As you go to pick out your college program of study, you might be thinking, “Is psychology a good major?”
Perhaps you are intrigued by this field, but you are not sure that majoring in psychology would be the best choice for your future. Fortunately, psychology is a diverse field that has many applications throughout nearly all job sectors.
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Whether you want to become a practicing psychologist or start a career in business, getting a degree in psychology could provide a solid foundation.
Is Psychology a Good Major for the Future?
Yes, psychology is a good major for many students. There are multiple reasons why this is a popular degree to pursue in college.
Choosing to major in psychology could be the first step toward your pursuit of licensure as a psychologist. After graduation, you might be a good candidate for master’s or doctoral programs in psychology.
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The Bureau of Labor Statistics says that psychologists make a median of $85,330 each year. Not all psych majors want to become psychologists, though. Many begin business careers in roles that have to do with working with people. If you decide to go this route you may, in time, qualify for a manager position.
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that the median salary for management occupations is $107,360. Potential management positions include being a human resources, community service, or public relations manager.
Majoring in psychology could also help prepare you for a job in which you assist people. For example, you might be able to help people turn their lives around as you work as an addiction counselor or a correctional treatment specialist. You could also pursue a career in health education in order to help people make healthy choices.
Psych Major Curriculum
Psychology programs include a variety of classes to help you learn more about understanding people, working with statistics, performing research, and preparing for a career in psychology. Here are some typical courses:
- Abnormal Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- History of Psychology
- Human Cognition
- Introduction to Counseling Methods
- Lifespan Growth and Development
- Personality Theory
- Social Psychology
- Social Science Research and Statistics
- Tests and Measurement for Psychology
If you earn a BA in Psychology, you might get to supplement your curriculum with several electives from the liberal arts and humanities.
For a BS in Psychology, the college may require several lab science courses, and you might also take advanced research and statistics classes.
5 Things You Can Do with a Psychology Major
Studying psychology can take you down many different career paths. What you decide to do will likely depend on your interests as well as on how long you want to spend in school. Check out five popular options below that appeal to many psychology majors.
1. Industrial-Organizational Psychologist
I-O psychologists use psychology in the workplace to improve morale, productivity, or spending. Both individual companies and consulting firms hire for this role.
It’s necessary to continue your schooling after a bachelor’s degree to start this career. In many cases, employers will hire candidates with master’s degrees.
2. Health Education Specialist
You can use your psychological training to help people improve their health and well-being. As a health educator, you could provide guidance on making healthy choices. The responsibilities might include collecting community data and developing programs.
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Positions might be available with health departments, schools, social service agencies, and healthcare organizations.
3. Market Research Analyst
If you enjoy working with data and statistics during your psychology program, then you might want to consider a job as a market research analyst.
In this role, you could conduct research to learn about current consumer trends and inform marketing decisions. You might develop questionnaires and surveys to collect information or lead focus groups.
4. Training Managers
Understanding cognitive processes and motivation can help you develop lessons that stick with people. That skill could help you succeed in employee training and development. This job involves equipping employees to do their jobs as effectively as possible.
As you move up the ranks of your department, you might eventually become a manager.
5. Substance Abuse Counselors
If you are driven to help people overcome addiction, then you might have what it takes to work as an addiction counselor. In an inpatient or outpatient rehab facility, you could help people learn new coping skills.
Requirements for substance abuse counselors vary, but a bachelor’s degree is sufficient in some states.
Psychology Careers and Salaries
The skills that you will learn in a psychology program can be useful in many different types of careers. Not only can psychology majors go on to pursue grad school to work as practicing psychologists, but they can also find success in a variety of other sectors.
