Psychology Major: How to Choose the Right One for You

A psychology major can seem appealing, but this degree comes with several paths you can choose from, each with its own set of pros and cons. If you’re considering psychology as your major, here are some of the most popular routes you can take to ensure it’s the right one for you.

What Is a Psychology Major?

A psychology major, or a degree in psychology, can lead to many different careers. For example, you could be a counselor or therapist working with patients suffering from mental illnesses. Or, you could work as a researcher studying how people think and behave. And suppose you want your career to be more applied rather than academic. In that case, you might become an industrial-organizational psychologist who applies psychological knowledge and skills to help improve workplace performance. 

If you have some artistic talent, there’s also the possibility that you may become an art therapist. In this case, the focus would be on helping clients express emotions using art materials. Suppose these interests seem appealing to you, but they don’t quite fit into any specific career path. In that case, it’s worth checking out other areas of psychology, like forensic psychology, health psychology and experimental psychology. 

These two branches study aspects of psychology that apply to legal settings or healthcare. It’s essential to research all the types of jobs available before deciding what degree you should pursue, though, because each one comes with its pros and cons.

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Psych 101 vs. Psych 200+

I’m sure you’ve seen that there are a few different significant types in psychology, but what does this mean? Let’s take a look. The first one is called Psych 101, which is an introductory level major. It’s meant for people who have never had any formal training in psychology and want to learn about it for the first time. This degree will not allow you to work as a practicing psychologist. Still, it could provide you with some valuable knowledge and skills if you decide that it interests you and has potential career opportunities in your future. 

If, however, you’re looking for a full-fledged degree with all of the bells and whistles (i.e., internships, research opportunities), then Psych 200+ is probably what you want. These degrees are meant for those who want to be clinical or counseling psychologists and would like the best possible education to jump into their field quickly. 

They’ll offer more explicit content than Psych 101, teach how to conduct psychotherapy sessions, discuss ethical guidelines and topics such as substance abuse treatment, and even introduce students to research techniques. All these options are great for someone who knows exactly what they want from their primary and where they want it to lead them!

What Can I Do With a Degree in Psychology Major?

With a phd in psychology degree, you can do anything from managing mental health centers and providing therapy services to working as a researcher or consultant. The degree offers flexibility since concentrations include everything from clinical psychology to industrial-organizational psychology. To help you decide what area of psychology interests you most, we’ve created this list of joint degrees and careers associated with them. Take a look below!

Clinical Psychology: Clinical psychologists are educated in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, including depression, schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. They may help people recover by teaching them how to live more fulfilling lives. Clinical psychologists can work in hospitals or private practices but may also specialize in areas such as a child or geriatric psychiatry. In some cases, they might even be employed in schools or nursing homes.

Industrial-Organizational Psychology: Industrial-organizational psychologists study human behavior in the workplace to find ways to increase efficiency and productivity among employees. Often, these professionals conduct surveys and make recommendations about potential changes within companies based on their findings.

Mental Health Counseling: Mental health counselors provide psychotherapy services to clients with depression, anxiety, substance abuse problems, marital conflict, and more. In addition to counseling their patients one-on-one, they often educate parents on raising the best children who suffer from behavioral disorders.

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Finding the Right School for Me

So, I’m thinking about going into a psychology major. I want to know what are some of the best schools.I’m not sure what school is right for me. There are so many options, and it seems like they all have something different that they offer. But, how do I choose?I think my primary considerations are location and cost. My parents can’t afford to pay out-of-state tuition fees, so it’s either in-state or nothing. 

I also need to find a school that has good student/faculty ratios so that I get individualized attention from teachers. After researching each university, I discovered that Eastern State University had better student/faculty ratios than any other university within 100 miles of here. Plus, their prices were much lower than any other university in the area. 

With these things combined, it was an easy decision! It’s less than an hour away, so I won’t have to spend hours in traffic every day just for class. It also has low costs compared to other universities in the area, so now I don’t have to worry about taking out loans if my financial aid doesn’t cover everything.

Final Thoughts

Choosing a major is a big decision. In fact, it’s probably one of the most important decisions you’ll make in your academic career. If you’re considering psychology as a major, there are many things to consider. The field is wide and varied, so it isn’t easy to know where to start. What does psychology have to offer? What can you do with this degree? The answer will depend on your interests and which areas of psychology interest you most. 

For example, if psychotherapy interests you but research doesn’t then consider an undergraduate degree in clinical or counseling psychology; both fields focus on therapy and helping others through their struggles. However, if research interests you more than working with patients directly, then pursue graduate work in experimental or biological psychology. 

Some people find themselves interested in multiple types of psychology, so pursuing a dual major may be beneficial. A possible dual-major could be clinical psychology with sociology since the two disciplines share some overlap and would provide insight into different populations. 

Other possibilities include combining clinical psychology with premedical courses (for those who want to go into psychiatry) or combining neuroscience with cognitive science (to explore topics such as memory). Psychology majors also have access to coursework that other majors don’t typically get.