Expand Your Job Options with a Psychology Degree

You might assume that there is only one path for people in psychology bachelor's degree programs. Upon graduation, they enter doctoral programs and emerge 5 to 7 years later with their doctoral degrees, ready to start their clinical practice. While this is a popular career track for psychology students, it is far from their only option. In fact, according to Psi Chi, the national psychology honor society, less than 25% of undergraduates in psychology end up in a career closely related to psychology.

A Psychology Degree's Versatility

As well-qualified psychology students enter the workforce, more and more employers are recognizing that training in psychology offers transferable skills for many occupations. According to an article by Shelly K. Schwartz that appeared on CNNMoney.com online, the top ten jobs for people with bachelor's degrees in psychology include:

• Top and mid-level management and administration
• Personnel, training, and labor relations
• Social work
• Healthcare careers, such as registered nurse, pharmacist, therapist, and physician assistant
• Marketing and sales
• Other management-related occupations
• Administrative work
• Insurance, securities, real estate, and business services
• Sales positions, including retail sales
• Accounting, auditing, and other financial specialties

Profiles of Jobs for Psychology Degree-Holders

Because psychology majors have so many options, it can be difficult to narrow them down to the one best career for you. These profiles of popular jobs can help you get an idea of what's available. These outlines include information about the nature of the daily work, required education or training, and the outlook for the job over the next few years.

Human Resources Manager

Human resources managers help their companies to hire, train, and retain talented employees. They must have excellent speaking, writing, and interpersonal skills. Many human resources managers choose to supplement their psychology degrees with master's degrees in business administration. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), job growth for human resources managers should be faster than average over the next few years.

Social Worker

Social workers can choose to specialize in a specific area. Some social workers help children and families; others focus on mental health and substance abuse issues. Duties can range from moderating support groups to offering ideas on coping skills. All states have required licensing and certifications for social workers, and you'll want to find out the specific requirements in your state. The BLS reports that employment for social workers should increase faster than average.

Physician Assistant

If you are not interested in becoming a psychologist but you want to work in healthcare, a career as a physician assistant is a smart choice. Physician assistants perform many of the same duties as doctors, but the training can be completed much faster. Having earned your undergraduate psychology degree, you can get physician assistant training in around two years. The job growth potential for physician assistants is especially good. The BLS predicts that physician assistant should be one of the fastest growing jobs through 2014.

Opening Up the Doors: Choosing a B.A. or B.S. in Psychology

If you haven't earned a psychology degree yet, you can start opening doors for yourselves by choosing either a Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Arts degree program in psychology. Programs vary from school to school, but in general, the B.S. degree has a greater focus on math, science, and research analysis. The B.A. places greater weight on counseling and interpersonal relations. If you already know that healthcare or finance interests you, a bachelor's of science degree would probably be the most helpful. If you are more interested in marketing, social work, or human resources, a B.A. program might be a better fit.

Jumping Off into a Professional Program

Schwartz reports that an undergraduate degree in psychology is also a popular jumping-off point for students interested in enrolling in professional schools. Advanced degrees can increase your earning potential and get you started on new professional paths. Forty percent of psychology majors go on to law school, business school, or another professional program.

Thinking Ahead with a Psychology Program

Many people enter college unsure of the career path they would like to pursue. If you are feel the same way, you should consider psychology. A psychology bachelor's degree can position you for a number of fast-growing jobs, and it also offers excellent preparation for an advanced degree. For the sheer number of job options, a psychology degree is tough to beat.

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