What are My Career Options in Psychology?

1. What are My Career Options in Psychology? PSYCHOLOGY CLUB MEETING MAY 10, 2011 ARPI FESTEKJIAN, PH.D.

2. Presentation Outline • Career Options in Psychology • Which Psychology Career is Right for Me? • Graduate School Applications • Tips for Success!

3. You have many options! • Clinical Psychology • Counseling Psychology • Developmental Psychology • Social Psychology • Educational Psychology • Forensic Psychology • Industrial / Organizational Psychology • Neuropsychology / Psychobiology • School Psychology Careers in psychology

4. Research and Teaching • Need graduate training in any of the subfields • Teaching • Community colleges: at least an M.A. • Four-year schools: Ph.D. • Research • Four-year schools: Ph.D.

5. Clinical Psychologist assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders (more pathology-focused than counseling) • Work in private practice, hospitals, community mental health centers, schools • Ph.D. : scientist and practitioner • major state or private universities (less expensive and more funding) • need to be licensed • Psy.D. : practitioner • more hours of clinical experience • private graduate schools (more expensive; no RA-ships or TA-ships) e.g., CSPP, La Verne • need to be licensed

6. Counselor • Help overcome daily life issues (rather than psychiatric illness) • School counselor, substance abuse counselor, Marriage/Family Therapist (MFT) • M.A. in Counseling or Education • Ph.D., Psy.D., Ed.D.

7. School Psychologists & Counselors • help children with emotional, social, and academic issues • coordinate among administrators, teachers, parents, kids • Five areas of service: (1) consultation, (2) evaluation, (3) intervention, (4) prevention, and (5) research and planning • School Psychologist • More training in psychopathology, assessment • Work with special needs kids, evaluate the academic programs of the school, assess academic and personal needs • M.A. in school psychology • School Counselor • Provide counseling • M.A. in counseling

8. Social Worker • Act as advocates for their clients • Work for social welfare agencies (e.g., DCFS) • Specialize • Child, Family and School • Mental Health and Substance Abuse • Medical and Public Health • Masters in Social Work (MSW) • Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) : can also practice therapy

9. Forensic Psychologist • applies psychology to the field of criminal investigation and the law • work in family courts, civil courts, prisons, community mental health centers; can be consultants to attorneys • criminal profiling is rare • offer psychotherapy services, perform child custody evaluations, investigate reports of child abuse, etc. • doctoral degree in forensic (e.g., U. of AZ, U. of VA), clinical, or counseling psychology • need to be board certified as Diplomat of Forensic Psychology

10. I/O Psychologist • Studies and advises on behavior in the workplace • Work in…A) business positions dealing with worker productivity, employee training and assessment, and human resources, and/or B) research or academic positions • M.A. in I/O; some programs offer Ph.D.

11. Clinical Administrator • Manage clinical services of an agency (e.g., staffing, budget, mental healthcare delivery) • Rehab centers, nursing homes, mental health centers • Need graduate degree in clinical or counseling and coursework in business administration

12. Neuropsychologist • Pharmaceutical research • Neuropsychological assessment (e.g., extent of brain damage) and rehabilitation • Research and academic positions • Ph.D. in biopsych, cognitive neuropsych, clinical neuropsych

13. Careers with a B.A. • Human resources jobs (employment, recruitment, placement, training, development, compensation, benefits) • Child life specialist (help children and families cope with hospitalization) • Many others • Entry level jobs for psychology majors

14. Which Psychology Career is right for me? • Quiz Morgan, B. L., & Korschgen, A. J. (2008). Majoring in Psychology: Career Options for Psychology Undergraduates (4th ed.). Boston: Pearson/Allyn & Bacon.

15. HOLLAND’S (1959) PERSONALITY TYPES REALISTIC INVESTIGATIVE ARTISTIC SOCIAL ENTERPRISING CONVENTIONAL TAKE THE QUIZ!

16. Graduate School Applications • Application to the graduate division of the school • Graduate Record Exam (GRE) scores • Application to the Psychology Department • 3 Letters of Recommendation • Statement of Purpose • Achievements/Accomplishments • Career and Professional Goals • How will the program meet your goals? • Resources: • The process of applying to graduate school • Book: Graduate Study in Psychology

17. Tips for success • Identify what kind of program is right for you and make a timeline • Get to know your professors • Get involved in research • Extracurricular activities (e.g., volunteer work, academic club) • Seek an internship and/or work experience • Go to ELAC’s Career and Job Services Center (E1-176) • Search for campus workshops that focus on self-development (e.g., time/stress management) • May 19 4:00-6:00: Social and Behavioral Sciences Workshop E7-313 • Build on your personal and professional skills