WHAT CAN YOU DO WITH A

PSYCHOLOGY MAJOR?Academic Coach Facilitators:

Sean Varga and

Holly Drutarovsky

Are you a Psychology Major?

Are you considering becoming a Psychology Major?

Psychology

Definition (from Google):

“The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behavior in a given context”

WHAT IS PSYCHOLOGY TO

YOU, AND WHY ARE YOU

INTERESTED IN IT?

Why should you study Psychology? If you are interested in:

how people think, why they do what they do, what being “normal” menas, how the brain might affect someone’s behaviors, how a person develops, etc.

Major? Minors? At Temple:

Major: Psychology (B.A.)○ For people who love Psych

Minor: Psychology○ Psychology Grad School Requirements○ Can declare if interested in another major, but

want a Psych experience tooMinor: Cognitive Neuroscience

○ How does the mind arise from the brain?○ Can declare with Psych or any other Major

WHAT HAPPENS AFTER

GRADUATION?

Research

As a graduate with a psychology degree, you can potentially find a job as a research assistant working under someone with a PhD.

Research

What you can do:Work on the projects of the Principal

InvestigatorWork under the Principal Investigator and do

the work they assign you to do What you can’t do:

Conduct your own researchBe the final decision maker about how

things will be done

Research

Things to consider:IMPORTANT: you likely will not be able to find

a job with only a bachelor’s degree – you NEED undergraduate research experience!!!!

Jobs might be scarce with only a bachelor’s degree, and Government jobs might be slim to none

You won’t get paid as muchIt is likely just a transition job into something

else

Research

If you don’t think you would like being a research assistant and want more power, or if you just don’t think research is for you, you can go to graduate school

Masters Degree

PhD

PsyD

Research: Masters V PhD

Masters gives you more power in research

PhD gives you the most power and would eventually enable you to conduct your own research of interest

Masters

2 years schooling Can possibly get a

business/company/place you work at to pay for your schooling if you plan on staying there and benefitting that place

Mostly, people pay for schooling just like they would their undergraduate degree

PhD / PsyD

5 + years schooling Can find grants / money to help pay for

schooling If the school has the money, they might

also give you a stipend for your research work / being a TA for an undergrad psych classNote: it will likely not be much – only enough

to make ends meet for the time being

PhD V PsyD

PhD:Enables you to do research upon graduationIs more research orientedYou still can do clinical psychology with a

PhDOr, you can become a professor

PhD V PsyD

PsyD:More clinically orientedSeeing and treating patients is a main focusYou can become a clinical psychologist

PhD V PsyD

Take Home Message:You need to do your research on specific

schools to see what they offer in their programs

Different programs have different focuses and different ways they manage their students

Clinical

MastersSchool Psychology

PhDLicensed Psychologist

Settings of Psychology Careers

From apa.org:

For More Information…

www.apa.org:

Home»Careers»Career Development»Career Guides»Careers in Psychology

Careers Outside of Psychology

What if you don’t want to make Psychology a career?

Fields you can work in:Schools or collegesBusinessesReally anywhere (which is why psychology

can be a really good or bad major/degree to have)

What You Can Do Now! Gain research experience

This will look good on your resume and make you stand out from competitors, even if you don’t want to go into research○ Can do research on people OR animals!

Immerse yourself in anything related to psychology or your potential direction of interestThis includes shadowing, volunteering, or finding

a job that allows you to see what might happen in the setting you are interested in

What You Can Do Now!

Keep getting good gradesPsychology is a competitive area of study,

and grades are extremely important!○ You don’t want to be the person who doesn’t

get the job because you have a 3.0 and the other applicant had a 3.5, even though you both had the same research experience!

What You Can Do Now!

Join clubs and organizations on campus related to what you are interested inThis shows employers/graduate schools you

were interested in something even outside of the classroom

What You Can Do Now!

Visit the Career Center to…Get your resume/CV critiquedPractice interviewsExplore further career options that might suit

your personality/strengths

Questions?