B-1

appendix b

careers in psychology

Most people hear the word “psychologist” and automatically think of therapy, counseling, and Freud, but as we noted in Chapter 1, psychologists perform a variety of roles in our society. Psychology is a vast field, and there is no shortage of career paths. If you are considering psychology, or even if you have already chosen psychology as your major, it is important to determine if this is the right career choice for you, and to figure out which subfield matches your interests, skills, and abilities. Then there is the issue of money. Will the career you choose allow you to reach your financial goals? Psychologists’ salaries are highly variable and depend on many factors, including education level, specialty, and type of employer.

Any career in psychology will require some degree of specialized education. The question is, how much are you willing and able to attain? For many students, the answer depends on age, family responsibilities, financial concerns, and life experiences. In psychology, there are three types of degrees you can consider at the undergraduate and graduate level: bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral.