Appendix B:
Subfields of Psychology
OUTLINE OF RESOURCES
Lecture/Discussion Topics: Psychology’s Growth Careers (p. 2)
The Career Path Less Traveled (p. 3)
Quantitative Psychology (p. 3)
Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology (p. 4)
Student Project: Interviewing a Psychologist (p. 3)
Classroom Exercises/Student Projects: Subfields of Psychology (p. 1) NEW
Psychology and Other Fields (p. 1) NEW
RESOURCES
Classroom Exercise/Student Project: Subfields of
Psychology
This simple writing assignment is designed to get students to read about psychology’s subfields and to think
about what each does. Instruct students as follows:
“Imagine that you were told that you had to
become a psychologist. Of the following major
divisions of psychology listed below, identify your
top three choices. For each, briefly explain why
you chose it.”
abnormal, biological, clinical, cognitive, community, comparative, consulting, counseling, developmental, educational, environmental, evolutionary,
forensic, health, industrial-organizational, legal,
media, occupational health, personality, quantitative, religion/spirituality, school, social
If you want to further explore this topic, when
students come to class, ask them, by a show of hands
or a classroom response system, to respond if they
selected a particular subfield. Tally the results. Ask students why they chose, say, the most popular subfield.
Alternatively, divide students into groups based on their
first choices. Have students in each group talk about
why that subfield appealed to them.
After discussion has slowed, share with students
the subfield you chose and why you chose it.
Classroom Exercise/Student Project: Psychology and
Other Fields
Through this course students will be exposed to the
breadth of psychological science. Your more astute
students will see that if humans are involved, psychology is present (see also the list of potential careers for
a bachelor’s degree in psychology at on the last page of
this appendix).
Using nine of the Princeton Review’s (n.d.) list of
top college majors, ask students to identify their major.
If their major is not on the list or if psychology is their
major, have them choose one that is close.
1. Business
2. Nursing
3. Biology
4. Education
5. English
6. Economics
7. Communication Studies
8. Political Science
9. Computer and Information Science
Either as a writing assignment or as a small-group
discussion (ask students to form groups based on their
chosen major), have students consider psychology’s
contribution to their chosen field. For each chapter you
have covered in the course, students should address
why that topic may be relevant in the field they have
chosen. In business, for example, the information about
sleep is very important because well-rested employees
are much more effective than sleep-deprived employees. A company’s policies about how shifts and over1
2 Appendix B Subfields of Psychology
time are scheduled could be influenced by this
knowledge.
If you make it a small-group discussion, circulate
among the groups listening for particularly good examples. Ask a recorder for the group to report to the class
some of the highlights of their group discussion.
If you make it a writing assignment, identify some
good examples and share with the class.
The Princeton Review. (n.d.). Top 10 College Majors.
Retrieved December 30, 2014, from www.
princetonreview.com/college/top-ten-majors.aspx.
Lecture/Discussion Topic: Psychology’s Growth
Careers
Tori DeAngelis provides a helpful overview of areas in
which psychologists are in high demand. Students considering psychology as a career might take a close look
at the following possibilities:
1. Program evaluation. Using psychology’s research
tools, evaluators assess the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, and organizations
with the goal of improving their effectiveness. As
DeAngelis observes, expertise in program evaluation is critical for groups ranging from the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation, which spends millions
of dollars on initiatives addressing poverty and
health care, to the federal government’s massive
antidrug programs.
2. Working with older adults. By 2050, Americans 65
and older will make up 21 percent of the population. Geropsychologists work as researchers, as
directors of older adult mental health programs,
and as designers of “smart homes” and products
that help older adults manage their lives. Deborah
DiGilio, director of APA’s Office on Aging, notes
that “Geropsychologists do everything from keeping older adults mentally and physically healthy
and vibrant, to working with those who are frail
and have cognitive impairments.”
3. Aiding soldiers, veterans, and their families. The
federal effort to improve mental health services
for those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan has
greatly increased the need for psychologists in the
Department of Defense and Department of Veteran
Affairs (VA). In addition to providing individual
and group therapy to veterans, psychologists have
become vital members of teams providing general care in VA nursing homes and home-based
programs that bring services to veterans unable to
travel to the hospital.
4. Homeland security. The Department of Homeland
Security (DHS) uses psychologists to examine the
impact of terrorist threats and events from a social
and behavioral science perspective. Psychologists
study what motivates people to join terrorist
organizations and how those groups elicit such
motivations. Other researchers are examining the
psychology of terrorist group operations as well as
community responses to terrorist attacks and how
to promote resilience.
5. Government service. Psychologists hold a number
of key posts—for example, as program directors
in such science-centered agencies as the National
Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science
Foundation (NSF). Many institutes of the NIH,
including the National Institute of Mental Health,
the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, the National Cancer Institute, and
the National Institute on Drug Abuse, have vibrant
behavioral science programs. The NSF maintains
programs in social psychology, human cognition,
developmental psychology, cognitive neuroscience, law and social science, and decision science.
