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Want to know the great thing about having a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology before going to grad school? The great thing about a bachelor’s degree in psychology is that it provides preparation for graduate study in many different areas. Psychology majors often go on to study education, counseling, or social work in graduate school. Some students even opt for continued study in law or medicine.
While earning a BA in psychology prepares you for a variety of careers, if you wish to pursue a graduate degree, it may be helpful to know what career tracks and advanced degrees may be available to you and the steps you could take to pursue them. This chapter presents an overview of careers and graduate schools that are available with a BA degree in psychology.
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alternative graduate programs for psychology majors
A Bachelor’s in psychology degree is typically seen as a stepping stone to a more specialized graduate program in psychology. It is not to be entirely dismissed on its own merits, as it can lead into a wide range of professions (including some surprising opportunities in business, counseling and education). However, a Master’s in psychology, particularly with a specialized focus catering to a particular clinical need, opens the door to a variety of exceptionally lucrative professional opportunities. In addition to being personally and financially rewarding, these opportunities accumulate valuable experience for a wide range of other positions.What Master’s Degree Can I Get With A Bachelor’s In Psychology
Here are five of the best Master’s degree programs to pursue after acquiring your Bachelor’s in psychology:- Social Work
- Counseling
- Criminal Justice
- Health Sciences
- Psychology
Social Work
A Master’s degree in Social Work is needed for a wide range of administrative positions. These include government positions, but there are jobs for someone with a Master’s in social work throughout private industry and the American educational system as well. These are rewarding positions, with ample compensation and a surprising amount of upward mobility. Working in an administrative capacity can also lead to unrelated career opportunities down the road.what can you do with a psychology degree
Figuring out where to apply? These top, accredited schools offer a variety of online degrees. Consider one of these accredited programs, and discover their value today.1. Counseling
Counseling is often associated directly with a psychology degree program, but it is normally based on its own, entirely separate program. However, a specialized Master’s in counseling, such as in occupational therapy, family counseling or academic counseling, will open up the doors to a diverse range of industries and positions therein. This is an excellent way to accumulate a broad range of experience, while earning fair wages, and helping those in need; counseling also represents one of the fastest growing career fields in America today.2. Criminal Justice
A Bachelor’s degree in psychology can pave the way for several different popular and lucrative career paths into law and criminal justice. These might include the pursuit of a legal degree, but may also involve a criminal justice major. A Master’s in criminal justice can prepare one to serve as a profiler or analyst in a wide range of law enforcement agencies, while a Master’s in forensic science qualifies you to begin working as a forensic psychologist.3. Health Sciences
A Master’s degree in health sciences requires a strong understanding of medicine, but a background in psychology is usually sufficient to get started. The primary responsibility of a health sciences professional is to provide administrative support to clinical or research institution, so a strong faculty for communications, organization and data analysis must go hand-in-hand with specialized technical knowledge.4. Psychology
This might go without saying, but the impression should not be made that a continuing education in the field of psychology would itself go to waste. Psychology presents ample research and clinical opportunities for developing new strategies to cope with a wide range of problems. Some of these challenges have only been recognized for what they are in recent years. Specialized Master’s degree holders are well on their way to the cutting edge of research and innovation, in finding new and more efficient ways of treating a wide range of psychological conditions. Many of the most rewarding and professionally satisfying Master’s programs can be found at some of the same institutions which offer some of the most highly accredited Bachelor’s in psychology programs in America today. These include a wide range of reputable, well-recognized institutions offering their Bachelor’s degree programs in psychology on a partly or completely online basis. This makes the acquiring of your undergraduate degree much more convenient and affordable, while simultaneously streamlining the ability to get into a (potentially online) Master’s degree program at the same institution.5. Counseling
Counseling is often associated directly with a psychology degree program, but it is normally based on its own, entirely separate program. However, a specialized Master’s in counseling, such as in occupational therapy, family counseling or academic counseling, will open up the doors to a diverse range of industries and positions therein. This is an excellent way to accumulate a broad range of experience, while earning fair wages, and helping those in need; counseling also represents one of the fastest growing career fields in America today.6. Criminal Justice
A Bachelor’s degree in psychology can pave the way for several different popular and lucrative career paths into law and criminal justice. These might include the pursuit of a legal degree, but may also involve a criminal justice major. A Master’s in criminal justice can prepare one to serve as a profiler or analyst in a wide range of law enforcement agencies, while a Master’s in forensic science qualifies you to begin working as a forensic psychologist.7. Health Sciences
A Master’s degree in health sciences requires a strong understanding of medicine, but a background in psychology is usually sufficient to get started. The primary responsibility of a health sciences professional is to provide administrative support to clinical or research institution, so a strong faculty for communications, organization and data analysis must go hand-in-hand with specialized technical knowledge.
