 Definition (from Google):
 “The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, esp. those affecting behavior in a given context”

 If you are interested in:
 how people think, why they do what they do, what being “normal” menas, how the brain might affect someone’s behaviors, how a person develops, etc.

 At Temple:
 Major: Psychology (B.A.)
○ For people who love Psych
 Minor: Psychology
○ Psychology Grad School Requirements
○ Can declare if interested in another major, but want a Psych experience too
 Minor: Cognitive Neuroscience
○
○
How does the mind arise from the brain?
Can declare with Psych or any other Major

 As a graduate with a psychology degree, you can potentially find a job as a research assistant working under someone with a PhD.

 What you can do:
 Work on the projects of the Principal
Investigator
 Work under the Principal Investigator and do the work they assign you to do
 What you can’t do:
 Conduct your own research
 Be the final decision maker about how things will be done

 Things to consider:


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IMPORTANT: you likely will not be able to find a job with only a bachelor’s degree – you NEED undergraduate research experience!!!!
Jobs might be scarce with only a bachelor’s degree, and Government jobs might be slim to none
You won’t get paid as much
 It is likely just a transition job into something else


If you don’t think you would like being a research assistant and want more power, or if you just don’t think research is for you, you can go to graduate school
 Masters Degree
 PhD
 PsyD

 Masters gives you more power in research
 PhD gives you the most power and would eventually enable you to conduct your own research of interest

 2 years schooling
 Can possibly get a business/company/place you work at to pay for your schooling if you plan on staying there and benefitting that place
 Mostly, people pay for schooling just like they would their undergraduate degree

 5 + years schooling
 Can find grants / money to help pay for schooling
 If the school has the money, they might also give you a stipend for your research work / being a TA for an undergrad psych class
 Note: it will likely not be much – only enough to make ends meet for the time being

 PhD:
 Enables you to do research upon graduation
 Is more research oriented
 You still can do clinical psychology with a
PhD
 Or, you can become a professor

 PsyD:
 More clinically oriented
 Seeing and treating patients is a main focus
 You can become a clinical psychologist

 Take Home Message:
 You need to do your research on specific schools to see what they offer in their programs
 Different programs have different focuses and different ways they manage their students

 Masters
 School Psychology
 PhD
 Licensed Psychologist

From apa.org:

 www.apa.org:
 Home » Careers » Career
Development »Career Guides»Careers in Psychology


What if you don’t want to make
Psychology a career?
 Fields you can work in:
 Schools or colleges
 Businesses
 Really anywhere (which is why psychology can be a really good or bad major/degree to have)

 Gain research experience
 This will look good on your resume and make you stand out from competitors, even if you don’t want to go into research
○ Can do research on people OR animals!
 Immerse yourself in anything related to psychology or your potential direction of interest
 This includes shadowing, volunteering, or finding a job that allows you to see what might happen in the setting you are interested in

 Keep getting good grades
 Psychology is a competitive area of study, and grades are extremely important!
○ You don’t want to be the person who doesn’t get the job because you have a 3.0 and the other applicant had a 3.5, even though you both had the same research experience!

 Join clubs and organizations on campus related to what you are interested in
 This shows employers/graduate schools you were interested in something even outside of the classroom


Visit the Career Center to…
 Get your resume/CV critiqued
 Practice interviews
 Explore further career options that might suit your personality/strengths