7 answers
Natalia
Student
Youngstown, Ohio
1
Question
Asked
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Do you feel that a psychology major is "worth it"?
#psychology #psychiatrist I would love to attend college studying a psychology major, but just about every teacher I speak to tells me that it takes very long to obtain a degree, and the right amount of education to get a job.
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7 answers
Corrina Sanchez
School Counselor
2
Answers
San Bernardino, California
Updated
Corrina’s Answer
Hello! Psychology majors are quite versatile because you are studying the human mind which correlates to every job out there. It is important to note that if you were to graduate with a bachelor's degree in this field, you would need to have a plan of action for what field you want to go into. Unless you find a job that has a general requirement of "bachelor's degree" in related fields then your main option would be Applied Behavior Analysis. These positions are frequently available as they are very demanding jobs, but if this is not your ultimate goal, I would encourage you to keep in mind that a bachelor's degree in psychology would simply be a first-step.
Once you earn your degree, your options for high education are fairly open. I know people that have continued onto earn their Master's in Business Administration, Marketing, Human Resources, and education-related graduate degrees. For example, I personally graduated with a bachelor's degree and then continued on to earn my master's degree in education counseling.
To sum this up, yes. A bachelor's degree in psychology would take anywhere from four to five years to earn and would payoff with limited job options. Therefore, you would likely continue onto a master's degree specializing in your actual career interest field. I see that you used the "psychiatrist" hashtag, so I would start researching the education required for this career field, but remember to do one thing at a time. If you are confident that a psychology peaks your interest as your undergraduate degree, do your best and trust that between now and graduation, you will have had experiences and networking opportunities that help you decide which part of the mental health related careers you'd like to enter.
Research undergraduate schools that offer psychology programs and choose a school that has opportunities you are interested in.
Check for mental health-related internship or volunteer experiences.
Research psychiatry-related graduate programs.
Once you earn your degree, your options for high education are fairly open. I know people that have continued onto earn their Master's in Business Administration, Marketing, Human Resources, and education-related graduate degrees. For example, I personally graduated with a bachelor's degree and then continued on to earn my master's degree in education counseling.
To sum this up, yes. A bachelor's degree in psychology would take anywhere from four to five years to earn and would payoff with limited job options. Therefore, you would likely continue onto a master's degree specializing in your actual career interest field. I see that you used the "psychiatrist" hashtag, so I would start researching the education required for this career field, but remember to do one thing at a time. If you are confident that a psychology peaks your interest as your undergraduate degree, do your best and trust that between now and graduation, you will have had experiences and networking opportunities that help you decide which part of the mental health related careers you'd like to enter.
Corrina recommends the following next steps:
Bri Scott
Mental Health Technician
37
Answers
Tinley Park, Illinois
Updated
Bri’s Answer
Hi,
I think it’s worth it if it’s something you really want to do. You want to earn your undergraduate degree in psychology or in a related field such as sociology, education, anthropology, or social work. Then, you will want to decide if you want to earn a doctorate-level degree. The reason you should make a decision at this point is due to the fact that many programs do not offer a terminal master's degree in psychology. In such cases, you will enroll in a graduate program after earning your bachelor's degree and then spend 4 to 7 years working on your doctorate.
To become a clinical psychologist, you will need an undergraduate degree (4 to 5years of college) plus a doctorate degree (four to seven years of graduate school). For this specialty area most people will spend between 8 to 12 years in higher education. Also, there are other career options in psychology that do not require as many years of college. For example, you could become a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master's degree, which would require 2 to 3 years of graduate study. Check this website out: https://www.verywellmind.com/specialty-areas-in-psychology-2794930 Hope this helps, Good Luck!
I think it’s worth it if it’s something you really want to do. You want to earn your undergraduate degree in psychology or in a related field such as sociology, education, anthropology, or social work. Then, you will want to decide if you want to earn a doctorate-level degree. The reason you should make a decision at this point is due to the fact that many programs do not offer a terminal master's degree in psychology. In such cases, you will enroll in a graduate program after earning your bachelor's degree and then spend 4 to 7 years working on your doctorate.
