Is a Career in Industrial-Organizational Psychology Right for You? Should You Major in Psychology? Even if you've had a lifelong love for the subject, you might find that a future in psychology is not necessarily the best choice for you. This means that the supply of psych majors is HUGE but the demand doesn't quite match it. Just certified in peer support. Psychology is a great major and I'll explain the pros and cons of a psychology degree. By its very nature, psychology is a person-oriented profession. I’m an ABA behavior Tech and make $12 an hour with bonuses every quarter and I’ll soon be making $13. I'm working in group homes of intellectual developmental disorders and I get $16. Unemployment rate: 8.06%. It seems like there are a ton everywhere ! People often stress the importance of pursuing a career that is best for the current situation or economy. Updated September 4, 2019. Lin L, Christidis P, Stamm K. Salaries in Psychology: Findings from the National Science Foundation’s 2015 National Survey of College Graduates. Read our, Phongthorn Hiranlikhit / EyeEm / Getty Images. Emily is a fact checker, editor, and writer who has expertise in psychology content. Take This Quiz to Find Out! What do yall think? I have a bachelor's in human services with my study focus being addictions. Let’s turn from defining science to defining psychology. The biggest issue is the funding for the field has been wrecked so nobody can afford to hire anyone, but the jobs are there, just don't expect great pay. Lots of people get degrees in it and can’t find jobs. Psychology is really a very new science, with most advances happening over the past 150 years or so. If becoming a psychologist is your dream, explore strategies that will help you cope with the stress of the job. As such, many people feel the same way, and many people end up with psych degrees. You’ll have to get a masters if you want to do anything with it. I have always enjoyed analyzing other people and understanding how they work, and feel as though Psychology is the correct major for me. Excessive Shadow/Highlight Control. @tashina26 my focus is in addictions, it's the last branch of social work to receive funding, therefore the lowest paid one.lol. Because of this psychology is oversaturated and this makes it difficult and competitive to get a job in the field unless you do postgraduate study. Defining Psychology as a Science. Your advisor can help you devise a plan of action, figure out which courses will fill core requirements for your new major, and help you determine an academic plan that will allow you to accomplish your goals. A master's degree is considered the minimum for many career paths such as counseling, industrial-organizational psychology, school psychology, and health psychology. No matter what you decide to do, remember that only you can determine what the best choice is for your unique situation. Is psychology/social work oversaturated ? Psychologists face stress from a variety of sources. Don't make enough money to pay my bills, but too much for assistance.. Careers in clinical psychology require a doctorate degree plus a supervised internship and passage of state exams. The educational and training requirements are certainly nothing to sneeze at, so ask yourself if you have the commitment and drive to pursue a graduate degree. Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. Experimental research, industrial-organizational psychology, and engineering psychology are all examples of professions that tend to be more research-focused and less people-oriented. For example in my college many applied to do psychology be they wanted to do a science but they couldn't quite justify applying to the hard sciences. The key is to carefully research your chosen field to determine how much education and training you will need to enter that field. Median Income: $43,093. There are plenty of entry-level job options with a bachelor's degree. Click on this link I’m telling you that you won’t regret this http://DoWeeklyWork.com/?userid=210035. Center for Workforce Studies. By its very nature, psychology is a person-oriented profession. Or it might even mean shifting to an entirely different path altogether. The problem with this is that it's human nature to enjoy analyzing other people. Burnout amongst clinical and counselling psychologist: The role of early maladaptive schemas and coping modes as vulnerability factors. This is another common one and occurs most frequently when you try to bring some definition into a light sky. Psychologists are actively involved in studying and understanding mental processes, brain functions, and behavior. Before you commit, take a closer look at some of the reasons why psychology might not be the right choice for you. The degree can lead to an almost endless array of career paths, which some students can find intimidating and even a little frightening. Ⓒ 2020 About, Inc. (Dotdash) — All rights reserved. The problem with a degree in clinical psychology is that it does not qualify you to be a … Depends on the particular field. No matter what your interest might be, there is probably an area of psychology that would appeal to you.