Do you often find yourself asking questions about the people and world around you? Are you a person who likes to help others and find a solution to their problems? Psychologists like to understand and help people of all kinds. They study the way that humans and animals act, feel, think and learn.
Education
According to The College Board, this major often leads to a bachelor’s degree, but to work as a professional in psychology, you’ll most likely need a graduate degree. High school courses in health science, AP Psychology and AP Biology will help make a smooth transition into this major. Typical college courses include: neuroscience, abnormal psychology, social psychology, personality and learning.
What to know before you apply
It’s important to see what kind of balance the psychology department has at the colleges you visit. Do they emphasize one psychology approach over the other, or is there an equal balance between them? Look into the research labs at the college and see what kinds of research professors have done. Also be sure that there are internships that allow you to get your feet wet in specialties like counseling and organizational psychology.
Salary
A major in psychology can lead to a career as a clinical or school psychologist, as well as various others. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics clinical psychologists earned an average yearly income of $73,090 in 2011. School psychologists employed by elementary and secondary schools earned an average of $71,510.
For more information about choosing a career, check out NextStepU.com/Careers.
