Careers in Psychology?
I'm currently pursuing a Bach degree in Psych, but I really have no idea what I want to do with it? Its facinating so I'm majoring in it but I'm really confused about the post-graduation part. I don't want to teach, I have a 6 month old, so I'm NOT going to graduate school. I was really interested in working with CPS but now I'm reconsidering because I'm not sure I could handle such a stressful career (I'm REALLY sensitive, I think I'd end up dead if I had to see kids getting hurt every day). ALso, does anyone have any ideas on experience I can get in a 'said career' while I'm still in school, ei internships, where should i be looking? THANKS!
Joining the Military with a degree in Psychology?
If you're just looking for the military to pay for your school, it may not be the best choice for you. You really have to ask yourself if you are willing to devote a large piece of yourself to the military just to repay some student loans. If you can unequivocally say that the military is the path you want and desire to take, there are two different routes you can go: With a bachelor's degree, you can attend OCS and begin your career as a commissioned officer. The pay is better than you would get if you were just enlisting, but along with that pay comes with greater responsibilities. If you go this route, get on a first name basis with your professors now. Part of the OCS application requires recommendation letters from prominent community members. If you don't think you will be able to get these, you're basically out of luck trying to go in as an officer. The other path you can take is enlisting. With a 4 year degree, you are able to enlist in the Army as an E-4. The pay isn't fantastic, but the benefits definitely make up for it. You don't start at the bottom of the barrel, but you won't really be in charge of much if anything. As far as length of service, it's mostly up to you. Your first contract is for a total of 8 years. The most common option with this is 4 years active duty(AD) followed by 4 years of individual ready reserve(IRR). Once you finish your 4 years of AD, you can be called back up, but that really only happens in the event of multiple conflicts or a large scale war. If you serve your 4 years and don't like it, you stay on IRR, get a job, and eventually are free of any obligation. On the other hand, if you love it, stay as long as the Army needs you based on how hard you work.
How do I go about getting a degree in neuropsychology?
There are two approaches to neuropsychology. You can become a medical doctor, specialize in psychiatry or neurology and go from there, or you can earn your PhD in psychology and take the neuroscience classes in university, either during your years getting your PhD or after that. Neuropsychology is an extremely interesting and growing new field, so you may have to do what I did and 'punt' with the best classes you can find at the time. I wanted to become a psychologist who worked primarily with gays, not because being gay is a mental illness, but because many gays have severe problems that are worse because they are gay. I took my degree in Clinical Science - Psychology. I had to take only one college level math class, in Statistics. Because you want to be a neuropsychologist, you may want to take a class in statistics through the third or fourth year, because that's probably the best math course you'll find ... but you may also have to 'fight' a hard battle because there are many, including those who teach psychology, who believe that 'neuroscience' and 'psychology' are two very separate and distinct sciences that should NEVER be mixed unless you are a neuropsychiatrist, and even then they'll 'look down' on you for thinking the 'problems' are all medical, and not 'mental' in origin. Good luck!
What are the things I should know before pursuing psychology?
In most countries, you need to at least have your masters degree before you are allowed to practice as a clinical psychologist. So be prepared to be really busy with your studies for at least six years.With only a BA in psychology, you’ll probably not get a job as a counselor anywhere but you might get a job as a lab assistant or even the assistant of a social worker. Other jobs might be in marketing, human resources, education, etc. Basically, you’ll have to study something else to add onto your qualification.The modules on research methodology and inferential statistics you’ll have to do are very interesting but can be challenging. There are some maths involved and some students find it difficult.At some point, you’ll have to decide what approach you prefer and specialise in that. Cognitive psychology, psychoanalysis, person-centred therapy, etc. (I picked the person-centred approach because I found it to be by far the easiest approach to learn and practice.)Research psychology is awesome! I’d love to be a research psychologist when I grow up!Criminal psychology is depressing. Did it and dropped criminology from my course after two years.
What can I do with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology?
There are tons of jobs in psychology. It's just that we don't usually let people who have only a bachelor's degree have them. Psychology is a profession that requires training through the graduate level for professional positions. A PhD/PsyD is required for most. If you get a BA/BS in Psychology and then don't get any graduate training then you won't be qualified for (and therefor won't be able to find) a job in psychology. That's not the same though as "there are no jobs" - there are no (or very few) jobs for people who are only partially qualified. If you want to pursue a career in psychology then do so. Just understand that Psychologist requires more than a bachelor's degree. http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Life-Physical-and... If, however, you're interested in finding a career that only requires a bachelor's degree then psychologist isn't it and you should look at some other fields of study or other career ideas. The best way to pick a major is to pick a career you'd like to have first. Then look at what's required to get into that career and get that. If that means a PhD in Psychology then get it. But, if you're wanting to become an accountant - a PhD in Psych isn't going to make the cut. If you don't know what you'd like to become - find out before you waste time and money becoming something else. You can, of course, change your mind later. Many times.
What should one consider before pursuing a psychology related job?
There are lots of “psychology related jobs.” If you mean one helping people directly, I would advise you to investigate thoroughly. Such a job requires an advanced degree, good programs are very difficult to get into, and many people I know who do therapy for a living say they would not pick that career again. It can. of course, be rewarding, but it’s frustrating because people really don’t like to change and because medications (which as a psychologist you cannot prescribe except in a couple of states) do a lot of the “work” these days. Lots of other reasons. If this is what you want to do then go for it, but you need to have your eyes as wide open as possible.There are other kinds of consulting jobs, of course, and many find these satisfying and financially lucrative. For the most part an advanced desgree is also necessary but programs are easier to egt into.
Psychology vs. Social Work vs. Criminal Justice Degree?
A lot of people with Criminal Justice degrees work in law enforcement or corrections. Psychology you would probably need a doctors degree before being able to do much. Social work, you can do many things with just a bachelor's. You can work as entry level for child protective services, child welfare, adoption, hospitals, inpatient psychiatric treatment centers and addictions. With a Master's you could potentially provide therapy to individuals and groups in multiple settings. A lot of this depends on what state you reside in and what licensing requirements are. I do not know much about criminal Justice or psychology degrees.
What should I know before heading to college to earn my degree in I/O psychology?
If by “heading to college,” you mean “beginning an undergraduate degree,” you should probably know that an undergraduate degree in I/O psychology will not enable you to be an I/O psychologist. The credential required to be qualified as an I/O is either a Master’s degree or a Ph.D.On the bright side, if you know you want to be an I/O now, you’ll get a head start on almost everyone else. Most students don’t decide this until their sophomore or junior years. I suggest reading everything here: http://iopsychology.info
What jobs have you got after getting your bachelor degree in psychology?
You really are limited if you only have a bachelor's. You won't be unemployed forever, but you may not find the work you really want. Previous research indicates that only about 25% of psychology undergraduates end up working in a field closely related to psychology. A bachelor's degree in psychology qualifies a person to assist psychologists and other professionals in community mental health centers, vocational rehabilitation offices, and correctional programs; to work as research or administrative assistants; and to take jobs as trainees in government or business. However, without additional academic training, their advancement opportunities in psychology are severely limited. With my bachelor's, I worked in a group home and a community mental health program. You could probably get a job as a psych tech, so I would check with the state hospitals, community mental health programs, or private hospitals. You may also be able to find work as a case manager (again check the places above). It is best if you have some experience, but honestly, some of these places are so understaffed, they'll hire you anyway.