JOBS WITH A DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY
(Including Possibilities with a BA/BS, Credential, MA/MS, PsyD. and Ph.D.)
I. B.A. or B.S. IN PSYCHOLOGY
Community and Social Services:
•Social worker (Child Protective Services, teen mothers, homeless shelters)
•Community Service Organization worker
•Volunteer coordinator
•Parks and Recreation Coordinator
•Nursing Home Administrator
•Youth Organization staff member (YMCA, YWCA)
Human Resources:
•Employment developer
•Training coordinator
•Claims administrator
Residential Care
•For developmentally delayed (special day programs)
•For delinquents (group homes, juvenile hall)
•For the elderly (nursing homes, retirement communities)
Management and Business
•Bank employee
•Salesperson
•Public Relations specialist
•Restaurant & Hotel manager
•Medical Reports Technician
Student Affairs/Services
•Student activities/Housing coordinator(Events, Freshmen Orientation, Residential Housing Advisor)
Probation/Parole/Law Enforcement
•Parole officer
•Correction's officer
•Juvenile intake worker
Education
•Child care provider
•Peace Corps volunteer
•Teacher's aide
Scientific Research
•Opinion survey researcher
II. TEACHING CREDENTIAL [27-41 unit program. - One year]
•Elementary school teacher (multiple-subject teaching credential)
•High school or middle school teacher (single subject teaching credential)
•Special Education teacher (often requires a Master's degree)
III. M.A. IN COUNSELING [MA/MS, 36-72 unit program, 1-4 yr.]
[300-600 hrs of internship required]
•School Counselor (earn a Pupil Personnel Services credential)
Work in an elementary, middle, or high school
•Career Counselor
Work in private practice, college career center, non-profit or for profit career center
(e.g., Jewish Vocational Services, Alumnae Resources)
Provides career assessments
(Strong Interest Indicator, Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Campbell Interests and Skills Survey)
•College Counselor
Academic Advisor
Financial Aid Counselor
Student Activities Coordinator
•Rehabilitation Counselor
Worker's Compensation Counselor
Disability Related Services Counselor
•Gerontology Counselor
Nursing homes, retirement communities, recreation programs.
•Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor
Provide individual, family, group psychotherapy to clients.
May specialize in specific type of therapy (psychoanalytic, behavioral)
May specialize in populations (substance abuse, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, psychiatric
disabilities)
Private practice, at college campus counseling center, or at non-profit counseling agency.
M.F.C.C. Requirements:
48-60 unit accredited program, covering specific course work
3,000 hours of counseling with individuals, groups, children, families
Take written exam (Board of Behavioral Science)
Take oral exam (Board of Behavioral Science)
Licensed as an MFCC
•Art Therapist
May combine with MFCC licensing.
Use artistic expression (drawing, acting, and music) to provide therapy
Work with children, people with HIV/AIDS, artistic clients as well.
•Assistant professor at community college, teaching introductory Psychology
•Assistant professor at private university, teaching undergraduate/graduate level Psychology courses.
IV. M.S. IN PSYCHOLOGY, COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY, OR CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
[MS, 36-78 units, 2-4 years]
[300-600 hours of internship required]
More research-oriented than Counseling degree
Often first step toward Ph.D.
Areas of Emphasis:
Addiction Studies
Correctional Psychology-counseling delinquent and at-risk youth
Educational Counseling
Health Psychology
Life Transitions Counseling
Martial and Family Therapy
School Psychology
May pursue license as a Marriage, Family, and Child Counselor (see page 2)
•School Psychologist (administer assessment tests to determine learning, psychological, or physical
disabilities. Then create an Individual Education Plan for each student.)
• Social services clinic worker
Substance Abuse Counselor
HIV/AIDS Counselor
Domestic Violence Counselor
Psychiatric clinic assistant
• Assistant professor at community college, teaching introductory Psychology
• Assistant professor at private university, teaching undergraduate or graduate level Psychology
courses.
V. M.S. IN SOCIAL WORK [MSW, 48-60 units , and 2-4 years]
[300-600 hours of internship required]
Oriented towards social welfare factors affecting life, including shelter, clothing, food, and social
issues.
• Social Worker/Case Manager (e.g., Child Protective Services, teen mothers)
• Hospital worker, providing psychological assessments of patients
• Homelessness Advocate
•Psychotherapist, in private practice, non-profit, agency, or hospital setting
Areas of employability
Elementary, middle, and high schools (if you earn a Pupil Personnel Services Credential during
graduate studies)
Families and children
Health settings
Human services agencies
Industrial social work
Community organizations
Planning and administration
Public child welfare
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) Requirements:
Complete required course work for MSW
Complete 3,200 hours of supervised clinical work
Take oral and written examinations
Licensed as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker
VI. Ph.D. IN SOCIAL WORK [Ph.D., 4+ years]
VII. Ph.D. IN CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY [PsyD, 60 - 72 units, 3+years]
[Many internships required]
Clinically oriented, providing psychotherapy to clients individually, in families,
and in groups.
Areas of Emphasis:
Clinical Psychology
Cognitive - Behavioral Psychotherapy
Family and Child Psychology
Family Systems Psychotherapy
Forensics Psychology
Industrial - Organizational Psychology
Psychoanalytical Psychotherapy
VIII. Ph.D. IN PSYCHOLOGY [Ph.D., 60-72 units, 4+ years]
[Many internships required]
Research oriented, wherein at least half of degree focused on research and half focused on clinical
work.
May provide psychological testing, assessments, and evaluations.
• Professor at a university or college (at the undergraduate, graduate, or doctoral level)
• Private practice as a Psychologist
• Psychologist at a college counseling center, non-profit agency, or clinic.
• Director of a non-profit mental health agency
• Research Psychologist (focusing on specific disorders and populations)
Areas of Emphasis:
• Clinical - Aging Psychology
• Behavioral Health Care Management
• Behavioral Neuroscience Psychology
• Child or Adult Development Psychology
• Cultural & Human Behavior Psychology
• Forensic Psychology - combines psychology and law, works with prisoners,
juvenile crime, child custody rights
• Health Psychology - physical illness related to psychological illnesses (e.g.,
HIV/AIDS, cancer, and disabilities).
• Organizational Psychology - often works in companies and corporations
total quality management programs, and self-governing teams.
• Psychology of Women
• Quantitative and Social Psychology
Licensed Psychologist Requirements:
Complete an accredited Ph.D. program, including dissertation and clinical hours
Complete 3,000 supervised clinical hours
Take written examination
Take oral examinationLicensed as a Ph.D
Answered By: xi xi - 1/24/2007 |