January 27th, 2023
What Can You Do with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?
Did you know a Psychology degree isn’t just a steppingstone to grad school or the foundation for a psychologist career? Sure, it makes sense to major in psychology if you plan to take that path. But the skills you learn through psychology can prepare you for careers in a wide range of fields. In fact, the American Psychological Association estimates that 57 percent of graduates who held a Psychology degree in 2019 did not pursue a higher degree. Instead, they worked in 88 different occupations. People who pursued master’s degrees or higher didn’t all end up in the psychology field either. Common fields included social work, physical therapy, law, medicine, and education.
Careers for those with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
A few of the many paths you might consider with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology include:
Use Your Psychology Degree for a Career in Mental Health
This career path might come to mind first when you think about a degree in Psychology. A bachelor’s degree in Psychology sets the foundation for working in the mental health field. However, most roles do require a master’s degree or higher.
Psychologists diagnose and treat psychological disorders and provide individual and group therapy. A psychologist might start with a bachelor’s degree, but to practice, they need at least a master’s degree, and a doctorate degree is often required. They also need state licensure.
Counselors, clinicians, and therapists evaluate patients’ mental health. In these roles, you help patients understand behaviors and emotions, name stressors, and learn healthy coping strategies and problem-solving skills. Your psychology degree serves as a start, but most states will require you to have a master’s degree in a mental health field to obtain a license and practice. Many people specialize in a specific area, such as marriage or family therapy, rehabilitation counseling, or substance abuse.
As a clinical social worker, you complete psychosocial assessments, conduct case management, and provide therapy under the supervision of a licensed clinical social worker. Licensed clinical social workers have advanced training and specialize in caring for patients with more advanced conditions. Both need a Master of Social Work degree.
As a mental health technician, you might be able to begin work in the field with your psychology degree. As a mental health technician, you work as part of a treatment team and may have responsibilities like helping with patient admissions forms, leading activities, or being a listening ear for patients.
A Psychology Degree for Sales and Marketing Career
When you work in sales or marketing, your goal is to get someone to buy a product or service. And you can’t do that unless you really know how they think and what’s important to them. The lessons you learn in psychology, from how the human brain works to data analysis, can give you insight that business majors don’t have. In sales, you must listen with empathy to understand your customers’ needs and barriers to buy. In marketing, you want to get inside the mind of the consumer to create an ad or content that gets them to engage and purchase.
Psychology Degrees and Human Resources
Many people with Psychology degrees leverage the knowledge they acquire about human behavior to pursue a career in human resources. A career in HR fits well with a Psychology degree because your studies have taught you how people are motivated and stressed. You also have honed your observation and communication skills in pursuit of your degree. That can help you assess which job candidates are right for a role and develop programs that inspire employees. It can also help you understand underlying problems impacting job performance, and help an employee correct those behaviors.
Data Science and Psychology
A psychology degree teaches you to apply statistical concepts to research design and draw conclusions through data analysis. As a data scientist, you would uncover insights in an organization’s data through math and statistics, advanced analytics, and subject matter expertise. Companies use these insights to guide decision making and strategy.
Social Services and Psychology
A social services specialist or caseworker might work for nonprofits or government agencies. You may offer psychological support, social work, or referrals to community programs. You must have strong interpersonal and communication skills, which your undergraduate studies can help you develop.
These are just a few of the many careers you can pursue with a bachelor’s in Psychology. At Limestone University, you can major in Psychology to get the foundation you need for the career path you choose. Get started by requesting information about our program.
Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
This broad major intends to orient you to psychology as a whole. Students will learn about the science of mind and behavior, individual and group behavior, the physical and environmental bases of behavior, and the analysis and treatment of behavior problems and disorders. This major relies heavily on exploring various theories while looking at new research and techniques.
