Psychology: Study Resource & Degree Program Information

General Information About Psychology Degree Programs

Students who pursue a bachelor's degree in psychology will receive a basic overview of the different psychological disciplines, from experimental psychology to social psychology to abnormal psychology. If they decide to pursue a higher degree, students can choose to specialize in one of these areas where they can focus their efforts.

Psychology Degree Study Options

Students interested in psychology will start with a bachelor's degree in psychology. Some junior colleges may offer a two year Associate of Arts in Psychology, but for a rewarding psychology career, further education will usually be needed. The Bachelor of Arts in Psychology typically takes four years to complete and involves the learning of the different approaches to psychology, the major theories and their originators, the history of the discipline and its various applications. Students may then move on to a master's degree or doctoral degree in psychology or a related field.

Advanced Psychology Degrees

Students who have a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology may choose to pursue a Master of Arts in Psychology, either for its own sake or as a precursor to a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in Psychology. Students looking for a terminal master's degree may instead choose to pursue a Masters of Social Work (MSW). Other students may decide to use their psychology background in medical school. Upon graduation, they may decide to do their residency in mental health and become psychiatrists.

Master Of Arts In Psychology

A Master of Arts degree is a two-year program that often leads to a doctoral program in psychology. However, those who do not pursue the doctoral degree will find that there are many jobs in the psychological field that they are qualified for, including work as a psychology assistant or counselor in a group home or special education setting.

Doctor Of Psychology

The Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is distinct from the Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology (Ph.D.) in that the Ph.D. tends to be more heavily research oriented. While both degrees qualify one for clinical work, students who plan to focus mainly on treatment of patients through various forms of psychological therapy may wish to skip some of the rigorous research requirements for the Ph.D. and opt for the Psy.D. instead.

Choosing A Degree In Psychology

Anyone who is curious about the workings of the human mind and the underpinnings of behavior will want to study psychology. Psychotherapists use their knowledge about the human mind to help suffering individuals find comfort and happiness in their lives. Experimental psychologists use their studies of the mind to help society learn how to cope with certain situations, how to communicate and how to understand themselves and each other. Cognitive behavioral psychologists help retrain the mind to think in more positive ways and break the habit of faulty, self-sabotaging behaviors.

Career Opportunities In Psychology

There are many career opportunities in psychology, and which one someone will choose will depend on the type of psychology they study. Industrial psychologists can be hired as consultants to help improve worker productivity. Psychoanalysts treat patients who are suffering from serious neuroses in private therapy sessions. Behavioral and cognitive behavioral psychologists may be found in the mental health wing of a hospital ward helping distressed patience learn and re-learn effective coping mechanisms for normal functioning. Experimental psychologists may be found in private and public research laboratories.

Earning Potential For Psychology Careers

Psychology can be not only a very rewarding career, but a very lucrative one. The highest 10 percent of clinical, counseling and school psychologists earned over $100,000 in 2006 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Industrial/Organizational psychologists made a median income of $86,420.

Getting Your Psychology Degree Online

Psychology is one of the more popular degrees that one can earn online. Through online distance learning programs, students can take psychology courses according to their own schedule, earning a B.A. or master's degree in psychology often in less time than it would take to earn the degree at a traditional university. Providing that the degree is earned from an accredited online university, the student can take his credential and be eligible for any career that requires a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology.

Getting Your Psychology Degree Offline

Psychology is also a very popular major at traditional universities, and most colleges and universities that offer liberal arts or “soft science” courses of study feature a psychology degree option. The bachelor's degree will take four years to complete, a master's degree two and a doctoral degree usually five years or more. Students will have the opportunity to meet one-on-one with professors who can help guide them through their psychological studies, helping them gain focus and learn how to apply their newfound psychological knowledge and research skills. Students who graduate from a top traditional university with a psychology degree will be well equipped to find a desirable and successful career path.