https://www.usnews.com/education/best-graduate-schools/articles/what-can-you-do-with-a-psychology-degree What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree?
Experts say a graduate degree in psychology can prepare you for a clinical or nonclinical career.
A common misconception among those pursuing an advanced degree in psychology is that the degree will automatically
lead to a career as a mental health care provider. While there are opportunities available to those interested in seeking a
career to help people struggling with mental illness, there are also many nonclinical jobs available to those with a graduate
degree in psychology.
"There's a general impression, which is incorrect, that if you major in psychology, you immediately want to go into the
health professions, and you immediately are going to be a psychotherapist or work with people with emotional problems
and that sort of thing," says Donald Leitner, a professor and chair of psychology at St. Joseph's Universityin Philadelphia
who holds a Ph.D. "And that is only true of a branch of psychology, which is clinical psychology. There are many other
branches of the modern discipline of psychology."
For instance, some psychology degree holders become researchers, who use scientific experiments to clarify how the
human mind works, while others design and administer IQ tests and personality assessments.
Also, keep in mind therapists and counselors don't necessarily cater to individuals who suffer from serious mental health
problems. "We're not only dealing with people with specific psychological, let's use the word, 'illnesses' or 'challenges,'"
says William Gibson, an associate professor of psychology at Brandman University in Irvine, California who has a Ph.D.
in psychology and specializes in marriage and family therapy.
Gibson says psychologists sometimes help psychologically healthy individuals find happiness.
The American Psychological Association offers an overview of the many types of jobs someone can get with a
psychology degree in its online publication, "Careers in Psychology." The publication notes that the term psychologist is
reserved for psychology degree holders who have doctorates, and identifies more than 15 types of psychologists.
Here's a breakdown of different types:
• Clinical psychologists: These health care providers diagnose and treat mental health problems, including
short-term issues and chronic conditions.
• Cognitive and perceptual psychologists: Psychologists in this field focus on how people see, understand and
communicate with the outside world and how people remember their past experiences. Researchers look for
treatments for people with various brain disorders, while clinicians provide support to those with brain disorders. • Community psychologists: These psychologists advise communities that are facing significant crises, such as
• Counseling psychologists: These therapists and counselors help people cope with difficult personal situations and
provide guidance on how to achieve life goals.
• Developmental psychologists: These are experts in how the human mindset changes over the course of a lifespan
and often conduct aging-related research. As clinicians, these psychologists assist children and adolescents
struggling with psychological growing pains.
• Educational psychologists: These professionals specialize in the psychology of teaching and learning and focus
on improving student outcomes.
• Engineering psychologists: Often called "human factors specialists" or "human factors psychologists," these
experts help design machines that are easy for people to use.
• Environmental psychologists: These are experts in how the physical and social environment surrounding an
individual affects the way that person feels and thinks.
• Evolutionary psychologists: These experts examine how natural selection has shaped human brains and
influenced the way we think.
• Experimental psychologists: These researchers conduct psychological experiments on humans and animals to
answer scientific questions.
• Forensic psychologists: These professionals focus on issues with legal implications, such as whether a criminal
defendant is psychologically fit to face a trial, and may help law enforcement solve crimes.
• Health psychologists: These psychologists figure out how people with poor health habits can maximize their
well-being.
• Industrial-organizational psychologists: These professionals concentrate on the way human psychology impacts
the performance of businesses and other organizations.
• Neuropsychologists: Sometimes called behavioral neuropsychologists, these are experts in how the biology of
the brain and nervous system impacts human behavior, thoughts and feelings.
• Quantitative and measurement psychologists: These mathematically-inclined professionals ensure that data
from psychological experiments and assessments are accurately interpreted, and create models that facilitate a
precise data analysis.
• Rehabilitation psychologists: These professionals provide counseling and treatment to people with traumatic
physical injuries or serious disabilities.
• School psychologists: These care providers offer psychological support to students and their families.
• Social psychologists: These psychologists focus on the ways that society influences the way people think and act,
and study the way people in relationships interact with each other.
• Sport psychologists: These psychologists focus on helping athletes maintain motivation and resilience during
competitions.
Karen Stamm, the director of the Center for Workforce Studies at the American Psychological Association, who holds a
Ph.D. in psychology, says it's common for people with psychology doctorates to have jobs outside of academia and health
care.
"Only about half of psychology doctorates work in 'traditional' occupations (psychologist or psychology professor),"
Stamm wrote in an email. "The other half work in a variety of occupations, such [as] professors in fields other than
psychology, managers and administrators, writers, etc."
Psychologists often conduct research for clients and serve as industry consultants, says Susann Doyle-Portillo, an
associate department head of psychological science at the University of North Georgia who holds a doctorate.
"For example, a human factors psychologist [an engineering psychologist] may work for an auto manufacturer to help
design instrument panels in cars that promote safety and ease of use by consumers," Portillo wrote in an email. "A social
psychologist may consult with trial attorneys on ways to best persuade juries. A developmental psychologist may help
design educational toys or software and so on."
Job Opportunities Vary Depending on the Type of Degree
Julie Gurner, a former professor of psychology who has a Psy.D. degree in clinical psychology and now works as a
business consultant, says the jobs psychology degree holders are marketable for depends on their specific discipline.
"For example, someone who is in experimental psychology would spend their career conducting research, while someone
with a clinical psychology degree would likely be in academics or health care. There are so many different types of
psychology that are not related to counseling that most do not realize," Gurner said via email.