Many psych majors end up in fields like business, education, healthcare, and social services. Psychology majors have valuable insights into human behavior that can be useful in many work settings.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, psychologists earn a median annual salary of $85,330, and jobs are projected to grow at a 6% rate over the next ten years.
| Careers | Annual Median Salaries |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $139,280 |
| Training and Development Managers | $120,000 |
| Clinical and Counseling Psychologists | $90,130 |
| School Psychologists | $81,500 |
| Social and Community Service Managers | $74,240 |
| Market Research Analysts | $68,230 |
| Public Relations Specialists | $67,440 |
| Career and Academic Advisors | $60,140 |
| Health Education Specialists | $59,990 |
| Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors | $49,710 |
Some psychology jobs, particularly working as a psychologist, will require you to have at least a master’s degree or, in many cases, a doctorate. Other jobs on this list are commonly available to people who hold bachelor’s degrees in psychology or other fields.
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Depending on how closely related the job is to psychology, you may be required to complete additional coursework or on-the-job training before beginning.
Should I Major in Psychology?
Certain people are particularly suited to success in psychology degree programs. If the following descriptions apply to you, then you might consider this field of study.
- You hope to work with people. While not all psychology students go into the same line of work, by any means, many have jobs that involve interacting with or studying people.
- You enjoy working with data. Psychology students don’t just make guesses about people’s thoughts and behavior. Rather, they work with hard data and draw evidence-based conclusions.
- You like variety. There are many branches of psychology, including social psychology and cognitive psychology, and many potential career paths as well.
- You want to explore your own inner workings. As a psychology student, you’re likely to uncover a few new things about yourself.
To learn more about whether this field of study is right for you, you could talk to current psychology professionals or schedule a meeting with a representative from your college’s psychology department.
Is It Hard to Major in Psychology?
In a psychology program, you will study various aspects of human lives and behavior. For example, you’ll learn about normal growth patterns in a development class, but you’ll also study mental illnesses in an abnormal psychology class.
The coursework can include many lab experiences and research projects. You can learn to understand scientific research reports, and you can practice conducting experiments, collecting data, and performing analyses. Psychology students often have to write reports as well.
Along with your research studies, you will likely have one or more statistics courses. Those classes will require you to use mathematics.
Is a Psychology Degree Useless?
If you expect to become a practicing psychologist right out of college, then you might at first find a psychology bachelor’s degree useless, as those jobs require going to graduate school. Fortunately, a psychology major can help prepare you for grad school.
Psychologist positions are expected to grow 6% over the next ten years, which is faster than average (Bureau of Labor Statistics). Plus, you may be able to use a psychology degree to work with people in any number of jobs. Maybe you’ll pursue work as a correctional counselor, an HR manager, or a market research analyst.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics expects these positions to see 3%, 5%, and 13% job growth, respectively, over the next ten years.
What Can I Do with a Psychology Degree?
When you get a psychology degree, you could consider working as a training specialist. You may be involved with one company’s development initiatives or work as a consultant for many organizations. With experience, you might qualify for a management position.
Another potential job involves being a school psychologist who helps students of all abilities and backgrounds succeed. This position would require a graduate degree. You might also consider serving as a career advisor at a college or a community agency.
Other potential careers for psychology majors include market research analyst, correctional counselor, and human resources specialist.
Is a Degree in Psychology Worth It?
Yes, a degree in psychology is worth it for many students. You may find that this degree program offers a lot of versatility and presents many career opportunities.
If you decide to continue your schooling and eventually pursue work as a psychologist, you’ll be glad to know that the Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 6% growth rate for psychologist positions over the next decade.
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If you’d rather choose a career in community service, there’s a 9% growth rate expected for social and community service management jobs. Psych majors may also pursue various roles in business, education, and healthcare.
Getting Your Psychology Degree Online
Are you ready to start your psychology studies so that you can earn a degree in this interesting field?
Majoring in psychology could provide opportunities to learn about behavior patterns, thought processes, and interpersonal relationships. Plus, you could learn how to work with statistics and conduct research. You can even get your psychology degree through an online college program.
An accredited school can provide a high-quality online education in which you’ll study the same topics that you would in an on-campus program. Online programs typically have a flexible format that is accommodating to a busy schedule.
You can start exploring online psychology programs today!
