7 Things You Didn’t Know About a Phd in Psychology

PhD in psychology degrees often stipulate that you have at least five years of full-time study ahead of you, but what do you know about this career path? What kind of salary can you expect? Will employers be willing to hire someone who has such an extensive education process before them? Find out the answers to these questions and more with this guide on 7 things you didn’t know about a PhD in psychology.

1. What Goes Into Becoming a Psychologist?

A PhD in psychology is an advanced degree that can be obtained after completing a master’s degree program. A PhD typically takes four to six years, depending on the program and workload. In addition to coursework, students must complete two semesters of full-time research and write and defend a doctoral dissertation. 

Students are then granted the title of Doctoral Psychologist (PsyD) upon completing these requirements.Doctoral psychologists work in many areas, including • universities; • colleges; • hospitals; • rehabilitation centers; • correctional institutions; and • private practice offices. They may work with individuals or with groups such as families or children.

2. How Do I Get Started?

A PhD in psychology is typically an academic degree and is not typically required for practicing psychologists. However, this level of education does allow you to specialize in your training.

To qualify for a doctoral program, you must complete at least four years of undergraduate study (Bachelor’s Degree) before applying. At the undergraduate level, you will need to complete at least one course from each area of psychology: biological/biopsychology.

Cognitive/neuropsychology; developmental/child psychology; social/cultural/reverse psychology; personality theory and assessment. If you are interested in specializing in one area of psychology, your undergraduate degree should be tailored so that you have taken courses in each field.

3. Why Study PhD In Psychology?

Clinical psychologists work to understand, diagnose, and treat people with mental health problems. Clinical psychologists are trained to assess and diagnose mental disorders using standardized criteria for mental illness. They then help patients identify their goals for treatment and develop an appropriate treatment plan. Clinical psychologists also help patients cope with the effects of mental illness on their lives by teaching them how to manage symptoms of their disorder (e.g., depression), get along better with others, or lead more satisfying lives. 

It is one of the few professions where you can do hands-on clinical work from day one without having any other graduate degree (e.g., counseling). The job market for those interested in this profession is strong, and the salary tends to be higher than that of counselors. Clinical psychologists work in various settings, including schools, hospitals, clinics, private practice offices, community organizations, and private corporations. 

What does a typical day look like?: Clinical psychologists may spend time conducting psychological assessments such as cognitive testing or evaluations involving interviews with family members. Their day might include meeting with clients individually or as part of groups; managing caseloads; providing information; creating treatment plans; delivering individual therapy sessions. 

Reviewing case histories before meetings with clients; developing interventions designed to improve life skills and coping abilities; designing strategies that address family problems such as communication patterns among relatives; evaluating client progress against agreed upon objectives at weekly intervals and much more!

For More Details:

Structuralism Psychology: A Beginner’s Guide

4. How Long Does It Take to Become Licensed?

To become licensed as a psychologist, you must have completed your doctorate and passed the Examination for Professional Practice of Psychology (EPPP). This examination is designed to test your knowledge and skills related to psychology. The first step on the way to becoming licensed is getting your doctorate. To be eligible for the EPPP, you must complete all the requirements of an accredited doctoral program in psychology. 

Once you’ve finished school, it will take two years before you can take the EPPP exam if you’re studying full-time or four years if studying part-time. If you don’t pass the exam, you’ll need to retake it. If you fail the exam twice, there are limits on how many times you can retake it. Passing scores are set at 220 out of 240 possible points.

5. Some Famous Psychologists

Sigmund Freud  Freud created the psychoanalytic theory, which is now known as the Oedipus complex. He was also the founder of psychoanalysis. 

Carl Jung  Jung introduced the idea of synchronicity and collective unconscious to psychology. He believed that archetypes subconsciously are deeply ingrained within all people but may be more pronounced in certain people.

Albert Bandura  Bandura’s social learning theory argues that individuals learn through watching and imitating others or direct instruction. His research has shown how children can learn to become aggressive by watching violent adults on TV or how they can see themselves as potential victims if they watch enough news coverage of crime stories. Who do you have to have studied? One must have an undergraduate degree in psychology before being eligible for graduate study.

What will you get out of it? : Students who graduate with a Ph.D. usually teach at the university level and engage in applied research projects. Such as market studies, personnel evaluations, and evaluation of treatment efficacy. A psychologist with an advanced degree is likely to work primarily outside the academic world after completing their Ph.D., most often serving clinical needs for families or organizations as organizational psychologist.

6. Interesting Things to Know

1. A PhD is not necessary for clinical psychologists. Clinical psychology uses psychological principles to understand and help people with mental, emotional, or behavioral difficulties, typically within a clinical setting.

2. Clinical psychologists are trained to administer and interpret various assessments, including standardized intelligence and achievement tests; personality tests such as the MMPI-2. Interest inventories; projective drawings such as the Rorschach test; and clinical interviews including psychiatric history and physical examination, neurologic exam, etc.

Final Thoughts

A doctorate from a psychology department will typically take four to six years to complete. This lengthy period is crucial for research and studies that are done within the field of psychology.

If you have been accepted into a doctoral program but cannot go back or haven’t finished your degree, other options may be available. 

Getting into the field of psychology without finishing your doctorate will require taking some extra steps and doing some research. Depending on your state, there might be an opportunity to take graduate courses or gain practical experience through a work-study program while completing your undergraduate degree. Another option is to apply for internships or fellowships. 

Most likely, these opportunities will only become available. After complete at least one year of graduate-level coursework with an accredited school. Which is required before applying for internships and fellowships. As always, consult your academic advisor before applying for any programs.