Did you know that psychology – the study of the human mind and its behaviors – is the fifth most popular undergraduate major in the United States? However, not everyone who graduates with this degree goes on to work in mental healthcare. The American Psychological Association (APA) reported that 64% of Americans whose highest degree is their bachelor’s in psychology worked in relevant jobs. However, relevance is relative.

It’s important to note that clinical and counseling psychology careers often require advanced education, experience, training, and licensure. If going back to school or entering this profession is not appealing to you at your current life stage, don’t worry! Many positions are available to those with bachelor’s degrees in psychology. The skills you learned in school such as critical thinking and effective communication translate to every field and are attractive to all employers. Whether your passion is helping others, diving into research, or exploring business applications, your education provides a solid foundation. Let’s explore alternative career paths you can pursue with your psychology degree.

Behavioral & Mental Health

This traditional field focuses on behaviors impacting physical and mental well-being and the professionals in it do the critical work of supporting those with acute and persistent issues. They spend significant time with clients providing therapeutic services and monitoring progress. While some positions may require further education and experience, there are also opportunities for bachelor’s-degree holders. If you’re thinking of progressing in your psychology career in the future but would like to enter the workforce now, this is a great field to get started in.

Social Services & Community Work

These roles are ideal for people passionate about community work and social justice. The jobs typically involve working directly with individuals, families, and other groups to improve quality of life. Specializations include substance use prevention, veteran counseling, and many more. If you plan on returning to school to pursue case management, consider gaining experience in an entry-level role within your community first. Regardless of your position level, you can make a meaningful difference in this field.

Research & Academia

If you’re inclined towards scientific inquiry, research in psychology offers a rewarding career. Researchers contribute to understanding human behavior and developing new treatments and interventions by collecting data, conducting experiments, and analyzing results. You could work at a major university or healthcare institution. This career may lead to opportunities like participating in groundbreaking studies on mental health, although you may need continued learning and experience to get there.

Criminal Justice & Forensic Psychology

This field applies psychological theories and principles to the legal system. This means these professionals may work with criminal defendants, victims of crime, or witnesses. Their workplaces are law firms, prisons, private practices, and more. Jobs within this specialization often entail researching and analyzing crime and criminal behavior. If this field interests you, your insight into human behavior can be useful for various applications. For example, bachelor’s degree holders may qualify for probation and parole officer positions.

Marketing & Consumer Behavior

These psychologists analyze consumer behavior to develop effective marketing strategies. They study how people make purchasing decisions and what influences their choices. Following market trends is also an important part of these jobs. Gathering and interpreting customer feedback may also be involved. Overall, if you enter this field, you will be doing a lot of data collection and analysis.

Human Resources & Organizational Psychology

You could also apply your degree in business. Organizational psychologists improve workplace productivity and employee well-being. They use psychological principles to solve problems in human resources, management, company culture, and workplace diversity. This can dramatically improve recruitment and retention. It can also improve training processes. Work is a large stressor for many people so having an expert in interpersonal skills on the team who can provide support is extremely valuable.

Sport & Performance Coaching

Sports psychologists help athletes of all ages deal with their high-pressure environments. Being an athlete and feeling the need to excel, especially at the professional level, can come with a lot of stress and anxiety. Emotions like this can negatively impact their performance, creating a vicious cycle. Psychologists can help them get their nerves under control and achieve mental focus. Further and specialized education may be required to progress in this career.

Education & Child Development

This is a great path to take if you want to work with children and adolescents. Psychologists in these specializations work with youth, supporting their emotional, social, and sometimes academic growth. Developmental psychologists are experts in how the human mind changes through different life stages. Educational psychologists often work in schools, collaborating with teachers and families to create supportive learning environments for students.

A psychology degree is a wonderful tool as it offers diverse career paths, each providing unique opportunities to impact your chosen field. There are paths for those drawn to clinical practice, research, organizational roles, and beyond. Also, these paths often intersect allowing you to combine multiple passions into one position! Whichever direction you go, the skills and knowledge you’ve acquired during your education will serve you well. Embrace the journey ahead and know that even if you start in an entry-level position each step is a valuable move forward in your professional growth and toward making a difference in the world. By understanding the various applications of a psychology degree, you can find a career that fulfills your professional aspirations and aligns with your desire to help others. West Central Behavioral Health often provides job opportunities to people with psychology degrees. You can review currently open positions by visiting our career page.