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The Program |
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1. Combine your interest in psychology with your other unique interests or talents, e.g., music, art, writing skill, sports, mathematics/statistics, computers, mechanics, construction, business, leadership, critical thinking or analysis, etc. Learn how faculty members or fellow students have learned to individualize their approach to the field
2. If you have (or are close to someone with) a history of trauma, illness, addiction or disability, build on your sensitivities, past experiences and “people skills” while becoming more aware of the personal impacts your unique history may have had on you:
a. Realize that in the human service field, a “deficit” or setback can become an asset
b. Know and take proper care of yourself so you can help others more effectively, including seeking therapy or support to enhance your own healing and growth.
c. Remember that the Counseling Center, University Health Center, and Learning Resources Center offer valuable support and direction to students with special needs or circumstances
d. Share yourself with a faculty member, either in person or through an appropriate class assignment – many courses in Psychology allow for this kind of exploration and most teachers at UPG are interested in getting to know you and helping you to achieve your goals
e. Get to know other Psychology majors – many have undergone and overcome challenging life experiences. Check out the Former Student profiles for some inspiring examples
Plan
1. Get to know one or two of your Psychology professors (or your professors in a related field) – speak up in class, talk after class, do above-average work; attend campus presentations by your professors; and read articles, books or online course materials written by them
2. Take interest/career tests in the Office of Career Services to help you decide the career that will work best for you; understand your special skills or strengths; make contacts inside and outside the university
3. Participate in pre-professional experiences:
a. Do volunteer work or “job shadow” a professional whose job/career interests you
b. Consider doing an independent study (directed individual readings or directed individual research) or becoming a teaching assistant under the supervision of one of your professors
c. Take an internship in your late junior or senior year to gain skills or experience as well as to get a better feel for job/career possibilities and improve professional contacts
d. Attend or present at regional conferences that feature undergraduate or professional presentations on psychological research or practice
4. Grades are important if you want to attend graduate school. Most schools look for an overall grade point average of at least 3.0 for a Master's degree, considerably higher for a doctorate
5. As you move closer to graduation, learn about the advanced degrees and certifications needed for someone in the psychology-related field that interests you most. Psi Chi and the Office of Career Services can help
Expand your viewpoint
1. Depending on your interests, include courses related to psychology in your class schedule and/or consider completing a minor (5 courses) in a related subject
a. Areas related to psychology include: sociology, anthropology, biology, chemistry, communication, philosophy, Administration of Justice, Education, and/or Management
b. These and other disciplines will increase your skills, knowledge and understanding of the human behavior/human services field, and may offer opportunities, knowledge or internship experiences that will enhance your chances for employment or admission to graduate school
c. Advisors, other students, and this and other websites can provide helpful information
2. Get to know and feel comfortable with diversity: Use your college experience to
a. learn about values and lifestyles that differ from your own
b. appreciate the impact that cultural, social and family background or circumstances can have on people's behavior and ability to grow
c. define your own values while learning to be tolerant of others' values
d. reach out to others as a volunteer or intern (link to Counseling Center, University Health Center, Learning Resources Center, Office of Career Services, Student Activities at Pitt Greensburg)
3. Develop a Student Involvement Transcript or assume a leadership role at UPG by participating actively on campus as you complete your degree. See Student Activities at Pitt Greensburg for details.
Did You Know?
1. In most cases, a doctoral (PhD, PsyD, EdD, etc.) degree is not required to have a solid career in the human services, but a master's degree is often desirable
2. Licensure as a social worker or counselor does not require a doctoral degree; licensure as a psychologist does. A career in psychiatry requires a medical degree
3. Most UPG students find that earning a master's degree in social work, counseling, or education is more appropriate for them than preparing for either a master's or doctoral degree in psychology.
4. Continuing education is also a part of most human service jobs and you may find that completing relevant training or certifications is more helpful in assuring the job/career you want than attending graduate school (especially immediately after you finish college) or earning a doctorate
5. If a master's is desired, it's often possible to work in the field, either while attending school or after graduation. Some human-service employers will cover some or all of your graduate tuition costs
6. Admission to some degree programs requires you to take standardized tests (similar to SATs) while other programs focus more on college grades, pre-professional experiences, and recommendations.
a. UPG has an excellent track record in helping students gain acceptance to master's degree programs in the local area that offer psychology-related degrees
b. Some degree programs (e.g., health-related professions) are very competitive and require excellent grades in non-psychology courses throughout college
c. The American Psychological Association offers a number of publications or online resources for psychology careers and graduate study options. Other websites with useful information on psychology-related careers also appear below:The American Psychological Association
Dr. Marky Lloyd's Career Resources on the Web
Dr. Scott Plous' Online Psychology Career Center
Dr. John Suler's Graduate School & Careers in Psychology
Occupational Outlook Handbook (by U.S. Dept. of Labor):
Social Workers
Counselors
Psychologists
Hanover Psychology Dept.'s Career Exploration Information
Dr. Jeanne Slattery's What's After Graduation? (Clarion)
Career Opportunities in Psychology (UPJ)
Career Decision Tree for Psychology (Western KY University)
University of Tennessee Career Services
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