Psychology is the study of the way the brain works to dictate peoples behavior. The study of psychology can include both chemical and behavioral aspects. Depending on your level of studying you can pursue many different psychology career specialties.

Studying the human mind and human behavior is the life of a psychologist. There are multiple areas of specialization, the most popular being clinical psychology. Other areas of specialization include:

• Counseling psychology
• School psychology
• Industrial and organizational psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Social psychology
• Experimental or research psychology

Psychologists must posses the want and desire to assist others through means of counseling, offering advice and seeing them through the steps necessary to overcome their issues.

Beyond attaining a bachelors in Psychology, many students choose to purse a Masters in Psychology allowing them to better study more complex psychological studies including more work on industrial/organizational psychology, psychology statistics, and the role of ethics in psychology practice.

As a clinical or counseling psychologist, you must have a doctoral degree such as a Ph.D or a Psy.D. Total amount of schooling to reach this level of degree is about seven years, and that includes completing a dissertation.

Depending on where you work, you may even be required to obtain a specialized degree, such as a school psychology degree is you are going to be employed in a school. A specialized degree could possibly add on more years of schooling. Additional knowledge needed to be a psychologist is:

• Child development
• Behavioral change
• Individual education programming
• Counseling
• Assessment techniques

Aside from the formal training a psychologist will require to be successful, it is also imperative that they possess personal skills such as patience, concern for others, work well under pressure and keep patient information private.

A psychology career can vary depending on the degree you have received and what area of psychology you would like to enter into. Clinical and counseling psychologists need a doctoral degree, school psychologists need an educational specialist degree and industrial-organizational psychologist will need a master’s degree. Other areas of psychology that you can make a career in are:

• Developmental Psychologist
• Social Psychologist
• Experimental or Research Psychologist

The employment of psychologists is expected to grow faster than average, compared to other occupations. The demand is high and the competition is fierce. School psychologists, especially those with a specialized degree, will enjoy the best job opportunities. Earnings range from around $42k per year for individual and family services to $64k in offices of other health professionals.

Clinical psychologists are concerned with the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders. They often work in medical settings but are by no means a doctor and they cannot prescribe medication. Clinical psychologists will often work in hospitals, private practices or academic settings. Some of their specialty areas will include:

• Child mental health
• Adult mental health
• Learning disabilities
• Emotional disturbances
• Substance abuse
• Geriatrics
• Health psychology

Most clinical psychologists can find work in this profession with only their Masters in Psychology degree. However, most positions require a doctoral degree in clinical psychology. The average salary for a clinical psychologist is roughly $72k per year. However, the rising need for qualified mental health practitioners means that careers in this field are expected to grow rapidly and along with it, possible rises in salaries.

A career as a counseling psychologist is very similar to that of a clinical psychologist. Graduates of doctoral-level clinical and counseling psychology programs are often eligible for the same professional benefits and positions. There are a few differences between the two, such as:

• Clinical psychology programs are more numerous than Counseling programs
• Clinical psychology programs are usually housed in departments or schools of psychology whereas counseling psychology programs are typically located in a variety of departments and divisions
• Clinical psychologists tend to work with the more mentally disturbed population while counseling psychologists tend to work with healthier patients
• Counseling psychologists are often employed in university counseling centers, whereas clinical psychologists are more often employed in hospital settings

The field of a counseling psychologist can be very rewarding both in salary, which is averaging approximately $57-$60k per year, and in the fulfillment of helping others. It does, however, require a great deal of education and that should be a large factor when deciding to choose this as your career.

Developmental psychology, also known as human development, is the scientific study of progressive psychological changes that occur in human beings as they age. As a development psychologist, you will examine a broad range of topics in your patients, such as:

• Motor skills
• Psycho-psychological processes
• Problem solving abilities
• Conceptual understanding
• Acquisition of language
• Moral understanding
• Identity information

Development psychologists inform in several fields including educational, child and forensic psychology. You can pursue a master’s degree and most universities will offer graduate programs that will lead to a M.A (Masters in Psychology) or a Ph.D. (Doctorate in Philosophy in Psychology) in Developmental Psychology. Those who hold master’s degrees only will face stiff competition when it comes to finding employment because of the limited number of jobs that require only a master’s. Pay ranges from $40k to upwards of $66k per year depending on the facility you work in.

Industrial Organization (I/O) Psychology is the study of behavior in work settings. This type of psychology is very beneficial in the workplace because it promotes productive worker attitudes and behaviors. More and more companies are hiring I/O psychologists to come in and revamp certain aspects of their company. There are five subfields in I/O psychology that you should be aware of. They are:

• Performance appraisals that assess worker performance
• Organizational development which assesses change and transition within a company
• Assessment centers which focus on evaluating job applicants to find the best fit for hiring or promotion
• Leadership focuses on what makes a leader and the different styles of leadership
• Training and Development focuses on training and the different styles of training across companies

While there are many career paths available in I/O psychology such as working in human resources and with management, educational requirements are high. Most positions will require that you have at least a masters or doctorate in I/O psychology. If you hold a masters in I/O psychology, expect to make anywhere from $30k to start, up to $80k per year in management.

School psychologists work within the educational system to help children with emotional, social and academic issues. School psychologists will work individually with students and as groups to deal with these issues. They will also deal with parents and teachers to develop techniques at home and school.

According to the National Association of School Psychology (NASP), there are five major areas where school psychologists will provide their services. They are:

• Consultation
• Evaluation
• Intervention
• Prevention
• Research and planning

Aside from working in schools, school psychologists also have the choice of working in private clinics, hospitals, state agencies and universities. Although each state has different requirements for becoming a school psychologist, a minimum two or three years of graduate school is required. Typical salary levels range from $40-$58k per year depending on degree and experience.