Career Options for Career Options for Psych Majors with a Psych Majors with a

DoctorateDoctorateBy: Dan BocchinoBy: Dan Bocchino

Will LaibleWill Laible

Ph.D. (Doctor of Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy)Philosophy)

Most prestigiousMost prestigious Awarded in many fieldsAwarded in many fields Primarily for a field in researchPrimarily for a field in research Flexible degreeFlexible degree

Trains people for:Trains people for: Research, Teaching, Writing, and Clinical Research, Teaching, Writing, and Clinical

PracticePractice

PsyD (Doctor of PsyD (Doctor of Psychology)Psychology)

Considered a professional degreeConsidered a professional degree Prepares graduate to be a consumer of Prepares graduate to be a consumer of

researchresearch Based on practical and applied workBased on practical and applied work Geared towards clinical practitionersGeared towards clinical practitioners

EdD (Doctor of EdD (Doctor of Education)Education)

Offered in the Department of EducationOffered in the Department of Education Offers less training in the principles of Offers less training in the principles of

PsychologyPsychology Psychologists view the EdD as inferior.Psychologists view the EdD as inferior. Viewed as equal to the PhD. in Viewed as equal to the PhD. in

Administrative positions.Administrative positions.

Subfields Subfields

Clinical PsychologyClinical Psychology

Asses and treat mental and emotional disordersAsses and treat mental and emotional disorders Promote Psychological well-beingPromote Psychological well-being Can treat specific problems such as phobias and Can treat specific problems such as phobias and

clinical depressionclinical depression Consult physicians on physical problems that have Consult physicians on physical problems that have

underlying psychological causesunderlying psychological causes Down Syndrome Down Syndrome AutismAutism

Work in hospitals, health centers, community health Work in hospitals, health centers, community health teams, child and adolescent health servicesteams, child and adolescent health services

Counseling PsychologyCounseling Psychology

Similar to Clinical PsychologySimilar to Clinical Psychology Focuses more on persons with adjustment problemsFocuses more on persons with adjustment problems

Help people use their strengths to cope with Help people use their strengths to cope with their problemstheir problems

Focus on how problems and people differ Focus on how problems and people differ across life stagesacross life stages

Employed in academic settings (college Employed in academic settings (college campuses), counseling centers, hospitals, and campuses), counseling centers, hospitals, and buisnesses.buisnesses.

Forensic PsychologyForensic Psychology

Apply psychological principles to legal Apply psychological principles to legal issuesissues

Many are trained in both psychology Many are trained in both psychology (PhD) and law (JD)(PhD) and law (JD)

May work in correctional facilities, serve May work in correctional facilities, serve as consultants to trial lawyers, serve as as consultants to trial lawyers, serve as expert witnesses at trialsexpert witnesses at trials

Health PsychologyHealth Psychology

Specialize in how biological, psychological, and Specialize in how biological, psychological, and social factors affect health and wellnesssocial factors affect health and wellness

Focus on the promotion of maintaining good Focus on the promotion of maintaining good healthhealth

Conduct programs to help individuals lose Conduct programs to help individuals lose weight, manage stress, stop smoking and stay weight, manage stress, stop smoking and stay physically fit.physically fit.

Employed in hospitals, medical schools, Employed in hospitals, medical schools, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, rehabilitation centers, public health agencies, academic settings or private practiceacademic settings or private practice

I/O PsychologyI/O Psychology

Apply psychological principles and research methods Apply psychological principles and research methods to the work place, in the interest of improving to the work place, in the interest of improving productivity and the quality of work life.productivity and the quality of work life.

Many serve as human resource specialists: help Many serve as human resource specialists: help organizations with staffing, training, and employee organizations with staffing, training, and employee development.development.

Can work as management consultants in areas such Can work as management consultants in areas such as strategic planning, quality management, and coping as strategic planning, quality management, and coping with organizational change.with organizational change.

Employed also in government and academic settingsEmployed also in government and academic settings

Teaching and ResearchTeaching and Research

Work in a university settingWork in a university setting Will likely focus on both teaching and Will likely focus on both teaching and

conducting researchconducting research Can work for government agencies Can work for government agencies Can get job with masters, but you are Can get job with masters, but you are

less likely less likely

References References

http://www.psywww.com/careers/mastershttp://www.psywww.com/careers/masters.htm.htm

Kuther, T. (2003). Kuther, T. (2003). The Psychology The Psychology Major’s Handbook. Major’s Handbook. Thomson & Thomson & WadsworthWadsworth

http://http://www.apa.orgwww.apa.org