Psychologists are also in demand at the Federal
Bureau of Prisons, where they work in clinical
services, administration, research, and training.
6. Workplace applications. The need for industrialorganizational (I/O) psychologists continues to
grow. Technology, communications, and globalization have influenced the way I/O psychologists
view organizations and work design. Executive
coaching combines clinical and I/O skills to
improve executive performance. Occupational
health psychology focuses on fostering good health
through job design, good leadership, and stress
reduction.
7. Courtroom expertise. Forensic psychologists
conduct psycho-legal evaluations and offer their
opinions as expert witnesses in criminal and malpractice cases. They are involved in assessing
and managing workplace and school violence.
They also evaluate cases of child and elder abuse
and participate in medical evaluations. Forensic
neuropsychologists—who have training in both
neuropsychology and forensic psychology—are
in demand as courts increasingly seek expertise in
medical and accident cases.
8. Multidisciplinary applications. Probably more
than any other scientific discipline, psychology is
a “hub” science, that is, one that connects to virtually all of the social, behavioral, mathematical, and
biological sciences. Thus, psychologists are particularly well-positioned to take advantage of the
move toward multidisciplinary research and applications. NIH is pouring millions of dollars into
multidisciplinary health and social science projects
aimed at understanding obesity, elder self-neglect,
stroke neurorehabilitation, and physical and mental illness. Psychologists trained in human factors
research are involved in creating robots and sensors
that extend humans’ ability to work in remote or
Appendix B Subfields of Psychology 3
dangerous settings such as on search-and-rescue
missions.
DeAngelis, T. (2008, April). Psychology’s growth
careers. Monitor on Psychology, 64–71.
Lecture/Discussion Topic: The Career Path Less
Traveled
Students considering a psychology major may be
interested in learning about some possibilities beyond
the traditional career paths in teaching, research, and
practice. You might note that employers recognize that
training in psychology fosters skills that they seek—
critical thinking, statistical competence, and an understanding of human behavior.
im Nichols (engineering psychology) works for
T
Microsoft as a senior design research manager. His
work involves determining why people play video
games and helping designers create games that fit
those goals.
athleen Kremer (developmental psychology)
K
works for Fisher-Price as senior manager of user
experience. She helps toy designers create toys for
toddlers and preschoolers.
ark Rosekind (clinical psychology and psychoM
physiology) works for the National Transportation
Safety Board (NTSB). He helps identify how the
errors humans make can contribute to transportation-related accidents. As a sleep expert, his input
is invaluable.
Tell the small group that they must ask the professor’s permission to interview him or her and make an
appointment in advance. They should have their questions written down in advance and limit their interview
to 30 minutes. Donald McBurney suggests a number of
interesting possibilities:
1. Please tell us about your undergraduate work.
Were you a psychology major in college? If not,
what was your major?
What did you start out studying in college?
Why did you decide to go into psychology?
2. Please tell us about your graduate work.
Where did you go to graduate school?
When did you get your Ph.D.?
How did you pick the school you attended?
Who was your graduate adviser?
Who else had a major influence on you in graduate
school?
What was the major theoretical orientation of your
graduate program?
3. Please tell us about your present area of interest.
Is it directly related to your graduate dissertation?
What would you consider your present theoretical
orientation?
icolas Watkins (environmental psychology)
N
works for BBH Design as a director of research.
He helps design or redesign hospitals to improve
patient care. For example, when patients can see
nature out their windows, they have better outcomes. And when a hospital’s physical layout
matches the staff’s workflow, errors are minimized.
4. How has psychology changed in your time in the
field?
iz Gehr (experimental psychology) works for
L
Boeing. Her job is to figure out how best to train
military pilots.
7. If you had to do it over again, and you didn’t go
into psychology, what would you choose?
Collier, L. (2014, September). The roads less traveled.
Retrieved from apa.org/gradpsych/2014/09/career-paths.
aspx.
Student Project: Interviewing a Psychologist
Students can learn much about the history and subfields of psychology by interviewing your colleagues.
Assuming that your fellow department members are
willing, form small groups of students to conduct the
interviews. You might have students self-select, that is,
form groups on the basis of their interest in a particular
speciality. They might prepare a brief oral presentation
for class or a written report.
5. What are the most exciting recent developments in
your area of psychology?
6. What gives you the most satisfaction in being a
psychologist?
8. Can you help us trace your intellectual tree?
Source: Reprinted by permission of Dr. Donald
McBurney, University of Pittsburgh. Retrieved from
Klatsky, G. (1999, March 14). History and systems activities. Message posted to TIPS@fre.fsu.umd.edu.
Lecture/Discussion Topic: Quantitative Psychology
Quantitative psychologists specialize in developing new
research methods and analyzing complex data. They
have expertise in statistics and measurement. The number of students specializing in the area has been steadily
declining while demand for psychologists with this
interest and training has skyrocketed.
4 Appendix B Subfields of Psychology
Quantitative psychologists pervade almost every
area of the discipline and are crucial to its advancement
as a science. Because of their small numbers and the
high demand for their services, they have the opportunity to meet and do research with top leaders in the field.
