What can you do with a Psychology Major?

Academic Coach Facilitators:
Sean Varga and
Holly Drutarovsky
Definition (from Google):
 “The scientific study of the
human mind and its
functions, esp. those
affecting behavior in a
given context”
Why should you study
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 too
 Minor: Cognitive Neuroscience
○ How does the mind arise from the brain?
○ Can declare with Psych or any other Major
As a graduate with a psychology
degree, you can potentially find a job as
a research assistant working under
someone with a PhD.
What you can do:
 Work on the projects of the Principal
 Work under the Principal Investigator and do
the work they assign you to do
What you can’t do:
 Conduct your own research
 Be the final decision maker about how
things will be done
Things to consider:
 IMPORTANT: you likely will not be able to
find a job with only a bachelor’s degree –
you NEED undergraduate research
 Jobs might be scarce with only a bachelor’s
degree, and Government jobs might be slim
to none
 You won’t get paid as much
 It is likely just a transition job into something
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
PhD gives you the most power and
would eventually enable you to conduct
your own research of interest
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
 If the school has the money, they might
also give you a stipend for your research
work / being a TA for an undergrad
psych class
 Note: it will likely not be much – only enough
to make ends meet for the time being
PhD V PsyD
 Enables you to do research upon graduation
 Is more research oriented
 You still can do clinical psychology with a
 Or, you can become a professor
PhD V PsyD
 More clinically oriented
 Seeing and treating patients is a main focus
 You 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
 Different programs have different focuses
and different ways they manage their
 School Psychology
 Licensed Psychologist
Settings of Psychology Careers
From apa.org:
For More Information…
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 colleges
 Businesses
 Really anywhere (which is why psychology
can be a really good or bad major/degree to
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
 This 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 grades
 Psychology 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 in
 This 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 critiqued
 Practice interviews
 Explore further career options that might suit
your personality/strengths

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