What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree? 20 Careers

The field of psychology interests plenty of students, but many wonder about the practical applications of studying to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology. So, beyond continuing your education and eventually going on to become a psychologist, what can you do with a psychology degree?

With its study of human behavior, personality, emotion, and social dynamics, the principles learned in psychology can be applied to nearly any people-focused career field. As a result, psychology graduates can pursue a multitude of diverse professional opportunities.

This article introduces a variety of career paths across four separate industries and examines how majoring in psychology at Champlain College Online can prepare you for these kinds of positions. Keep reading to learn how becoming a psychology major can help you achieve your career goals and prepare you for a wide-open future.
 

Mental Health and Social Services Careers

The mental health and social services career fields have a significant overlap, encompassing a range of jobs dedicated to improving the mental health and well-being of individuals, couples, families, and communities. Psychology majors can find several opportunities in mental health and social services, such as:

Case Manager

In social work and mental health, case managers are responsible for coordinating services and care for families, individuals, and patients. Case managers assess clients to gain a comprehensive understanding of their unique needs, challenges, and objectives. They then act as a liaison between clients, healthcare providers, and other service providers to ensure their clients receive the assistance and care they need.

Rehabilitation Specialist

Rehabilitation specialists work with clients who have specific mental health conditions or are experiencing the psychological, social, or personal effects of disabilities. Rehabilitation specialists work to help clients overcome challenges, such as barriers to employment or independent living, to achieve their goals. They provide support and advocate on behalf of their clients. Rehabilitation specialists are responsible for coordinating clients' therapy, additional care, and other services to help them actualize their personal, social, and professional goals.

Behavioral Health Technician (BHT)

Also called a psychiatric technician or a mental health technician, a behavioral health technician assists mental health professionals with providing care to patients with mental health disorders. Their responsibilities include supporting, observing, and monitoring patients, as well as administering medications, assisting with treatment plans, performing assessments, and providing crisis intervention. They may also help with the facilitation of group and individual therapy sessions and activities.

Residential Counselor

Residential counselors provide guidance, support, crisis intervention, and advocacy to individuals living in structured residential settings, such as rehabilitation facilities, group homes, or halfway houses. Residential counselors monitor behavior and enforce facility rules while also assisting with daily living, helping residents develop social skills, and connecting them with resources to achieve their personal goals.

Community Outreach Coordinator

Community outreach coordinators work on behalf of entities, such as social work organizations and mental health facilities, to connect the organizations with their communities. They strive to build relationships with community members, spread awareness about the services provided, and increase support for the organization's mission.

Education and Child Development Careers

Psychology graduates who are particularly passionate about children have several opportunities to work directly with them in education and child development careers that aim to help children grow, develop, and manage their emotions while learning healthy coping strategies and forming positive social relationships. Some examples of professions in this field include:

Youth Counselor

Youth counselors are mental health professionals who work specifically with children in a variety of settings (i.e., schools, residential facilities, community centers, and clinics), providing therapeutic services, support, academic strategies, and guidance to help children overcome challenges and develop healthy coping mechanisms. Youth counselors offer support designed to foster emotional and social development in addition to working with children to navigate mental health concerns.

Teacher's Aide or Paraprofessional

Also called a paraeducator, a teacher's aide works under the guidance and supervision of a certified teacher, providing crucial support and assistance to teachers and students. Paraprofessionals often work with students who have special needs. They help with classroom management, student observation, instructional support, learning reinforcement, and administrative tasks.

Childcare Center Assistant Director

Professionals working in childcare centers provide care to groups of children, primarily from infancy through preschool, a crucial period in every child's development. An assistant director in a childcare center is a supportive leadership role that helps facilitate the management and operations of the facility. With a combination of childcare and administrative responsibilities, assistant directors might supervise staff, communicate with parents, and develop curriculum.

Career Services Coordinator

Career services coordinators work in higher education settings like universities and colleges. They are an invaluable resource for students and alums seeking to identify their career goals, choose a career path, prepare for a job search, or actively seek employment.

Admissions Counselor

Admissions counselors also work in higher education, promoting student recruitment and supporting prospective students with the often complicated processes of admissions and enrollment. To guide students through the application process, admissions counselors clarify admission requirements, answer questions about scholarships and financial aid, introduce students to campus life, and help students understand the available academic programs.

Business, Marketing, and Human Resources

From operations and human resources to marketing, analysis, and sales, business success, on all fronts, relies on a deep understanding of human behavior. As a result, psychology intertwines with almost every aspect of business, giving psychology graduates a unique edge in the business industry. Applicants with psychology expertise can bring invaluable insights to the following positions:

Human Resources Assistant

A human resources assistant supports a business's human resources department. They carry out administrative and clerical tasks and act as liaisons between employees and human resources leadership. Additionally, they help develop and facilitate recruiting and onboarding processes, as well as workplace culture management.

Customer Experience Associate

Ensuring customers have positive experiences when interacting with businesses is vital to customer retention and business success. Customer experience associates help design and facilitate these experiences. They are responsible for building positive customer relationships, solving problems, addressing customer needs, and enhancing interactions by improving processes.

Market Research Assistant

Market research and analysis have become invaluable to businesses, and market research assistants help facilitate the processes necessary for collecting and organizing information, conducting research, and analyzing findings to understand better consumer desires, motivations, behaviors, and choices.

Training and Development Assistant

Efficiently operated businesses provide in-house, on-the-job training to their employees, and training and development assistants help design, develop, and carry out these trainings. Their responsibilities can include scheduling, preparing, teaching, and evaluating, in addition to maintaining training records.

Sales Representative

Sales representatives with a background in psychology are well-positioned for success, thanks to their in-depth understanding of human behavior, motivation, desires, and decision-making processes. With this information, sales representatives can develop strong relationships with customers and create a tailored approach to the sales funnel that helps close more deals.

Criminal Justice and Public Service

The field of criminal justice and public service focuses on upholding the law and ensuring justice to maintain safety and order in our societies. With a thorough understanding of criminal behavior, motivations, and rehabilitation requirements, professionals with a background in psychology can offer practical knowledge for working within the framework of the criminal justice and public service systems. Psychology graduates often work in the following professions:

Probation or Parole Officer Assistant

These professionals assist parole officers and probation officers in the supervision of individuals on parole (released from prison before serving their complete sentence) or on probation (serving a community-based sentence outside of prison). Probation and parole officer assistants play a crucial role in promoting community safety by helping individuals successfully complete the conditions of their sentencing. They assist by navigating the justice system and connecting them with relevant services.

Corrections Officer

Corrections officers benefit from understanding the psychology behind criminal behavior because they work in correctional facilities (such as detention centers, prisons, and jails). They are responsible for the safety and supervision of incarcerated individuals, enforcing rules, maintaining order, and supporting the well-being of both facility staff and inmates.

Victim Advocate

Victim advocates help victims navigate the criminal justice system. They provide assistance, support, and guidance regarding the legal process and connect victims to support services such as mental health counseling and crisis intervention experts.

Social Services Assistant

Social services assistants work with families and individuals under the supervision of a social worker. Assistants provide support, advocacy, and information while connecting clients with resources.

Law Enforcement Support Specialist

Law enforcement support specialists are available to assist a variety of law enforcement agencies. Their jobs can be administrative, technical, clerical, or public-facing. They help with a wide range of work, from processing information and managing records to investigating, managing evidence, and interacting with the public.

Is a Psychology Degree Right for You?

Individuals with an aptitude for psychology and the careers that follow graduating with a psychology degree:

• Value helping others and making a positive impact.
• Are interested in understanding why people behave, think, and feel the way they do.
• Enjoy solving problems.
• Are good listeners and communicators.

Pursuing a degree in psychology can equip you with technical skills, knowledge, experience, and expertise that will prepare you to work in several different industries and sectors with highly varied workplaces, including:

• Business and human resources
• Criminal justice
• Education and child development
• Mental health and counseling
• Healthcare
• Nonprofit organizations
• Public Service
• Rehabilitation
• Research and analytics
• Social work
• Sports psychology

Psychology might be the right choice of major for you if:

• You are interested in working in these fields.
• You're excited to learn about human behavior, personality, and mental health disorders.
• You want to develop your communication skills, emotional intelligence, and interpersonal skills with the ultimate goal of helping others.

Be a People Person: Study Psychology at CCO to Prepare Yourself for a Career in Almost Any Field

Studying psychology leads to a well-rounded set of skills and comprehensive knowledge of the human condition and behaviors, preparing students for careers in countless fields. If you’re still wondering, “What can you do with a psychology degree?” it may be time to start looking at programs.

CCO's Bachelor of Arts in Applied Psychology takes a unique approach to the field, focusing on the study, practice, and application of psychology in various settings. Coursework teaches psychological principles and techniques while challenging students to apply their knowledge through role-playing, case studies, and real-world applications within both professional and personal contexts.

To learn more about how studying psychology at CCO can help prepare you with the core competencies, technical knowledge, and skills desired by employers across industries, we welcome you to contact our admissions office today.