Psychology Career Paths
Presented by
Dr. Karen Kemtes
Diverse
$
$
Psychology
Careers
Rewarding
$
Fun
$
Challenging
Psychology is…
► Fourth
in the top 50 occupations with the
brightest prospects for available positions in
the 21st Century
► Seventh among the top 26 professions in
entry level salaries
► Seventh in terms of median salaries and
fifth in top salaries
Source: Money Magazine
So You Want to Go to
Graduate School?
► Assess
skills
► Determine area(s) of interest
► Prepare to apply to graduate school
Assessing Skills
► Pychology






Major Skills
(APA, 2002)
Social and interpersonal skills
Critical thinking
Working collaboratively on teams
Showing persistence and initiative
Oral and writing skills
Quantitative Skills
Characteristics of Successful
Clinical Graduate Students
► Working
hard
► Getting along with people
► Writing ability
► Clinical/counseling skills
► Doing research
► Handling stress
► Discipline
► Good grades
► High intelligence
► Empathy
Descutner and Thelen (1989)
Graduate School “Superstars”
► Visibility
► Hard
Working
► Research and Scholarly Excellence
► Professor Attachment
► W Factor
Bloom and Bell (1979)
Assessing Interests:
Psychology-Related Careers
► Clinical,
Counseling, & Community
Psychology
► Academia
► Government
► School Psychologist
► Industrial/Organization Psychology
► Consulting & Marketing
► Human Factors
► Military Psychology
► Health Psychology
Psychology Salaries
Source: American Psychological Association (1999)
Note: Salaries listed are median entry-level
Ph.D.
M.A.
Faculty
52,000
Educational Administration
82,500
Researcher
60,000
Clinical
65,000
School Psychologist
71,000
I/O
90,000
Consulting
72,000
Faculty
46,500
Educational Administration
72,000
Researcher
39,000
Clinical
45,000
School Psychologist
61,000
I/O
68,000
Consulting
63,000
Residential Care
B.A. Entry level: $18,000 - $28,000
Activities coordinator
► Assistant manager
► Case manager
► Case worker
► Child care worker
► Community and social
service worker
► Counselor
► House manager
► House parent
► Human resources worker
► Mental health worker
► Program assistant
►
Program manager
► Psychiatric residence
staffer
► Rehabilitation aid
► Relief worker
► Resident services provider
► Residential services
provider
► Residential clinical director
► Residential specialist
► Special school counselor
► Support worker
► Youth services worker
►
Community & Social Services
B.A. Entry level: $18,500 - $22,500
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Activity leader
Admissions evaluator
Adoption services
Art therapist
Athletic services
Battered spouses and children’s services
Blind, organizations and services for the
Case coordinator/manager
Charity services
Child counseling
Chronic disease services
Community services
Consumer services
Crime victim services
Day care assistance
Deaf and hearing, services for the
Developmentally disabled services
Divorce counseling
Drug abuse and prevention services
Educational information services
Ethnic organizations and services
Family and individual services
Gay, lesbian, and bisexual organizations and
services
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Halfway house
Health club manager
Home care services
Homeless persons services
Immigrant assistance
Legal counseling
Medical relief services
Men’s services
Parent educator
Philanthropic services
Pregnancy counseling and services
Rape crisis services
Sex information and counseling
Single parent’s services
Suicide prevention services
Tenant’s services
Traveler’s services
Vocational services
Volunteer services
Women’s services
Youth services
Human Resources
B.A. Entry level: $20,000 - $30,000
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
►
Affirmative action
coordinator
Arbitrator
Benefits administrator
Benefits manager
Career planning and
placement
Compensation manager
Education specialist
Employee benefits/
training/relation/ manager
Employment interviewer
Executive assistant
► Grievance office
► Human resources
coordinator
► Industrial relations
specialist
► Job analyst
► Occupational analyst
► Operations manager
► Personnel administrator
► Recruiter
► Training specialist
►
Therapy
B.A. Entry level: $17,500 - $19,500
Activity therapist
► Art therapist
► Community and social
service worker
► Credit counselor
► Dance therapist
► Day treatment counselor
► Drama therapist
► Exercise therapist
► Family therapist
► Light therapist
► Manual arts therapist
► Marriage therapist
►
Massage therapist
► Mediator
► Movement therapist
► Music therapist
► Negotiator
► Project director
► Psychomotor therapist
► Safety coordinator
► Teacher
► Voice therapist
► Water therapist
►
Psychology Specialties
Handout
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY
Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological
problems. They may act as therapists for people experiencing normal
psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from
chronic psychiatric disorders. Some clinical psychologists are
generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while others
work with specific groups like children, the elderly, or those with
specific disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). They may be found in
hospitals, community health centers , or private practice.
