Careers in the Psychology Field

What type of career you qualify for in the field of psychology will depend on what type of college degree you have. Graduating with a bachelor's degree in the field will not qualify you for work as a professional in the field, but will offer other opportunities to utilize your knowledge. To be a psychology professional, you will need to obtain at least a master's degree or higher. Below is information about the various career opportunities for those seeking employment in the field of psychology.

Bachelor's Degree vs. Graduate Degree

It's possible to work in the fields of sales, marketing, public relations, human relations, management or any job where understanding the behavior of humans is beneficial with just a bachelor's degree in psychology. Careers in the medical field that a bachelor's degree will qualify you for are assistant psychologists in mental health centers, correctional institutions or vocational rehabilitation facilities. Common job titles are case worker, social worker, probation officer, counselor or therapy aide.
Only those who graduate from the program with a master's or doctoral degree will have the best opportunities and make the most income. Some of the job titles in this category include clinical psychologist, counseling psychologists, forensic psychologist and psychology professor.

Clinical Psychologists

A clinical psychologist provides psychotherapy as well as behavior modification programs in either one-on-one or group sessions. They usually work with other doctors to successfully implement treatment plans. Clinical psychologists also teach their skills in mental health to graduate students in universities. There are many specialized areas within the field of clinical psychology, which include the psychology of health, sports, neurosychology and geropsychology. They also work with people suffering from chronic illnesses or disabilities, helping them cope with the psychological aspect of their condition.

Counseling Psychologists

Counseling psychologists help people learn how to cope with the everyday problems in their life. Their patients are usually normal people who are just having problems handling life's stress. They work through counseling and problem solving by evaluating all the aspects of a person's life that might be causing the problem. Counseling psychologists can have a private practice, work in hospitals or mental health facilities. They may also specialize in a particular field, such as dealing with children or adolescents.

Forensic Psychologist

Forensic psychologists act as a link between law and psychology. Forensic psychologists evaluate people who are victims of crimes, those who claim the insanity defense or accident victims who have been traumatized. Forensic psychologists will then make a report, and when called into court will testify about their evaluations and findings. They must also be able to give their opinion regarding their findings and how it comes into play regarding the legal factors of the case.

School Psychologist

School psychologists work in schools, mental health facilities, hospitals and with child welfare services. In schools they generally solve learning and behavioral problems of students by working with them, the teachers and the parents. They also help in improving classrooms management or help with parenting skills. A school psychologist may work with gifted students or children with disabilities.

Research Psychologists

Research psychologists have careers in universities, private research companies, nonprofit organizations and government. They study all aspects pertaining to behavior in both humans and animals. This includes areas such as substance abuse, cognition, memory and anything else that affects behavior. They perform experiments, collect data from their research, analyze it and publish in professional journals.

Other Psychology Careers

There are other career opportunities in the field of psychology that may call for other academic training. These careers include psychiatrists, rehabilitation counselors, substance abuse counselors, family and marriage therapists, as well as various areas in the field of social work.