8. Psychology
This might go without saying, but the impression should not be made that a continuing education in the field of psychology would itself go to waste. Psychology presents ample research and clinical opportunities for developing new strategies to cope with a wide range of problems. Some of these challenges have only been recognized for what they are in recent years. Specialized Master’s degree holders are well on their way to the cutting edge of research and innovation, in finding new and more efficient ways of treating a wide range of psychological conditions.Many of the most rewarding and professionally satisfying Master’s programs can be found at some of the same institutions which offer some of the most highly accredited Bachelor’s in psychology programs in America today. These include a wide range of reputable, well-recognized institutions offering their Bachelor’s degree programs in psychology on a partly or completely online basis. This makes the acquiring of your undergraduate degree much more convenient and affordable, while simultaneously streamlining the ability to get into a (potentially online) Master’s degree program at the same institution. An undergraduate degree in psychology provides excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers. While many undergraduate psychology majors later choose to study psychology in graduate school, some students opt for different educational and career paths.1 The great thing about a bachelor’s degree in psychology is that it provides preparation for graduate study in many different areas. Psychology majors often go on to study education, counseling, or social work in graduate school. Some students even opt for continued study in law or medicine.what can i do with a bachelors degree in psychology
Before you choose a graduate program, it is important to consider your options and personal interests. If you’re thinking of pursuing graduate study outside of psychology, you may think of some of the following alternative education paths for psychology majors.1. Social Work
Social work is a rapidly growing field with a wide range of opportunities. Social workers help individuals and families overcome problems such as poverty, disability, domestic abuse, and addictions. Psychology majors interested in this career are well-qualified for most Masters of Social Work programs. Master’s level social workers are in high demand in private practices, hospitals, government settings, police departments, nursing homes, and many more areas. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, social work careers are expected to grow faster than the average occupation between 2018 and 2028.2 If you are interested in a highly rewarding career that allows you to make a difference in people’s lives, consider pursuing a master’s degree in social work.
2. Education
There are many education programs where an undergraduate degree in psychology could be beneficial. Some psychology majors choose to become certified teachers and apply their knowledge of human behavior and learning directly in the classroom. Other programs such as educational psychology, school psychology, educational technology, curriculum planning, and educational assessment are all possible educational paths for undergraduate psychology majors.3. Counseling
Counseling is another option for those who want to work as marriage and family therapists, school counselors, or mental health counselors. Becoming a licensed counselor requires a master’s degree plus at least two years of supervised experience.3 If you love working with people, consider programs in marriage and family counseling, school counseling, or mental health counseling.4. Law and Criminal Justice
The understanding of human behavior and communication skills acquired during the undergraduate study in psychology also provides excellent training for a career in law and criminal justice. Some psychology majors opt for law school after graduation, while others choose to pursue careers in criminology or forensic psychology.5. Academic Advising and Student Affairs
A career in academic advising or student affairs might be an excellent choice if you enjoy college life and want to help university students achieve their academic goals. Academic advisors help students choose classes, majors, internships, and other important educational matters. They also deal with admissions decisions, financial aid, scholarships, and career placement. Some also teach undergraduate courses in study skills and student living. If you are interested in helping students find success in college, a graduate degree in academic advising or student affairs might be the perfect choice for you.6. Medicine and Health Sciences
Psychology majors with a strong interest in science might want to consider a career in medicine or the health sciences. While many pre-med students opt for undergraduate degrees in biology or chemistry, an undergraduate degree in psychology is also good preparation for a career in medicine. If you are considering future study in the health sciences, you can improve your chances of success by taking plenty of courses in science and math while you are an undergraduate. Potential educational paths include medical school or graduate study in occupational therapy or physical therapy.
A Word From Verywell
Before you decide which career path is best for you, take stock of your needs, interests, and career goals. An undergraduate degree in psychology is excellent preparation for a wide variety of careers. The interpersonal, communication, writing, and research skills you have acquired as a psychology major can help you succeed in both graduate school and the workforce.
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