COMMUNITY PSYCHOLOGY
Community psychologists are concerned with everyday behavior in
natural settings -- the home, the neighborhood, and the workplace.
They seek to understand the factors that contribute to normal and
abnormal behavior in these settings. They also work to promote health
and prevent disorder.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
COUNSELING PSYCHOLOGY
Counseling psychologists do many of the same things that clinical
psychologists do. However, counseling psychologists tend to focus
more on persons with adjustment problems, rather than on persons
suffering from severe psychological disorders. Counseling psychologists
are employed in academic settings, community mental health centers,
and private practice. Recent research tends to indicate that training in
counseling and clinical psychology are very similar.
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Developmental psychologists study how we develop intellectually,
socially, emotionally, and morally during our lifespan. Some focus on
just one period of life (e.g., childhood or adolescence). Developmental
psychologists usually do research and teach in academic settings, but
many act as consultants to day-care centers, schools, or social service
agencies.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
EDUCATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Educational psychologists are concerned with the study of human learning.
They attempt to understand the basic aspects of learning and then develop
materials and strategies for enhancing the learning process. For example, an
educational psychologist might study reading and develop a new technique for
teaching reading from the results of the research.
EXPERIMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
This area of specialization includes a diverse group of psychologists who do
research in the most basic areas of psychology (e.g., learning, memory,
attention, cognition, sensation, perception, motivation, and language).
Sometimes their research is conducted with animals instead of humans. Most
are faculty members at colleges and universities.
ENVIRONMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
Environmental psychologists are concerned with the relations between
psychological processes and physical environments ranging from homes and
offices to urban areas and regions. Environmental psychologists may do
research on attitudes toward different environments, personal space, or the
effects on productivity of different office designs.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
INDUSTRIAL/ORGANIZATIONAL PSYCHOLOGY
Industrial/Organizational (I/O) psychologists are primarily concerned
with the relationships between people and their work environments.
They may develop new ways to increase productivity or be involved in
personnel selection. You can find I/O psychologists in businesses,
industry, government agencies, and colleges and universities. I/O
psychologists are probably the most highly paid psychologists.
NEUROPSYCHOLOGY; PSYCHOBIOLOGY
Psychobiologists and neuropsychologists investigate the relation
between physical systems and behavior. It is one of psychology's
hottest areas. These psychologists study both very basic processes
(e.g., how brain cells function) and more observable phenomena (e.g.,
behavior change as a function of drug use or the biological/genetic
roots of psychiatric disorders). Some continue their education in clinical
areas and work with people who have neurological problems.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
PSYCHOMETRICS; QUANTITATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Psychometric and quantitative psychologists are concerned with the
methods and techniques used to acquire and apply psychological
knowledge. A psychometrist revises old intelligence, personality, and
aptitude tests and devises new ones. Quantitative psychologists assist
researchers in psychology or other fields to design experiments or
interpret their results. Psychometrists and quantitative psychologists
are often employed in colleges and universities, testing companies,
private research firms, an d government agencies.
REHABILITATION PSYCHOLOGY
Rehabilitation psychologists work with people who have suffered
physical deprivation or loss at birth or during later development as a
result of damage or deterioration of function (e.g., resulting from a
stroke). They help people overcome both the psychological and
situational barriers to effective functioning in the world. They work in
hospitals, rehabilitation centers, medical schools, and in government
rehabilitation agencies.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
SCHOOL PSYCHOLOGY
School psychologists are involved in the development of children in
educational settings. They are typically involved in the assessment of
children and the recommendation of actions to facilitate students'
learning. They often act as consultants to parents and administrators
to optimize the learning environments of specific students.
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY
Social psychologists study how our beliefs, feelings, and behaviors are
affected by other persons. Some of the topics of interest to social
psychologists are attitudes, aggression, prejudice, love, and
interpersonal attraction. Most social psychologists are on the faculty of
colleges and universities, but an increasing number are being hired by
hospitals, federal agencies, and businesses to perform applied
research.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
The following are areas of psychology that are either emerging or expanding and
should provide an increasing number of jobs in the coming years:
HEALTH PSYCHOLOGY
Health psychologists are concerned with psychology's contributions to the
promotion and maintenance of good health and the prevention and treatment
of illness. They may design and conduct programs to help individuals stop
smoking, lose weight, manage stress, prevent cavities, or stay physically fit.
