PACE UNIVERSITY CAREER PROFILES
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PSYCHOLOGY
Education Example
Pace University, Dyson School of Arts and Sciences
B.A./M.A in Psychology/Counseling
GPA: 3.X
New York, NY
Summary
Psychology is the study of how human beings act, think and feel. Students of psychology gain an appreciation of
human diversity, of the complexity of human and animal behavior, and of the value of the empirical approach to
understanding complex problems. With an understanding of human development and mental processes, the
psychology major promotes human welfare in a variety of environments including health and human services,
research, management, education, law, and sports. Most careers in psychology require a graduate or doctoral
degree.
Selected Occupational Opportunities
Clinical Psychologist
Social Worker
Psychiatrist
Pharmaceutical Researcher
School Psychologist
Teacher
Industrial/Organizational Psychologist
Mental Health Counselor
Addiction Counselor
Grief & Bereavement Counselor
Psychological Researcher
Forensic Psychologist
Probation Officer
Marketing Consultant
Correctional Treatment Specialist
Special Education Teacher
Developmental Psychologist
Career Counselor
Skills and Abilities
Excellent analytical skills • Strong ability to mediate and negotiate conflicts • Objectivity • Strong active listening
skills • Superior oral and written communication • Ability to apply psychological theories to practice • Goal and
conflict clarification skills • Compassion • Solid crisis management skills • Commitment to continuing education
Career Growth
Bachelor’s Graduates
A degree in psychology provides students with skills and abilities that may serve as building blocks towards any
number of occupations and career paths, particularly those focused on a humanitarian concern for people.
Graduates have been employed as assistants in rehabilitation centers, employment counselors, correction
counselor trainees, interviewers, personnel analysts, probation officers, and writers. However, as is true with
many Liberal Arts degrees, a majority of undergraduate psychology majors are working in areas unrelated to their
major. Many graduates find jobs in the business world, administrative support, public affairs, education, sales,
service industries, health-related fields, the biological sciences, and computer programming.
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PSYCHOLOGY 2
Master’s Graduates
Graduates with a master's degree in psychology qualify for positions in school and industrial-organizational
psychology. Masters' degree holders with several years of business and industry experience can obtain jobs in
consulting and marketing research. Other master's degree holders may find jobs as psychological assistants or
counselors providing mental health services under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist. Still others may
find jobs involving research and data collection and analysis in universities, government, or private companies.
Ph.D. Graduates
A doctoral degree is usually required for employment as a licensed clinical or counseling psychologist. Psychologists
with a Ph.D. qualify for a wide range of teaching, research, clinical, and counseling positions in universities,
healthcare services, elementary and secondary schools, private industry, and government. Psychologists with a
Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) degree usually work in clinical positions or in private practices. An Educational
Specialist (Ed.S.) degree will qualify an individual to work as a school psychologist. A doctoral degree usually
requires 5 to 7 years of graduate study. The Ph.D. degree culminates in a dissertation based on original research.
Resources & References
Occupational Outlook Handbook (www.bls.gov/oco)
The Psychology Career Center (http://www.allpsychologycareers.com/)
American Psychological Association (http://www.apa.org/index.aspx)
American Counseling Association (http://www.counseling.org)
Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (http://www.siop.org/)
Experimental Psychology Society (http://www.eps.ac.uk/)
Society for Personality and Social Psychology (http://www.spsp.org)
National Association of School Psychologists (http://www.nasponline.org)
Updated 3/11 ALL