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Careers in Psychology
Presented by Clark University Career Services
Career Options
• Psychologists focus on several main areas of study and intervention:
– promoting physical and mental health; helping people learn; conducting
research; studying development; studying and contributing to the work
environment.
• Students with a BA in psychology can be employed in a range of
environments including community and social service agencies;
non-profit organizations; business.
Undergraduate Degree
• Students with an undergraduate degree in
Psychology can go on and do a graduate
degree in many areas outside of
psychology, counseling and research
including:
– MBA – Business Administration
– MPA – Public Administration
– MPH – Public Health
Graduate School
• In order to go on in the field of psychology, a graduate degree will be
necessary.
– Master’s- Two types of Master’s degrees: Professional and Academic
• Professional: typically a 60 credit Master’s or Specialist degree including
extensive internship or practicum experience is required. Certification /
licensure varies by state.
– Master’s in Education, Counseling (MEd) degrees that prepare you to
be a school guidance counselor, school adjustment counselor.
– Master’s in Social Work (MSW) – clinical degree; allows you to
eventually become a licensed independent clinical social worker
(LICSW) and do private practice work.
– MS - School Psych; Sports Psych.
– MA – Industrial/Organizational Psych; Experimental Psych; Human
Factors
Doctorate Degree
• Necessary for independent practice as a
psychologist
– PhD: research focused; necessary for work in
academia or advancement in field of research
or in areas such as School or Forensic
Psychology.
– PsyD: focuses on practical / clinical work
Steps For Career Development
• Self-assessment – skills, interests, values (good at, like,
what’s important to you personally, spiritually)
– Informal and standardized measures
• Read – websites; books in CS; professional associations
• Talk to people – faculty can give leads; alums; family
network
• Experience– internship, job shadow, part-time / summer
job
– Important to an employer
• Human Service sequence or School Psych sequence
through Education department (courses and field work)
Psychology Internships
• UMass – research
• Abby’s House – for homeless women and children
• Youth Opportunities Upheld, Inc. – children and
adolescents with family issues; legal involvement;
psychological disorders. Residential and outpatient.
• Samaritans
• Rape Crisis Center
• American Civil Liberties Union
• Devereux School • Dismas House – for former inmates
• Gerontology
Entry level jobs held by Clark alumni
with a B.A. in Psychology
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Case worker – MH, MR, special populations
Legal Advocate – battered women
Youth Development Specialist – at risk adolescents
Behavior Analyst / Specialist – with special needs children
Research Assistant – hospital setting
Resident Services Coordinator – senior citizens
Grant Reviewer – foundation
Teacher
Environmental analyst – research, data collection and analysis
Human Resource Administrator
• Advertising, Marketing, Public Relations
• Editor – educational publication
• Adjuster – insurance company
Types of Psychologists
•
Clinical Psychologists
– assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. These range from
short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from adolescent rebellion, to more
severe, chronic conditions such as schizophrenia.
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Cognitive and perceptual psychologists
– study human perception, thinking, and memory. Cognitive psychologists also
study reasoning, judgment, and decision making.
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Counseling psychologists
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help people recognize their strengths and resources to cope with their problems.
Counseling psychologists do counseling/psychotherapy, teaching, and scientific
research with individuals of all ages, families, and organizations (e.g., schools,
hospitals, businesses).
Developmental psychologists
– study the psychological development of the human being that takes place
throughout life. Until recently, the primary focus was on childhood and
adolescence, but as life expectancy approaches 80 years, developmental
psychologists are becoming increasingly interested in aging.
Types of Psychologists
•
Educational psychologists
– concentrate on how effective teaching and learning take place. They consider a
variety of factors, such as human abilities, student motivation, and the effect on
the classroom of the diversity of race, ethnicity, and culture that makes up
America.
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Engineering psychologists
– conduct research on how people work best with machines. Most engineering
psychologists work in industry, but some are employed by the government,
particularly the Department of Defense. They are often known as human factors
specialists.
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Evolutionary psychologists
– study how evolutionary principles such as mutation, adaptation, and selective
fitness influence human thought, feeling, and behavior. Evolutionary
psychologists are particularly interested in paradoxes and problems of evolution.
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Experimental psychologists
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are interested in a wide range of psychological phenomena, including cognitive
processes, comparative psychology (cross-species comparisons), learning and
conditioning, and psychophysics.
Types of Psychologists
• Forensic psychologists
– apply psychological principles to legal issues. Their expertise is
often essential in court. Forensic psychologists also conduct
research on jury behavior or eyewitness testimony.
• Health psychologists
– specialize in how biological, psychological, and social factors
affect health and illness. They also develop health care
strategies that foster emotional and physical well-being.
• Industrial/organizational psychologists
– apply psychological principles and research methods to the work
place in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of
work life. Many serve as human resources specialists or
management consultants.
Types of Psychologists
• Quantitative and measurement psychologists
– focus on methods and techniques for designing experiments and
analyzing psychological data. Some develop new methods for
performing analysis; others create research strategies to assess the
effect of social and educational programs and psychological treatment.
• Rehabilitation psychologists
– work with stroke and accident victims, people with mental retardation,
and those with developmental disabilities caused by such conditions as
cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism. They help clients adapt to their
situation, frequently working with other health care professionals
• Neuropsychologists
– (and behavioral neuropsychologists) explore the relationships between
brain systems and behavior. Clinical neuropsychologists also assess
and treat people.
Types of Psychologists
• School psychologists
– assess and counsel students, consult with parents and school
staff, and conduct behavioral interventions in public and private
schools.
• Social psychologists
– study how a person's mental life and behavior are shaped by
interactions with other people. They are interested in all aspects
of interpersonal relationships, including both individual and group
influences, and seek ways to improve such interactions.
• Sports psychologists
– help athletes refine their focus on competition goals, become
more motivated, and learn to deal with the anxiety and fear of
failure that often accompany competition.
Career Opportunities
• Listen to Psychology graduates discuss
their experience in the wide variety of
career opportunities:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2w7KrQRk6g
For Additional Help…
Consult with Clark’s Career Services staff.
To schedule an appointment, contact us at:
(508) 793-7258
or email us at:
[email protected]