They are employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public
health agencies, and in private practice.
FAMILY PSYCHOLOGY
Family psychologists are concerned with the prevention of family conflict, the
treatment of marital and family problems, and the maintenance of normal
family functioning. They design and conduct programs for marital enrichment,
pre-marital preparation, and improved parent-child relations. They also
conduct research on topics such as child abuse, family communications
patterns, and the effects of divorce and remarriage. Family psychologists are
often employed in medical schools, hospitals, community agencies, and in
private practice.
Psychology Specialties
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/ch4.html#4A
The following are areas of psychology that are either emerging or expanding and
should provide an increasing number of jobs in the coming years:
PSYCHOLOGY AND THE LAW; FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
Psychology and the law studies legal issues from a psychological perspective
(e.g., how juries decide cases) and psychological questions in a legal context
(e.g., how jurors assign blame or responsibility for a crime). Forensic
psychologists are concerned with the applied and clinical facets of the law such
as determining a defendant's competence to stand trial or if an accident victim
has suffered physical or neurological damage. Jobs in these areas are in law
schools, research organizations, community mental health agencies, and
correctional institutions.
PSYCHOLOGY OF WOMEN
The psychology of women is the study of psychological and social factors
affecting women's development and behavior. The field includes the study of
stereotypes about women, the relation of hormones to behavior, women's
achievements in science and mathematics, the development of gender roles
and identity, sexuality, psychological problems of women and sexual abuse of
women and girls. Psychologists focusing on the psychology of women are
found in academic settings and a variety of clinical settings.
Graduate School
Preparation
Handout
Preliminaries
►
GRE
 High GRE scores alone do not ensure your admission
 Corollary: lower GRE scores do not automatically exclude you from
admission
►
GPA
 High GPA alone does not ensure your admission
 Corollary: lower GPA does not automatically exclude you from
admission
►
Research Experience
 Necessary for Ph.D. programs
 May be optional for M.A. programs
►
Recommendation Letters
 Good recommendation letters can mean the difference between a
letter of offer or a letter of rejection
 Poor Recommendation letters nearly guarantee that you will not be
admitted to a graduate program
Graduate School Preparation Timeline
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/UndergradHB/ch5.html
►
FRESHMAN YEAR
 Begin attending Psychology Department functions, and request a
free copy of APA's Careers in Psychology booklet.
►
SOPHOMORE YEAR
 Begin the process of determining your specific interests in
psychology (e.g., clinical, cognitive or industrial) and the type of
employment you will eventually seek.
 Begin taking at least one more math, science, writing, and speech
course than is required by the college.
 Find out the research interests of the psychology faculty, contact
those whose research interests you, and volunteer to assist them
with their research.
 Join the Psychological Society and begin participating in
Departmental activities.
 Talk to the faculty member who coordinates Field Experience in
Psychology about gaining practical experience in the area of
psychology in which you are most interested.
Graduate School Preparation Timeline
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/UndergradHB/ch5.html
► JUNIOR
YEAR
 Talk to faculty members about graduate schools and
programs that they recommend.
 Contact a graduate of the psychology department who
has been to graduate school and ask him/her to give
you advice about preparing for graduate school.
 Order copies of Graduate Programs in Psychology and
Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology: Not for
Seniors Only from APA. These will cost about $25, but
they are great investments because they contain so
much valuable information.
 Narrow your choices of graduate programs (from your
study of Graduate Programs in Psychology and
discussions with faculty members), and write 20 50
schools using the " graduate school information request
letter " contained in this chapter.
Graduate School Preparation Timeline
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/UndergradHB/ch5.html
►
JUNIOR YEAR cont.
 Prepare a folder for each school. Record specific deadlines and
requirements (e.g., number of letters of recommendation) from the
information you receive.
 If not already doing so, become involved in a research project with
a faculty member. Choose a topic in which you are very interested
and resolve to write an APA style paper on this topic that is of
sufficient quality to strengthen your graduate scho ol applications.
 Pick up information in the Registrar's Office about the Graduate
Record Exam (GRE) and register to take it during the October of
your senior year.
 Ask at least three faculty members if they are willing and able to
write you strong letters of recommendation.
 Write a complete resume.
 If invited, join Psi Chi, the Psychology Honor society.
Graduate School Preparation Timeline
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/UndergradHB/ch5.html
►
SENIOR YEAR
 The Summer Before Senior Year
► Visit your top graduate school choices.
