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Home | Career Pathways | Online Education Guide | Health & Medical Majors | Psychology Online Education GuideGuide to College Majors in PsychologyWhat is Psychology?Enrolling in a college degree program in Psychology provides access to one of the most challenging and rewarding professional fields today. Students who choose to pursue this course of study learn the necessary skills to assist people in improving their mental health. College degree programs in Psychology provide graduates with the skills and tools they need to be successful in this challenging and vital field. Psychology degree programs are designed to offer enrolled students a solid educational background of traditional science and liberal arts courses. As the Psychology college degree program progresses, this basic education becomes integrated with the more in-depth knowledge, skills, and expertise that are necessary for success in the many specializations in the professional field of psychology. The more advanced the degree in Psychology, the more specific and in-depth the coursework becomes. In the past few years, the availability of online and distance learning programs in the academic field of psychology has seen a significant growth. The expansion of the industry of online and distance learning degree programs in the field has made it possible for students in all situations to obtain a college degree in Psychology while continuing to maintain their lives at work and at home. Students who choose to obtain an education in Psychology will be prepared for a wide variety of professional opportunities in the field. Those with an educational background in psychology can apply their knowledge and skills to many different professional specializations. Career Education in PsychologyUndergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programsUndergraduate Coursework The following courses are commonly included in the course of study of an undergraduate college degree program in Psychology:
Undergraduate elective courses may include:
Graduate and Post-graduate Coursework Graduate and post-graduate courses in Psychology may cover topics such as:
Students may also study Cross- Cultural Psychology, Artificial Intelligence, Experimental Psychology, and Political Psychology. Studies in the relationship between psychology and religion, and between psychology and law are also growing in popularity. Psychology students must also take care not to engage in self-diagnosis, an occurrence that is common in graduate programs. Self-examination is necessary when pursuing this line of work and the tendency to falsely detect mental disorders in oneself is quite common. An appropriate perspective and a professional detachment are hallmarks of a successful psychologist and are integral to future happiness and professional fulfillment. Ideally when a student graduates with a degree in Psychology they will be able to:
Colleges and Universities offering online or distance learning degree programs in Psychology:
Capella University - Online graduate degree programs in Psychology What can you do with a College Degree in Psychology?Career options for aspiring psychologistsThe job of a psychologist is to investigate and assess the emotional, cognitive and social realms of human behavior. Psychologists provide mental health care in many different facilities such as hospitals, clinics, schools, or private settings. Psychologists use techniques such as interviewing and testing to help people deal with problems on a daily basis. The academic and private segments of the field offer the most opportunity for those who wish to pursue a career in psychology. Many holders of doctorate and Master's level degrees in Psychology choose to pursue a career in academics, teaching future psychologists and extending their own education through research and collaboration with students and colleagues. Those who choose an academic setting are able to draw from their educational backgrounds each day. Psychologists who choose to go into private practice have a direct impact on their patient's daily existence. The relationship between the psychologist and the patient is highly personal. The psychologist must uphold the doctor-patient contract of confidentiality. Psychology students are taught about the importance of communication and trust. Those in private practice must learn how to separate their professional lives from their personal lives and ensure that they don't "bring their work home." Separation and compartmentalization techniques are vital to the success of professionals in the mental health field. Working environment Psychologists who choose to enter an academic career usually have to fulfill teaching, administrative, and research responsibilities. Some psychologists employed in academia also maintain a part-time consulting practice. Many psychologists must at times handle an erratic schedule, due to the pressures and time constraints associated with travel, conferences, research, deadlines, and an overload of work. Career SpecializationsOne of the greatest benefits of having a degree in Psychology is the sheer versatility the degree provides. Students of Psychology enter many successful careers with different specializations. Industrial-Organizational Psychology Clinical psychology It is common for clinical psychologists to evaluate their patients' conditions through interviews and diagnostic tests. They may treat individual, family, or group patients through the development of programs designed for behavior modification. Clinical psychologists often work in collaboration with physicians to develop treatment programs for mutual patients. Clinical psychologists who work in academic settings like a college, university, or medical school, devote their careers to teaching graduate students about the psychology field. Some clinical psychologists work in the field of public health, designing and implementing mental health programs for communities. The specified field of clinical psychology also has its own specializations. They are:
Diversity in the fieldAs the attractiveness of psychology continues to grow, the number of female and minority students pursuing a degree in Psychology is increasing. The professional future of female psychologists and other minorities is bright because as the recognition of societal issues related to gender in the workplace and at home continues to grow, women are uniquely equipped to deal with the issues their clients may bring to their practice. The number of female psychologists varies throughout the country on a geographic basis. The majority is based in larger cities, while a smaller number of female psychologists can be found in rural areas. Career StatisticsAccording to The Majors Handbook, the top occupations that employ those with a bachelor's degree in Psychology are:
The College Handbook cites that 50% of Psychology graduates work for businesses and non-profit organizations. Another 16% work for the government, 14% work for educational institutions. 13% are self-employed and the remaining 9% work in private charitable organizations. The career opportunities for those graduates holding PhDs and Master's degrees in Psychology are considerably greater. According to the American Psychological Association, almost 90% of Psychologists holding PhDs were employed in the field. Approximately 75% of Psychologists holding PhDs were employed full time. Psychologists with advanced degrees also enjoy the benefit of collaborating with colleagues and continuing their own education through workshops, both in person and online. Career OutlookThe economic outlook for the field of Psychology continues to be positive. The professional opportunities in the field are expected to increase 10% to 20% through 2008. This increase is about the same as the average national growth rate, according to government statistics. Those graduates who decide to pursue degrees in Social Work can expect an even higher growth at 36%. The skills learned through a degree in Psychology can be applied to almost every opportunity in the American job market today, which makes the degree extremely appealing. The increasing demand for psychologists in hospitals, social service organizations, mental health care centers, rehabilitation centers, private businesses, and schools, ensures that those working in almost all specializations of the field of psychology can expect average to good growth of employment opportunities in the next several years. This is especially true for school, clinical, and counseling psychologists. School psychologists may be the most in demand of all specialty psychologists. Parents, teachers, and school administrators are increasingly aware of and concerned about the ways in which students' mental health affects their behavior and ability to learn in the classroom. Clinical psychologists will also be highly in demand as people need more and more help dealing with depression, alcohol and drug abuse, job-associated stress, divorce, and other times of emotional crisis. In addition to this, clinical psychologists will be needed to develop, implement, and help people through prevention programs as they struggle with maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Businesses will demand more and more the services of industrial-organizational psychologists who can help encourage productivity in the workplace and the retention of employees. Industrial-organizational psychologists can also help the staff of a company manage issues of diversity, gender, and discrimination. These psychologists also assist in the development of effective surveys and market research tools and strategies. Those students who graduate from a doctoral program in Psychology should be in particularly good shape for entering the job market, especially if they have focused their studies on a specialty such as counseling or school psychology. Those with computer science and quantitative research skills may receive preferential treatment in the job market. Students who have obtained a Master's degree but have not obtained a PhD will have tough competition when looking for a job, especially if their focus is in a specialty other than school or industrial-organizational psychology. Most other jobs that fall inside of other specialties in the field require that the successful applicant have achieved a PhD. Master's degree holders, however, may find employment as counselors or psychologist assistants. They may also find employment at universities with research centers, in the government, or in private companies, conducting research and collecting data. Those students who hold a bachelor's degree in Psychology but choose not to pursue a higher degree will have a difficult time finding employment in the field, though they may find employment conducting research and collecting data in institutions such as rehabilitation centers. Bachelor's degree holders may also teach high school psychology if they also obtain appropriate state public school teaching certification. Salary Information for Careers in PsychologyThe opportunity for increased earnings and greater prestige are increased for those students who choose to go on to an advanced degree in Psychology. The Handbook on College Majors notes that those with a Master's degree in Psychology and one year's field experience could start at roughly $44,000 a year. Those with a PhD could start at $37,000, and those with experience could start at $45,000. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, in 2002, the average annual salary of clinical, counseling, and school psychologists was $51,170. Average annual salaries ranged between more than $87,060 and less than $30,090. Certification and LicensureRelated Associations
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