Psychology’s Many Fields
PhD Specializations
Counseling
Clinical
Educational
School
Indust/Organ
Developmental
Research/Biopsych
Social/Personality
Other
14
37
16
6
12
6
5
PhD Psychologists
1997 data PhD areas
PhD workplaces Universities
Schools
PrivateCompanies
Non-ProfitOrganizations
Government
Self employed
34
622
10
11
17
PhD Workplaces1997 data
Three primary areas Psychologist’s
interests often overlap.
Clinical Research Applied
Clinical Settings Clinical Psychology 4-5 years beyond
BA PhD with research Clinical internship Licensed by state Hospital, clinic or
private practice “Psychologist”
1st
Qtr
3rd
Qtr
Psychiatry Started with Freud Medical degree MD – 4 yrs Residency – 4 yrs Prescribe drugs Diagnosis and
treatment Little time to do
therapy
Psychiatrists need help Too busy and
expensive to be therapists
Employ MSW’s 2-3 yrs beyond BA Clinical social
workers Case management
Clincial Psych vs Psychiatry PhD or Psy D in
Psychology Talk therapy Most cannot
prescribe drugs Non-Freudians
MD with psychiatric residency
Drug therapy Can write
prescriptions Only 1 out of 5
Freudian
Counseling Psychology MA or PhD “Adjustment
problems” Fewer clinical skills Marriage and Family,
School, Rehabiliation Schools of Education
as at CCSU
Research Specializations Science of Psychology May be clinicians More interested in
testing theories Developing new ideas Many different
interests Chapters in Intro Psych
book
Biopsychology (PSY 450) Biological Basis of
Behavior Brain injury and
recovery Parkinson’s
disease Schizophrenia Neuropsychology
Developmental (PSY 236) Life-span
development Early childhood Adolescence Adulthood Aging Death and Dying Geropsychology
Social Psychology (PSY 372)
Group influences on behavior
Social bonds Prejudice and violence Obedience to authority Bystander intervention Cults, hate groups Cooperation and kinship
Experimental Psychology Broad term includes
faculty interested in Learning and
Memory (PSY 200) Cognitive (PSY 281) Motivation (PSY 440)
Applied Specializations
School, Work and Community
School Psychologist MA or PhD Help teachers promote
learning and social development
Tests and interviews Develop individual plans PPT (Parent, pupil,
teacher)
Guidance Counselor MA (CCSU) Schools of Education Don’t need to have been
teacher Activities vary Some counseling Some career/college work Some administration PPT’s (parents and
teachers)
Community Psychology MA (CCSU) or Phd Help communities
solve problems Prevention of crime
and illness Organizing, mobilizing Determine needs Locate resources
Industrial/Organizational
IO (PSY 234) MA or PhD Workplace Personnel Consumer
Relations Human factors
Emerging Areas Health Psychology (PSY 241) promotion of wellness prevention of disease stress reduction
Forensic Psychology legal issues jury selection eyewitness testimony victim advocacy
Do I need an advanced degree?
Yes, If you want to be a counselor, clinician, teacher, or researcher
Master’s degree sufficient in many cases
Lots of interesting careers in human services with just a BA
Here are some workplaces for BA grads
Post-graduation plans
OthergradschPsygradschWork
Go to work or go to grad school?
Post-graduation paths for BA psych majors from 4 yr institutions.
Based on 1998 APA survey.
0 5 10 15 20 25
Social Services / Public Affairs
Business / Managers
Educators
Administrative support / Clerical
Sales
Health Professionals
Series1
BA Career Paths
%
What employers want from psychology majors
Listening skills Ability to work in
teams Getting along with
others Interpersonal
relationship skills Focus on
customers or clients
Desire and ability to learn
Willingness to gain new, impt skills
Adaptability to changing situations
Ability to suggest solutions
Problem-solving skills