Are you curious about the human mind and what makes people tick? A psychology degree is a versatile degree that can lead to a number of career opportunities as well as pathways to continue education for a specialized role, from becoming a counselor to working toward a role as an industrial and organizational (IO) psychologist.
In fact, there are many opportunities for those with a psychology degree in a range of industries that you might not know about outside of the field of psychology. Some subfields and applications of psychology include traditional counseling and helping type professions to business and healthcare, as well as specializations that work with specific populations: children, adolescents, families, rehabilitation, gerontology and more.
Common Jobs for Psychology Degree Holders
A typical psychology bachelor’s degree introduces students to the science and clinical practice of psychology. Students can expect to complete subjects from biology and behavior theories to learning, memory and ethics.
This type of curriculum can be applied to a variety of job functions, and some of the most common job opportunities for those who hold a psychology degree:
- Therapy and counseling
- Training and development
- Private healthcare education
- Mental health support
- Career counseling
- Human resources
- Social work
Some roles in psychology require more than just an undergraduate degree. Specialized roles are more often expected to hold a master’s or doctoral degree.
Jobs for Psych Majors in Healthcare and Therapy
There are plenty of roles for psychology majors in healthcare and therapy. In fact, many of the applications of psychology can be practiced in a clinic or hospital.
Healthcare roles for psychology majors:
- Clinical psychologist*
- Rehabilitation specialist
- Mental health counselor*
- Research Assistant
- Group Facilitator
- Case manager
*Requires a graduate degree
Some roles, such as becoming a clinical psychologist, require additional graduate-level training.
Psychology Careers in Education
A degree in psychology can lead to a number of careers in education. It’s possible to apply your education to help improve teaching methods and understand the needs of students of all ages and backgrounds.
Education careers for psychology majors:
- Behavior specialist
- Professional coaching
- Educational program researcher*
- School psychologist*
- Guidance counselor*
- Educational psychologist*
*Requires a graduate degree
A master’s and doctoral degree may be required for specialized roles, such as becoming a psychologist or guidance counselor.
Using a Psychology Degree for Research
Psychology can also be applied to research in many forms, whether it’s used to help a business operate more efficiently or sell more products. Psychology research can be used in a number of industries and roles.
Research careers for psychology majors:
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Abnormal psychology/psychopathology*
- Criminal psychology and forensics*
*Requires a graduate degree
It’s not surprising that psychologists help with the formation of policies and procedures within an organization, and an industrial/organizational psychology master’s degree can help get you there.
Unique Careers for Psychology Degrees
Psychology majors can also apply their skills to management roles as well as the advertising industry where understanding different management theories or capturing the attention of customers requires specialized knowledge of human behavior.
Lesser-known careers for psychology majors:
- Management roles
- Motivational speaker
- Product or brand market researcher
- User experience researcher
- Corporate trainer
The skills gained through a psychology degree can help you succeed in a number of unique career paths and industries.
Graduate and Doctoral Degrees For Psychology
An advanced degree in psychology is needed to become a psychologist. In addition, many of the above mentioned psychology careers also require your studies to be concentrated in a specific field of psychology, such as industrial/organizational psychology for those who want to work with organizations and human resources.
- Clinical psychology
- Forensic psychology
- Industrial-organizational psychology
- School psychology
- Sports psychology
Finishing your master’s or doctoral degree in psychology can open up new opportunities for psychology majors. If you’re interested in becoming a psychologist, then it’s important to find the right graduate program for your psychology specialization.
