. Graduates with an Master's or a Ph.D. in psychology work in research, in clinical or counselling private practice, in educational, sport or health psychology, or industrial psychology or forensics. Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental and emotional disorders, while counselling psychologists counsel couples and families who are having difficulties, or help people deal with "problems in living", difficult life events and change. Industrial/ organizational psychologists apply psychology theories and research findings to the workplace, to improve the management of human resources, productivity and job satisfaction. Neuropsychologists study the relationship between the brain and human behaviour and cognition, and assess and treat people with traumatic brain injury. Developmental psychologists specialize in human cognitive, emotional, and psychological development across the lifespan. Other psychologists specialize in topics like sports psychology, health psychology (health, stress, and illness), forensic psychology (legal and criminal issues), educational or school psychology, and social psychology.
The web sites listed below have more information and suggestions about careers in psychology, and courses you might need for different career paths.
Links
Psychology- Scientific Problem Solvers-- Careers for the 21st Century (brochure): for any student considering a career in psychology, this is an excellent introduction to what is psychology, the kinds of work psychologists do, and the training required to become a psychologist.
See also: Psychology as a Career (PDF file).
Grad School and Careers in Psychology: John Suler's pages describing careers in psychology and the graduate school training routes.
Careers in Psychology: Marky Lloyd's interesting site for those looking at a career in psychology.
Organizations and Societies
Canadian Psychological Association: for those interested in links to psychology department web sites at Canadian universities.
American Psychological Association: this major association provides a range of information and services.
American Psychological Society: their psychology links can take you to any of the many organizations and societies in the profession of psychology.