A Psychology Doctorate Can Lead to Lucrative Jobs
Erin Reynolds, a Texas-based clinical director who holds a master's degree and Psy.D. doctorate in clinical psychology,
says a doctorate in psychology is typically more marketable and profitable than a less advanced degree.
"Only those with a doctorate in psychology can use the title 'psychologist,'" Reynolds wrote in an email. "This opens
many more doors in terms of what you can do and how much autonomy you can have in the workplace. It also allows you
to bill for services at a higher rate than a master's level clinician in many cases."
Reynolds says a bachelor's degree in psychology "is a great generalist degree that allows you to apply to grad school, law school, or even medical school, but on its own doesn’t amount to much more than a liberal arts degree."
However, some psychology degree holders who only have a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology say that a
psychology doctorate was not necessary for them to achieve their career goals. Meg Schmitz, a senior franchise consultant
with FranChoice, a company that matches prospective franchise owners with a business that fits their skills and interests,
A Master's or Bachelor's Can Offer an Array of Career Paths
"Many undergraduates find employment after graduation in areas such as human resources, law enforcement, employment
counseling, insurance companies, nonprofit organizations, child care, mental health, health care settings, public affairs,
business, sales, administrative support and so on," Doyle-Portillo wrote in an email.
Julia Simens, a retired school counselor who has a master's degree in clinical psychology, notes that she did not need a
doctorate in order to establish a fulfilling psychology career. "In my position, having a doctorate would have made no
difference whatsoever," Simens says.
The Difference Between a Psy.D. and a Ph.D.
Experts note an important distinction between a research doctorate in psychology, known as a Ph.D., and a clinical
doctorate, known as a Psy.D. While the Ph.D. is the traditional degree for aspiring psychology researchers, the Psy.D. is
designed for future psychology clinicians.
"Ph.D. programs are the gold standard for those going into psychological research, and Ph.D. degrees are typically
required or desired for most academic and high-level industry jobs," Nick Schweitzer, an associate professor at Arizona
State University's School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, wrote in an email.
Sarah Gray, the founder of a Massachusetts psychology practice and a psychology instructor at Harvard Medical
School who holds a Psy.D., says that she chose to get a Psy.D. as opposed to a Ph.D. because she was most interested in
therapy. "I knew I would want to spend most of my time practicing psychology as opposed to working in a research lab."
How to Choose a Psychology Program
"It's important to note that a graduate degree in psychology does not, in and of itself, allow someone to provide
psychotherapy services," says Carla Marie Manly, a California-based clinical psychologist who holds a Ph.D. "Internships
and licensure are required to obtain the necessary accreditation to provide services to clients."
Psychology degree holders say that a formal education in how the human mind works is useful for numerous career paths.
Understanding how people think is especially useful in professions that involve understanding or influencing public
opinion, such as advertising or politics, experts suggest.
According to Schweitzer, "Psychology is actually a very diverse field. While many people think of psychology as the
study and treatment of mental health issues, the field is about understanding everything about human behaviors, thoughts
and emotions."
Discover the 12 Best Graduate Psychology Programs
Psychologists Lend a Helping Hand
Psychologists are in demand.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in psychology are expected to grow 14 percent – faster than the average – from 2016 to 2026 because of a greater demand for psychological services. Psychologists provide help in schools, hospitals, social services agencies, mental health centers and from their own offices.
These are the Best Graduate Psychology Programs in the country, based on the results of peer assessment surveys sent to
academics in the field in fall 2016.
8 (tie). Massachusetts Institute of Technology
8 (tie). Massachusetts Institute of Technology
(Patrick Gillooly/Massachusetts Institute of Technology)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.4
Learn more about the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
8 (tie). Princeton University
8 (tie). Princeton University
(Denise Applewhite/Princeton University Office of Communications)
Location: Princeton, New Jersey
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.4
Learn more about Princeton University.
8 (tie). University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
8 (tie). University of Minnesota—Twin Cities
(Patrick O'Leary)
Location: Minneapolis
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.4
Learn more about the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities.
8 (tie). University of Pennsylvania
(Scott H. Spitzer)
Location: Philadelphia
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.4
Learn more about the University of Pennsylvania.
8 (tie). University of Texas—Austin
8 (tie). University of Texas—Austin
(University of Texas—Austin McCombs)
Location: Austin, Texas
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.4
Learn more about the University of Texas—Austin.
7. University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign
7. University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign
(University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign)
Location: Urbana, Illinois
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.5
Learn more about the University of Illinois—Urbana-Champaign.
3 (tie). Harvard University
3 (tie). Harvard University
(Harvard Public Affairs & Communications)
Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.7
Learn more about Harvard University.
3 (tie). University of California—Los Angeles
3 (tie). University of California—Los Angeles
(Reed Hutchinson/UC—Los Angeles)
Location: Los Angeles
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.7
Learn more about UCLA.
3 (tie). University of Michigan—Ann Arbor
(Daryl Marshke/Michigan Photography)
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.7
Learn more about the University of Michigan—Ann Arbor.
3 (tie). Yale University
3 (tie). Yale University
(Michael Marsland/Yale University)
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.7
Learn more about Yale University.
1 (tie). Stanford University
1 (tie). Stanford University
(Linda A. Cicero/Stanford News Service)
Location: Stanford, California
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.8
Learn more about Stanford University.
1 (tie). University of California—Berkeley
1 (tie). University of California—Berkeley
(UC—Berkeley)
Location: Berkeley, California
Peer reputation score (scale of 1-5): 4.8
Learn more about the University of California—Berkeley.
Ilana Kowarski is an education reporter at U.S. News, covering graduate schools. You can reach her via email