What should you do with your newly minted bachelor's degree in
psychology? With one of the most versatile undergraduate degrees,
you have a tremendous amount of options ahead. Here are just a
few.
Research
Psychologists can find work with many government and private
agencies compiling studies of human behavior. Many of these jobs
don't require a higher degree, and are excellent opportunities
for new graduates to gain valuable experience in a specialty.
Teaching
From pre-school and kindergarten to college, you'll find
psychology majors teaching at all educational levels. Check with
each school for licensure requirements. If you're on the teaching
track, consider the Ed.D. degree, issued by a university�s
education department. This doctorate indicates that you�ve
decided to apply and integrate your psychology expertise to the
classroom rather than the classroom or field.
Administration
Psychology majors can apply much of their training to management
positions in nonprofit organizations, schools, and businesses.
Human resource departments in particular offer many entry-level
opportunities for recent graduates.
Psychological services
Clinical psychologists diagnose and treat any number of mental
disorders, sometimes specializing in one particular illness.
Hospitals, schools and other large institutions are some of the
biggest employers of these counselors.
As a private practitioner, you can provide any number of
psychological services such as substance abuse rehabilitation,
educational consulting, forensic work, even divorce mediation.
You'll find it easier to focus on a single type of disorder or
job function, whether you're a researcher or therapist. However,
you might have a harder time finding clientele as opposed to
working in a large organization.
Most clinical psychologist positions require a license issued
by your state of residence. You can't operate a private practice
without one. In order to receive your licensure, you'll need a
doctorate from a school or department of psychology, pass a
licensing exam and complete an internship in your chosen
specialty. This process takes around four to six years after the
completion of your undergraduate degree.
Clinical psychologists usually hold one of two doctorates. The
Ph.D. emphasizes courses in statistics and research techniques.
You must also conduct a thesis project, evaluate your findings in
a written dissertation and defend these conclusions in front of a
review board. Psy.D. programs also feature upper-division
classes, but require more field work than the Ph.D. The brunt of
this hands-on experience usually takes place in facilities such
as health clinics.
Once you receive your doctorate, you'll have to pass the
Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology, or EPPP. The
minimum score you�ll need depends on the guidelines established
by your state. There may be additional state-mandated tests, both
oral and written.
For a list of accredited doctoral programs, visit the American
Psychological Association's website.