To become a clinical psychologist, you will need an undergraduate degree (4 to 5years of college) plus a doctorate degree (four to seven years of graduate school). For this specialty area most people will spend between 8 to 12 years in higher education. Also, there are other career options in psychology that do not require as many years of college. For example, you could become a licensed marriage and family therapist with a master's degree, which would require 2 to 3 years of graduate study. Check this website out: https://www.verywellmind.com/specialty-areas-in-psychology-2794930 Hope this helps, Good Luck!
Additional information about the licensed marriage and family therapist option with a master's degree:
The above-mentioned 2-3 years of graduate study does not include the time it will take after graduation to obtain your license. Depending on your state's requirements for LMFT licensure, the licensure process could take a year or more after graduation, as it involves obtaining the required number of hours of in-person therapy, supervision, and passing the licensure examination.
If you are interested in learning more about becoming an LMFT, I suggest reviewing your state's licensure requirements here: https://www.aamft.org/AAMFT/BUILD_Your_Career/MFT_State_Provincial_Resources/Advocacy/State_Resources/MFT_State_Resources.aspx?hkey=261d7879-9d5b-4aa0-b60c-c15e82b8b095
Krissy Leehane
Todd Janousek
Quality Assurance
2
Answers
Chicago, Illinois
Updated
Todd’s Answer
A Psychology undergraduate degree is a good option that presents employment options outside its field. Consider careers in insurance or finance, if you choose not to continue your education, because you will have options to advance your career and obtain specialized knowledge. Most employers value Psychology graduates because they have learned basic statistical analysis and have comprehensive writing skills.
Yasemin G.
Aspiring physician
635
Answers
Updated
Yasemin’s Answer
HI Natalia! I was a psychology major and I loved it! I think it's important to like your major and be interested in it! It's also important to plan what you would like to do with it, such as counseling, education , medical school, research, etc. I liked psychology because it's a growing field and many things are connected to it; I hope to become a physician and I think psychology has made me more well-rounded for my future aspirations. In addition, many degrees take time, such as completing a master's or PhD so don't let time affect your passion; you can also find work with bachelor's as well which can help support you as you further your education. Explore a little, take some classes in college and get involved and see if you like the major and if it's a good fit for your future goals. In the end, do what you love and what's best for you!
Best of luck!
Best of luck!
Jason Moland
Help others
1
Answer
Austin, Texas
Updated
Jason’s Answer
My honest answer would be yes, however sociology would be greatly improving your skills before a psychological degree.
Hi Jason, can you explain why you think sociology would be helpful?
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Katherine ng
sales
19
Answers
Macau
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Psychology describes the operation of human behavior from different angles, from the externally visible behavioral representation to the internally invisible psychological process, all are interested in psychology.
Hi Katherine, this doesn't answer the student's question. You explained what psychology is but not if there is long term payoff for a psychology degree
Gurpreet Lally, Admin
Krissy Leehane
Technical Writer
3
Answers
United States
Updated
Krissy’s Answer
I was a Psychology major, and went on to complete my masters degree in Professional Community Counseling, with the goal of becoming a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). However, I never did obtain my license, and I do not currently have a job in the field of psychology. I would like to share a few things that I learned along this journey.
First of all, I want to emphasize that I do not regret the education I received in psychology or marriage and family therapy. I have found countless ways to apply the knowledge and skills that I learned in school to my personal and professional life, even though I am not working in psychology field. A foundation in psychology lends itself to better communication skills, richer relationships, conflict resolution skills, and a deeper understanding of the human psyche that can make you a better human being and employee in any field.
