Pasadena City College
Social Sciences Division
PSYCH 1: Introductory Psychology
Professor Abby Delman
Work Settings of Psychologists
(Data obtained from the APA Research Office, 1/26/06)
Work Setting
PhD
MA
(2001 doctorate
(2001-2002 MA
recipients)
recipients)
Self employed
40%
3%
(private practice)
(private practice)
Universities and colleges
35%
13%
Other human services (not-for9%
20%
profit organizations)
For-profit companies
--19%
(hospitals & clinics)
Industry and government
10%
20%
Schools/other educational
6%
25%
BA
(1999 BA
recipients)
6%
6%
12%
48%
15%
13%
Academic Specialty Areas Within Psychology
(a partial list)
Specialty
Animal behavior
(comparative)
Behavioral neuroscience
Clinical
Cognitive
Cultural/cross-cultural
Developmental
Educational
Experimental
Health psychology
Industrial/organizational
Personality
Social
Quantitative
Major Focus
Study of nonhuman species in natural or laboratory environments;
includes genetics, brain processes, social behavior, evolutionary processes
Examination of brain and hormonal processes that underlie behavior;
behavior genetics and evolutionary psychology are sometimes grouped
under behavioral neuroscience
Diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders; research on causes of
disorders and treatment effectiveness
Study of mental processes such as memory, problem solving, planning,
consciousness, and language (psycholinguistics)
Study of cultural transmission, psychological similarities and differences
among people from different cultures
Study of physical, mental, emotional, and social development across the
entire lifespan
Study of psychological aspects of the educational process; curriculum and
instructional research; teacher training
Research (typically laboratory experiments, often with nonhumans) on
basic processes such as learning, perception, and motivation
Concerned with the promotion and maintenance of good health and the
prevention and treatment of illness
Examination of behavior in work settings; study of factors related to
employee morale and performance; development of tests to select job
applicants; development of machines and tasks to fit human capabilities
Study of individual differences in personality and their effects on
behavior; development of personality tests
Examination of how the social environment—the presence of other
people—influences an individual’s behavior, thoughts, and feelings
Measurement issues and data analysis; development of mathematical
models of behavior
Career Options for Psychologists
(a partial list)
The study of psychology can prove valuable for any career path. Here are some of the options
available to persons who pursue degrees in psychology:
CAREER
Academic
psychologist
TYPICAL
TRAINING
PhD
Clinical psychologist
PhD or PsyD
Counseling
psychologist
Forensic
psychologist
MA, EdD, or
PhD
PhD
Health psychologist
PhD
Engineering or
human-factors
psychologist
Industrial or
organizational
psychologist
Consumer
psychologist
PhD
Military psychologist
PhD
Psychometrician
MA or PhD
School psychologist
MA, EdD, or
PhD
Sports psychologist
PhD
Consulting
psychologist
MA, EdD, or
PhD
MA or PhD
MA or PhD
JOB DESCRIPTION
Works in a college or university teaching and conducting
research; advises students, assists in educational
administration.
Diagnoses and treats patients for psychological problems;
teaches, trains, and conducts research in a hospital, clinic,
college, or university
Counsels people about their problems, conflicts, or choices;
often works in a school, office, hospital, or clinic
Does clinical work in corrections settings; works as
consultant to trial lawyers; serves as expert witness in jury
trials; formulates public policy on psychology and the law
May design and conduct programs to help individuals stop
smoking, lose weight, manage stress, and stay physically fit;
often employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation
centers, public health agencies, academic settings, and private
practice
May work in an industrial setting; designs machines and
workplace environments to maximize productivity and safety;
often works with engineers and designers
Works in a business or industrial setting to help with hiring
and firing, testing, interviewing, and placement; assists in
developing more hospitable and effective workplaces
Works in a business, consulting, or advertising firm to
generate ads that will sell products; supervises testing of ads
and determines consumer preferences
Works in the armed forces to deal with the interface between
psychology and military life; involved in testing, counseling,
designing, and implementing new procedures and
requirements
Creates psychological tests, including aptitude, achievement,
personality, attitude, and vocational preference tests; collects
and analyzes test data
Works in a school setting to test and counsel students;
identifies students with perceptual and learning disabilities, as
well as gifted children
Typically works in academic setting and/or as consultant for
sports teams; focuses on the psychological factors that
improve athletic performance; examines the effects of
exercise and physical activity on psychological adjustment
and health
Works for a consulting firm on a special for-hire basis to
perform any of the various aforementioned services.