What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?

I think we all can understand the confused mind of a student who has completed high school and is entering college. Along with the excitement, what confuses them the most is what major subject to choose. I still remember how confused I was when I was entering college. We all must have experienced this ourselves. In times like today, with so many options available, and the list seemingly never ending, it has become much more complex to choose a career. Opting for a major in psychology can be a very interesting and rewarding career opportunity for people who would want to help others in their own way.

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of the human mind and behavior. It is a science which attempts to find out why people behave the way they do, and also what makes them behave in such a way. It is an understanding of emotions, behavior and unexplained thoughts. There are various sub-fields in psychology, and once you are armed with your degree, you can specialize in these sub types. Clinical psychology, which largely involves counseling, industrial psychology which does the work of analyzing workers of a company or an industry, research psychology, which involves doing research on animal and/or human behavior are some of the option you get to choose from once you have got your degree. The field of psychology is not as simple as it looks like, it runs deeper than it appears. People who study psychologists are sheer geniuses.

A college degree in psychology of course is helpful as it is like a ticket to get into a challenging and rewarding career in this field. Firstly, a person must be clear in his mind as to what he wants to do. The field of psychology requires intense research study and dedication. One who is prepared for all of this is best suitable for this career option. Psychology students develop skills to assist people in bettering their mental health and help them to overcome it.

For a student who has studied psychology, it does not indicate that he will require to work only within his domain, but can work in a variety of fields like public relations, social work, education, health centers, and others. As the course advances, the in-depth knowledge which the student gains also advances. The more the level of study is, more advanced is the knowledge pondered.

Psychologists cure a person's disturbed mind and they do this by talking to the patient. They not only gain mastery in their field, but they also develop interpersonal skills and problem solving skills. It is really not an easy task to talk to someone who is disturbed, but the challenging part is to make him talk about it. For beginners, it can really be difficult. Another angle to this is the degree of truthfulness. What if the patient is not being true or is giving out false information. This is when the real skill of a psychologist comes into the picture. They need to gage the person's mind to find out the untold.

Career Options

A career in psychology offers a large salary. For people who have just gotten a degree in psychology, getting a job as a psychologist can be a little tricky, as the industry prefers experience. But then one would need to start somewhere to get experience. Statistically, only 30-40% of students do their Masters in Psychology to get more in-depth knowledge of the subject they specialize in. The rest, as it is easier to guess, start working. The salary of a psychologist varies largely depending upon the education and also the company. Internships are a great way to get into this field to gain the required experience. It will also provide the feel and the work which is expected out of a psychologist. It would be a good idea to consult your supervisors to know about internships.

Mentioned below are some of the fields where a psychology majors student may be enrolled.

• Personnel training
• Human Services
• Advertising & Market Research
• Social Service Specialist
• Career Counselors
• Child Care Workers
• Teachers
• Administration
• Substance Abuse Counselor
• Public Relations
• Behavior Analyst
• Nursing and Physician Assisting
• Rehabilitation Aid
• Human resources
• Other management-related occupations

Salary

The average psychologist salary with a major degree can be approx. $40,000 - $60,000. This is just a tentative figure, as it greatly depends upon the domain you'll be working and the employer. Psychology jobs with a bachelor's degree is vast, but of course, opportunities will be bigger and better if you've done your masters or a Ph.D. Besides the monetary aspect, which is on the higher side of the salary range for jobs, psychologists are also a respected part of the community, as they perform services that help other individuals. Self satisfaction is another important non monetary benefit of being a psychologist.

It is important for you to plan your future and consider a particular field only after doing enormous research. Decide on the one which is more suitable to you. Understand what you want to do. Psychology is the study of human and organizational behavior which can be complex. But then in the long run it has the potential of being one of the most successful and creative careers. Apart from the wealth and fame, it gives you much-needed self satisfaction, as you will be one who will cater to distressed minds and at the same time, appease them.