That being said, I did take out a lot of school loans in order to complete my B.S. in Psychology and my M.S. in Counseling, and I am still working to pay them off more than a decade after grad school. As others have pointed out, a college degree in psychology isn't enough to get you into a therapist/counselor role (which is what most psychology majors want to do).; you will need to plan for the additional time and cost of a masters degree and licensure. The cost of an education that I don't directly use is the only piece of the puzzle that I sort of regret. This financial burden was one of the stumbling blocks that contributed to my decision not to pursue licensure; at the time, I couldn't afford to pay my bills, student loans, and pay for licensed supervision on the salary I was getting in a non-licensed job. The time and cost that it takes to obtain on LMFT license (in Minnesota) was more than I expected. I had to make the difficult decision to take a job outside of the counseling field because it paid me the money that I needed to live.
If you are interested in eventually providing counseling/therapy services, I would recommend the following path. In hindsight I wish someone had suggested this to me!
- Psychology or Sociology major, with a plan to obtain a masters degree to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Anecdotally, I found in MN there seemed to be more job opportunities for Social Workers, and if any sort of counseling or therapy is your goal, this work is often also done by LCSWs. In comparing the LMFT licensure requirements to the LCSW licensure requirements, I found that the road toward becoming a LCSW (in MN) was shorter and easier.
Finally, I want to share what is probably the most important piece of my journey: I learned that a person's career path from a major in college to professional career is rarely linear. You may enter college with one dream, and then stumble on other dreams along the way that you never knew existed. Whatever you choose for your major, keep an open mind that it will likely not define the rest of your life, and may not even define your career. You will have many opportunities to change your mind and pursue new dreams - and you should be courageous to take those opportunities when they arise.
Think about what you ultimately want your job to be
Determine what licensure will be needed to obtain that job
Research those licensure requirements for the state in which you would want to practice
Once you determine what licensure you ultimately want to obtain, work backwards to create an educational plan for getting there
Factor in the time and money it will take to get through all your degrees and obtain licensure
First of all, I want to emphasize that I do not regret the education I received in psychology or marriage and family therapy. I have found countless ways to apply the knowledge and skills that I learned in school to my personal and professional life, even though I am not working in psychology field. A foundation in psychology lends itself to better communication skills, richer relationships, conflict resolution skills, and a deeper understanding of the human psyche that can make you a better human being and employee in any field.
That being said, I did take out a lot of school loans in order to complete my B.S. in Psychology and my M.S. in Counseling, and I am still working to pay them off more than a decade after grad school. As others have pointed out, a college degree in psychology isn't enough to get you into a therapist/counselor role (which is what most psychology majors want to do).; you will need to plan for the additional time and cost of a masters degree and licensure. The cost of an education that I don't directly use is the only piece of the puzzle that I sort of regret. This financial burden was one of the stumbling blocks that contributed to my decision not to pursue licensure; at the time, I couldn't afford to pay my bills, student loans, and pay for licensed supervision on the salary I was getting in a non-licensed job. The time and cost that it takes to obtain on LMFT license (in Minnesota) was more than I expected. I had to make the difficult decision to take a job outside of the counseling field because it paid me the money that I needed to live.
If you are interested in eventually providing counseling/therapy services, I would recommend the following path. In hindsight I wish someone had suggested this to me!
- Psychology or Sociology major, with a plan to obtain a masters degree to become a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Anecdotally, I found in MN there seemed to be more job opportunities for Social Workers, and if any sort of counseling or therapy is your goal, this work is often also done by LCSWs. In comparing the LMFT licensure requirements to the LCSW licensure requirements, I found that the road toward becoming a LCSW (in MN) was shorter and easier.
Finally, I want to share what is probably the most important piece of my journey: I learned that a person's career path from a major in college to professional career is rarely linear. You may enter college with one dream, and then stumble on other dreams along the way that you never knew existed. Whatever you choose for your major, keep an open mind that it will likely not define the rest of your life, and may not even define your career. You will have many opportunities to change your mind and pursue new dreams - and you should be courageous to take those opportunities when they arise.
Krissy recommends the following next steps: