- What can I do with this major?
- Career Resources
- Psyc Alumni Career Database
- Graduate School Information
- Suggested Courses (for different career paths)
- Professional Resources
What can I do with this major?
A degree in psychology prepares you for a myriad of careers.
Career Options for Psychology Majors:
- Business and Industry
- Education
- Human Resources
- Human Services
- Research
Highlighted Careers
- Advocacy
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Art Therapy
- Case Management
- Counseling
- Environmental Psychology
- Human Factors
- Law Enforcement
- Mental Health Services
- Medicine
- Psychotherapy
- Rehabilitation Services
- Social Research
- Social Work
- Sport Psychology
- Teaching
- Testing/Test Development
View our alumni updates/careers database to see what career paths our majors have followed!
Career Resources
- Psyc Alumni Career Database: Explore the career paths psychology alumni have followed and learn who employs them
- An Online Career-Exploration Resource for Psychology Majors
- St. Mary’s Career Development Center
- HireSMCM is the Career Center’s internal job and internship database, designed to enable students and alumni to easily connect with local, regional, and national employers. Check it out!
- Undergraduate Researcher’s Grad School Registry (sponsored by the Council on Undergraduate Research)- “The purpose of this registry is to facilitate matchmaking between undergraduates with research experience and a desire to pursue an advanced degree, and graduate schools seeking high-quality students who are well prepared for research.”
- APA Science in Action / Careers in Psychology
- After-Graduation Guidebook to Non-Psych Jobs
- Scouties Careers in Psychology
- Recognizing the Value of Your Psychology Degree
- Guide to Careers that Help People
- How to find a job with an undergraduate degree in psychology
- Research careers with a bachelor’s degree in psychology
- Choosing a Psychology Specialty
- Counseling Degree Programs
- Psychology Today Careers in Psychology Blog
- Beginner’s Guide to College Success Blog Post: Preparing for Medical School–What Should Be Your Major?
- Careers in Psychology
- Entry Level Jobs for Psyc Majors
- Pre-professional Experiences in Psychology
- Pursuing Careers in Psychology
- PsycCareers
- Career Decision Tree for Psychology Students
- Nursing for Psychology Majors
- Howtobecome.com
- Occupational Outlook Handbook
- Psychology & Public Service Guidebook
- LearnPsychology.org (just a really great and thorough resource; gives lots of info about psyc careers, degree programs and salaries)
- International Opportunities for Careers and Volunteering Abroad (NGoAbroad)
Suggested Courses
Requirements: (*) Master’s degree (**) Ph.D. or Psy.D.
Career: College Teaching and Research
Potential jobs: Lab Director, Research Assistant, Professor**
Suggested Courses & Experience: Lab Courses, Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Internship, other research projects
Potential jobs: Lab Director, Research Assistant, Professor**
Suggested Courses & Experience: Lab Courses, Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, Internship, other research projects
Career: Elementary/Secondary Student Services
Potential jobs: Guidance Counselor, School Social Worker, Substance Abuse Trainer, School Psychologist
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Exceptionality, Educational Psyc, Infant & Child Development, Adolescence, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Child Clinical Psyc, Cognitive Psyc, Psyc of Learning, Internship in a school setting
Potential jobs: Guidance Counselor, School Social Worker, Substance Abuse Trainer, School Psychologist
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Exceptionality, Educational Psyc, Infant & Child Development, Adolescence, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Child Clinical Psyc, Cognitive Psyc, Psyc of Learning, Internship in a school setting
Career: Elementary/Secondary Teaching
Potential jobs: Teacher
Suggested Courses & Experience: Educational Psyc & Exceptionality, and a course with a developmental focus. Infant and Child Development is recommended for students who wish to pursue elementary certification; Adolescence is recommended for students who wish to pursue secondary certification; Lifespan Development is recommended for students who wish to pursue K-12 certification in Art, Music, or theater.
Other courses good for education: Psyc of Learning, Developmental Psyc w/ Laboratory
Potential jobs: Teacher
Suggested Courses & Experience: Educational Psyc & Exceptionality, and a course with a developmental focus. Infant and Child Development is recommended for students who wish to pursue elementary certification; Adolescence is recommended for students who wish to pursue secondary certification; Lifespan Development is recommended for students who wish to pursue K-12 certification in Art, Music, or theater.
Other courses good for education: Psyc of Learning, Developmental Psyc w/ Laboratory
Career: Mental Health Services
Potential jobs: Mental Health Worker, Counselor**, Therapist*, Clinical Psychologist**, Counseling Psychologist**
Suggested Courses & Experience: Child Clinical Psyc, Psyc Assessment, Abnormal Psyc, Counseling, Cognitive Psyc w/ Laboratory, Personality Psyc, Sensation and Perception, Drugs, Brains, and Behavior, Counseling and Psychotherapy w/ Laboratory
Potential jobs: Mental Health Worker, Counselor**, Therapist*, Clinical Psychologist**, Counseling Psychologist**
Suggested Courses & Experience: Child Clinical Psyc, Psyc Assessment, Abnormal Psyc, Counseling, Cognitive Psyc w/ Laboratory, Personality Psyc, Sensation and Perception, Drugs, Brains, and Behavior, Counseling and Psychotherapy w/ Laboratory
Career: Community Services/Social Services
Potential jobs: Activity Director, Child Care Worker, Foster Care Worker, Volunteer Coordinator, Social Worker, Case Worker
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Lifespan Development, Culture and the Social Experience, Sociology of the Family, Developmental Psyc Courses, Psyc of Women, Counseling, Internship in human services, Volunteer service
Potential jobs: Activity Director, Child Care Worker, Foster Care Worker, Volunteer Coordinator, Social Worker, Case Worker
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Lifespan Development, Culture and the Social Experience, Sociology of the Family, Developmental Psyc Courses, Psyc of Women, Counseling, Internship in human services, Volunteer service
Career: Business/Industry
Potential jobs: Personnel Manager, Productivity Consultant, Sales Representative, Market Researcher, Customer Relations Rep., Risk Analyst*, Quality Control Analyst, Haman Factors Specialist*
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Cognitive Psyc, Sensation & Perception, Adulthood and Aging, Human Behavior in Organizations, Developmental Psyc w/ Laboratory, Social Psyc w/ Laboratory, Business/Economics Courses, leadership in organizations, Internship in Human Resources
Potential jobs: Personnel Manager, Productivity Consultant, Sales Representative, Market Researcher, Customer Relations Rep., Risk Analyst*, Quality Control Analyst, Haman Factors Specialist*
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Cognitive Psyc, Sensation & Perception, Adulthood and Aging, Human Behavior in Organizations, Developmental Psyc w/ Laboratory, Social Psyc w/ Laboratory, Business/Economics Courses, leadership in organizations, Internship in Human Resources
Career: Health/Medical Services
Potential jobs: Medical Technician, Nurse, Physical Therapist*, Psychiatric Aide, Child Life Specialist, Occupational Therapist*, Health Psychologist**
Potential jobs: Medical Technician, Nurse, Physical Therapist*, Psychiatric Aide, Child Life Specialist, Occupational Therapist*, Health Psychologist**
Suggested Courses & Experience: Social Psyc, Cognitive Psyc, Adulthood and Aging, Human Behavior in Organizations, Developmental Psyc w/ Laboratory, Social Psyc w/ Laboratory, Business/Economics Courses, leadership in organizations, Internship in Human Resources
Career: Law/Criminal Justice
Potential jobs: Corrections Officer, Probation Officer, Investigative Officer, Lab Technician, Case Worker, Juvenile Counselor, Forensic Psychologist**
Suggested Courses & Experience:
Psychology of the Family, Psyc and the Law, Drugs, Brains, and Behavior, Counseling, Cognitive Psyc w/ Laboratory, Sociology of Law, Crime and Deviance, Internship in corrections, May benefit to double major Psychology and Sociology
Potential jobs: Corrections Officer, Probation Officer, Investigative Officer, Lab Technician, Case Worker, Juvenile Counselor, Forensic Psychologist**
Suggested Courses & Experience:
Psychology of the Family, Psyc and the Law, Drugs, Brains, and Behavior, Counseling, Cognitive Psyc w/ Laboratory, Sociology of Law, Crime and Deviance, Internship in corrections, May benefit to double major Psychology and Sociology