► Prepare a letter for each of the faculty members
who will be writing
you a letter of recommendation. This letter should include a copy of
your transcript and your cumulative GPA in psychology and all other
courses.
 September to November of Senior Year
► Give
your letters to your faculty recommenders accompanied by
stamped envelopes addressed (typed, not hand written) to the schools
to which their letters will go.
► Consult the Financial Aid office about assistance in graduate school.
► Obtain your transcript from the Registrar's office and check it for
errors.
► Prepare drafts of any personal statements requested by graduate
schools and have faculty read them and make suggestions. Prepare the
final copies in your most professional manner.
► Take the GRE.
Graduate School Preparation Timeline
http://web.indstate.edu/psych/UndergradHB/ch5.html
►
SENIOR YEAR cont.
 December of Senior Year
►
Request that your GRE scores (through ETS in New Jersey) and your college
transcript be sent to your chosen graduate schools.
 Over Winter Break of Senior Year
►
►
Mail application forms. Be sure they are typed and proof read carefully.
Make a copy of each application and record its address and mailing date. File
this information for each school in its respective folder.
 January to March of Senior Year
Arrange interviews, if appropriate, with your top choice graduate schools by
phone, go for the interviews, and record the strengths and weaknesses of each
school.
► Write thank you notes to each faculty member and graduate student with whom
you interviewed. Include copies of any research papers that you think would
help to strengthen your application.
►
 April to May of Senior Year
Replies from graduate school should begin to arrive. Call schools to check the
status of your application if they have not replied by April 15.
► Decide which school you will attend and inform all schools of your decision.
►
Resources
Books and WWW
►
General Guides

Getting in: A Step-By-Step Plan for Gaining Admission to Graduate School in Psychology by American
Psychological Association, APA
Preparing for Graduate Study in Psychology: 101 Questions and Answers by William Buskist, Thomas R.
Sherburne (Contributor)
Succeeding in Graduate School: The Career Guide for Psychology Students by Steven Walfish (Editor), Allen K.
Hess (Editor)
The Complete Guide to Graduate School Admission: Psychology and Related Programs by P. Keith-Spiegel

http://www.psywww.com/careers/lettrec.htm


http://www.socialpsychology.org/vitasamp.htm
http://psych.hanover.edu/handbook/vita2.html

Your personal statement (aka letter of intent) is *not* the forum for retelling graphic personal experiences that
led you to consider clinical or experimental psychology. It covers 1) your interests in psychology and how you
came to have those interests, 2) your goals and ambitions in the field of psychology, and 3) how the program to
which you are applying can help you to achieve those goals. You *must* tailor your statement to the programs
to which you are applying. A generic personal statement is not appropriate and will, most definitely, hurt your
chances of getting accepted. Start by describing why you want to go to that particular school. Perhaps it is the
specialized program in orangutan mating behaviors that is most interesting to you. Next list the faculty at the
institution you are most interested in working with. Why do you want to work with them? You might also think
about contacting these individuals for more information (see the email below from a potential student).



►
►
►
Getting Good Letters of Recommendation
Writing a Vita
Writing a Personal Statement
►
►
►
►
►
http://www.hope.edu/academic/psychology/geninfo/perstate.html
http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/pw/p_perstate.html
http://www.psywww.com/careers/perstmt.htm
http://www.uni.edu/psych/club/statements.html
A humorous personal statement: http://www-personal.umich.edu/~smueller/HappyHour/statement.html
Sample Letter to Prospective
Graduate Advisor(s)
►
Below is an email a student sent me this morning describing her research interests and
asking if I have openings in my lab.
Dr. Kemtes,
My name is ***** *******, and I am interested in attending UNLV as a Ph.D. student
and working under you. I am currently a Master's graduate student at XYZ State
University and am working with Dr. M. C.. I have been conducting research for almost 5
years. My area of interest overlaps with yours quite nicely, and this leads me to believe I
could be an asset to you. I am primarily interested in word and sentence processing; but
my interest generalizes to other cognitive processes and areas, like memory. My
undergrad GPA was a 3.92 and my graduate GPA is a 4.0. Currently I (along with my
collaborators)have one paper under review, one under revision, two are being prepared,
and I am currently collecting data on another project. My GRE's are not that great (1030
combined), but I am very dedicated and productive. I have yet to take the Psychology
general test. I am willing to work as hard as it takes. In fact, I have already completed
my thesis.
Do you think that you will be taking in students next fall, and do you think that I am the
type of student that would have a shot at attending UNLV? I appreciate any time you
take in responding to me, I realize you are very busy. Thank you for your time.