Psychology Major

• What is Psychology?
• What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?
• What Kinds of Students Major in Psychology?
• What Courses Do Psychology Majors Take?
• List of Psychology Jobs
• What is the Median Salary Range for Psychology Careers?
• College and University Departments to Consider

What is Psychology?

Psychology is the study of human and animal behavior. Psychologists in academic settings teach and conduct research designed to increase our knowledge about behavior. Psychologists also work in governmental and industrial organizations carrying out basic and applied research and providing professional advice. Many clinical psychologists are employed in clinics or in hospitals or are engaged in private practice, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of psychological disorders. Clinical psychologists are to be distinguished from psychiatrists, who are physicians (M.D.'s) with specialized training in the treatment of mental disorders. Job opportunities within the profession of psychology for those with only an undergraduate degree are quite limited. Most vocational opportunities in psychology require advanced professional training; usually through the Ph.D. degree and typically requiring 4 or 5 years of postgraduate work and including extensive work in research methods. Some opportunities for teaching psychology at the junior college or high school level, or for work as a psychologist in a business, school, or hospital, are available to those with a master's degree (2 or 3 years of postgraduate work). One branch of psychology is Human Factors Psychology. This is the study of human interactions with machines, systems and computers. Students learn about the challenges involved in optimizing the performance and safety of both humans and the mechanical and computer systems they use. Proficiency in safety, ergonomics and functional optimization lead to positions in a broad range of industrial concerns and in government. The automotive and aviation/aerospace industries employ many Human Factors professionals.

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What are Some Specializations Within this Broad Major?

Various specializations related to a major in Psychology may be offered by colleges and universities. These specializations may be of greater or lesser interest to you. A few of these specializations related to this field include, but are not limited to:

Behavioral And Cognitive Neuroscience	Biopsychology
Clinical Psychology	Cognition And Perception
Community Psychology	Counseling Psychology
Developmental Psychology	Educational Psychology
Experimental Psychology	Human Factors Psychology
Industrial and Organizational Psychology	Personality and Social Psychology
Psychoanalysis	School Psychology
Social Psychology

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What Kinds of Students Major in Psychology?

Students who enter this field of profession are very people oriented and are naturally inquisitive and curious about human patterns of behavior and of the way the mind works. Individual interests may vary, but overall psychology gives the students answers to questions they have about themselves and others, but its appeal goes beyond this. The study of psychology is truly an interdisciplinary endeavor.

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What Courses Do Psychology Majors Take?

The required and elective courses you would take for Psychology majors vary considerably among institutions. Courses are listed here that are illustrative of the breadth of topics you are likely to experience were you to major in this field.

Creativity	Methods of Inquiry
Abnormal Psychology	Animal Behavior
Basic Statistics fo Psychologists	Counseling Skills
Language Mind and Brain	Life Span Human Development
Personality	Physiological Psychology
Psychological Foundations of Psychology	Psychological Research Methods
Social Psychology

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List of Potential Jobs in Psychology

These professions and professional organizations illustrate the types of positions you might qualify for if you complete this major. Some majors are more directly related to employment than others, however. You should consider the likelihood of employment after graduation carefully, if you do not plan to go on for graduate work in a field. Even with the completion of graduate work in some fields, however, employment is difficult, so you should determine what the prospects are for this or any major. Employment possibilities are often enhanced by the selecting employment-related courses and by the enrollment in second major or in a minor.

Behavioral Management	Behavioral Research
Clinical Practice	College Teaching
Counseling	Human Resource Management
Personnel Training	Psychiatric Social Work
Psychological Testing	Rehabilitation

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What is the Median Salary Range for Psychology Careers?

U.S. Median Salary(starting):$36,000

U.S. Median Salary(mid-career):$61,000

Note: These numbers are national averages so you could make more or less than these amounts. Actual expected salaries will vary depending on your chosen career path, experience, and even your geographic location. Are you interested in detailed information about the forecasted demand for a particular profession? Are you interested in the estimated salaries such positions are likely to pay? This government Web site allows you to search on a particular job, whether listed here or not, to give you this information.

Bureau of Labor Statistics

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Colleges and Universities offering majors in Psychology

MyMajors complete list has 1,627 schools in the USA with a major in Psychology.
-View the national listing!

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