Career Options: What You Can Do With Such A Degree Eric Landrum Department of Psychology Boise State University Psi Chi Symposium “The ABC’s of an Advanced

Career Options: What Career Options: What You Can Do With Such A You Can Do With Such A

DegreeDegreeEric LandrumEric Landrum

Department of PsychologyDepartment of Psychology

Boise State UniversityBoise State University

Psi Chi Symposium “The ABC’s of an Advanced Degree: What Do They All Psi Chi Symposium “The ABC’s of an Advanced Degree: What Do They All Mean?”Mean?”

Rocky Mountain Psychological AssociationRocky Mountain Psychological Association

April 16, 2004April 16, 2004

Reno, NVReno, NV

Careers with a Bachelor’s Careers with a Bachelor’s DegreeDegree

With a bachelor’s degree, you can With a bachelor’s degree, you can obtain jobs both within psychology obtain jobs both within psychology (usually in a support staff/type of role) (usually in a support staff/type of role) and related to the discipline of and related to the discipline of psychology. There are also a number of psychology. There are also a number of opportunities to apply your opportunities to apply your undergraduate training in psychology in undergraduate training in psychology in areas that are not directly related to areas that are not directly related to psychology but that involve some psychology but that involve some component of human behavior. component of human behavior.


Education, teaching15%

Consulting/statistics6%

Administration/clerical19%

Professional services19%

Sales5%

Health, health-related services

22%

Research/Development9%

Other management5%


The future is bright! A 1995 NSF The future is bright! A 1995 NSF study found of recent graduates:study found of recent graduates:70% were employed.70% were employed.23% were full-time graduate students.23% were full-time graduate students.7% were not employed nor enrolled full-7% were not employed nor enrolled full-

time. time. There are many possibilities with a There are many possibilities with a

bachelor’s degree—see handout for bachelor’s degree—see handout for listing of job titles.listing of job titles.


In the September 2000 salary survey In the September 2000 salary survey conducted by the National Association of conducted by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, the average salary Colleges and Employers, the average salary offer for psychology majors nationally was offer for psychology majors nationally was $28,811. In the Summer 2001 salary $28,811. In the Summer 2001 salary survey by NACE (2001), the average offer survey by NACE (2001), the average offer for bachelor’s degree psychology graduates for bachelor’s degree psychology graduates was $30,388. Of course these was $30,388. Of course these starting starting salariessalaries will vary by region of the country, will vary by region of the country, job demands, experience, etc. job demands, experience, etc.

Careers with a Master’s Careers with a Master’s DegreeDegree

Master’s-level counselors and psychologists Master’s-level counselors and psychologists help people in a number of ways, such as help people in a number of ways, such as evaluating their interests, abilities and evaluating their interests, abilities and disabilities, and dealing with personal, disabilities, and dealing with personal, social, academic, and career problems. social, academic, and career problems.

A 1998 APA study of master’s degree A 1998 APA study of master’s degree recipients in psychology found that:recipients in psychology found that: 67% were employed.67% were employed. 27% were full-time graduate students.27% were full-time graduate students. 6% were not employed nor full-time graduate 6% were not employed nor full-time graduate

students.students.


Independent practice3%

Colleges and universities12%

Business, government, or nonprofit

15%

Education/schools20%

Other human services settings

50%


How much do master’s-level counselors and How much do master’s-level counselors and psychologists earn? The OOH (1998) reports psychologists earn? The OOH (1998) reports that the “median earnings for full-time that the “median earnings for full-time educational and vocational counselors were educational and vocational counselors were about $35,800 a year in 1996. The middle about $35,800 a year in 1996. The middle 50 percent earned between $25,600 and 50 percent earned between $25,600 and $48,500 a year. The bottom 10 percent $48,500 a year. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $18,600 a year, while the earned less than $18,600 a year, while the top 10 percent earned over $60,100 a year” top 10 percent earned over $60,100 a year” (p. 6). The average salary for public school (p. 6). The average salary for public school counselors was about $44,100. counselors was about $44,100.


Careers with a DoctorateCareers with a Doctorate

The doctoral degree in psychology The doctoral degree in psychology (e.g., Ph.D. or Psy.D.) is generally (e.g., Ph.D. or Psy.D.) is generally required for employment as a required for employment as a licensed clinical or counseling licensed clinical or counseling psychologist. Over 40% of all psychologist. Over 40% of all psychologists are self-employed, five psychologists are self-employed, five times the average for all professional times the average for all professional workers (OOH, 1998). workers (OOH, 1998).


In a 1995 APA study of new In a 1995 APA study of new doctorates Ph.D.’s accounted for doctorates Ph.D.’s accounted for 76% of the degrees awarded, 76% of the degrees awarded, Psy.D.’s accounted for 22%, and Psy.D.’s accounted for 22%, and Ed.D’s accounted for 2% of the Ed.D’s accounted for 2% of the degrees awarded. degrees awarded.


APA surveyed Ph.D. degree holders in APA surveyed Ph.D. degree holders in 1999 and found that:1999 and found that:67.0% were employed full time67.0% were employed full time10.0% were employed part time 10.0% were employed part time 17.3% were pursuing postdoctoral 17.3% were pursuing postdoctoral

educationeducation2.7% were unemployed and seeking 2.7% were unemployed and seeking

employmentemploymentand 2.6% were unemployed but not and 2.6% were unemployed but not

seeking employment. seeking employment.


Academia30%

Business or government18%

Education, schools7%

Managed care10%

Other human service settings

35%



Thinking about Graduate Thinking about Graduate School?School?

Documents

Career Options: What You Can Do With Such A Degree Eric Landrum Department of Psychology Boise State University Psi Chi Symposium “The ABC’s of an Advanced