They work as faculty at major universities, as researchers at testing companies and medical centers, and at
private research firms and government agencies.
In university settings, quantitative psychologists
teach courses in statistics, measurement, and research
methodology. They conduct their own research as
well as consult with colleagues and graduates in data
analysis. As research questions become more diverse
and complex, they are challenged to develop and apply
new methodologies. Quantitative psychologists with
testing companies such as College Board, ACT, and
Pearson do important work in assessment. They help to
determine who gains admission to a college or university, who qualifies for mental health services, who is
hired and promoted, and even who becomes certified to
practice in certain professions. In government, quantitative specialists evaluate the impact of large-scale
programs and interventions as well as evaluate the skills
of employees. They help agencies make better hiring
decisions that reduce employee turnover.
Novotney, A. (2008, September). Post-grad growth area:
Quantitative psychology. GradPsych: The magazine of
the American Psychological Association of graduate students, 12–14.
Lecture/Discussion Topic: Preparing for Graduate
Study in Psychology
William Buskist and Caroline Burke’s Preparing for
Graduate Study in Psychology: 101 Questions and
Answers provides a very helpful resource for students
hoping to pursue advanced degrees in psychology. The
question-and-answer format makes the volume an easy
read. Among Buskist and Burke’s recommendations
(that extend what is offered in the text) are the
following:
• Join Psi Chi, the national honor society in psychology. (If your school does not have a local chapter,
it may sponsor a psychology club.) Psi Chi holds
regular meetings and often schedules trips to mental health facilities as well as local conferences
and talks. Psi Chi chapters sometime maintain a
graduate school resource library. The address of the
national office for Psi Chi is
•
•
•
•
•
•
Psi Chi
825 Vine Street
P.O. Box 709
Chattanooga, TN 37401-0709
Consider attending a local, state, or regional psychology conference. Also attend any talks, colloquia, or symposia sponsored by your psychology
department. At such meetings, you will have the
opportunity to hear established researchers and
practitioners in the field.
Begin reading books on graduate study. For
example, purchase APA’s Graduate Study in
Psychology, which is published each year. It is an
essential resource. The most recent edition (2012)
provides information on 600 graduate programs in
the United States and Canada. Examine carefully
the admission requirements of programs that interest you. Note especially the average GPA and GRE
scores of admitted students.
If possible, become actively involved as an undergraduate research assistant. Search out faculty
members who share your research interests.
Become a student affiliate of APS (Association
for Psychological Science) or APA (American
Psychological Association). Annual dues for undergraduate student affiliates of APS and APA are
currently $38 and $35, respectively.
Begin reading the APA Monitor on Psychology and
the APS Observer, which are probably available in
your department or university library. In addition to
reporting the most recent developments in the discipline, these publications include job listings for
those with advanced degrees.
Register and begin preparing for the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE). The GRE General Test measures critical thinking, analytical writing, verbal
reasoning, and quantitative reasoning skills that
have been acquired over a long period and that are
not related to any specific field of study. The GRE
Subject Test in Psychology gauges undergraduate
achievement in the discipline.
Buskist, W., & Burke, C. (2007). Preparing for graduate study in psychology: 101 questions and answers (2nd
ed.). Malden, MA: Blackwell.
Appendix B Subfields of Psychology 5
Potential Careers for a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
Activities Director
Admissions Evaluator
Advertising Sales Representative
Alumni Director
Animal Trainer
Army Mental Health Specialist
Benefits Manager
Claims Supervisor
Coach
Community Organization Worker
Computer Programmer
Conservation Officer
Correctional Treatment Specialist
Career/Employment Counselor
Career Information Specialist
Caseworker
Child Development Specialist
Child Welfare/Placement Caseworker
Corrections Officer
Criminal Investigator (FBI and other)
Customer Service Supervisor
Database Administrator
Database Design Analyst
Department Manager
Dietician
Disability Policy Worker
Disability Case Manager
Employee Health Maintenance Program Specialist
Employee Relations Specialist
Employment Counselor
Employment Interviewer
Financial Aid Counselor
Fund Raiser
Health Care Facility Administrator
Host/Hostess
Human Resource Advisor
Information Specialist
Job Analyst
Police Officer
Polygraph Examiner
Preschool Teacher
Probation/Parole
Officer
Project Evaluator
Psychiatric Aide/Attendant
Psychiatric Technician
Psychological Stress Evaluator
Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist (PSR)
Public Relations
Representative
Purchasing Agent
Real Estate Agent
Recreation Leader
Recreation Supervisor
Recreational Therapist
Research Assistant
Retail Salesperson
Sales Clerk
Social Services Aide
Substance Abuse Counselor
Systems Analyst
Technical Writer
Veterans Contact Representative
Veterans Counselor
Victims’ Advocate
Vocational Training Teacher
Volunteer Coordinator
Writer
American Psychological Association. (2013). APA
guidelines for the undergraduate psychology major:
Version 2.0. Retrieved from www.apa.org/ed/precollege/about/psymajor-guidelines.pdf.