Psychology School Questions

What are the skills of effective psychology majors?

Psychology majors and professionals should possess a wide range of skills, most of which can be picked up through their psychology courses. Some skills, however, cannot be learned through a course, but must be routinely practiced in order to be used truly effectively.

Psychology majors and professionals must be excellent communicators, both in writing and in person. Psychologists are expected to write many research papers throughout their student careers, and once in their professional careers, routine written correspondence with colleagues and superiors is always necessary.

Psychology majors should also be able to express themselves very well verbally, as they treat patients face-to-face on a daily basis. Time management, planning, and organizational skills are also very important because most psychology professionals are busy people. What is more, if any valuable client information gets misplaced or lost, not only is the client’s privacy in jeopardy, but the psychologist’s job is in trouble as well.

Psychology professionals should also be able to piece together information from numerous sources in order to make a coherent whole. In order to treat any one patient, the psychologist has to draw on schooling, experience and intuition. Judgment calls have to be made each and every day, and these decisions can dramatically affect his or her patient’s life.

Finally, these students and professionals should have a high code of ethics. While they need to be determined to succeed in a competitive field, they should also be able to recognize right from wrong and where to draw the line. Being able to separate their personal lives from their professional ones is another very valuable skill for psychologists. This helps the professionals to leave their own personal problems at home.

What are the most popular psychology degrees?

There are many different psychology training programs. One of the most popular psychology school programs is a master’s in counseling. Master’s level counselors are usually supervised by Ph.D. psychologists and it generally takes 2-3 years to complete an M.A. program. Each state has its own licensing laws for counselors.

Another very popular degree is a Ph.D. in counseling psychology. This type of degree takes an average of five years to complete and involves classes, research, a clinical practical, and then an internship during the 5th year. Generally, Ph.D. programs require more clinical experience and research than master’s programs.

Students who are doctoral level psychologists and who have graduated from an accredited program can usually get licensure in any state. Child psychology and family and marriage therapy are two other very popular psychology degrees. Both of these require at least a master’s to begin practicing, and many candidates go on to pursue doctorate’s. There is also something called a doctorate of psychology (Psy.D.), which is slightly different from the Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy in clinical psychology). Whereas Ph.D. programs tend to focus more on research, Psy.D. programs tend to focus more on clinical training. Students can also pursue a bachelor’s in psychology, but no licensed psychology jobs can be held with this degree. Students with a bachelor’s in psychology, however, are able to work in social work as well as a host of other jobs.

What is the difference between a psychology A.A. and a psychology B.A.?

In general, students who want to work in the field of psychology get at least a bachelor’s degree, if not a master’s degree. Completing a psychology B.A. is the first step students need to take in order to become a licensed and practicing psychologist or counselor of any kind.

A psychology B.A. can be used to work one’s way into a wide variety of careers including law, public relations, research, and administration. A bachelor’s in psychology generally takes four years to complete, though some programs may take a shorter amount of time, especially if the student already possesses an A.A. It is very difficult to get a job that pays well if a student only possesses an associate degree in psychology. The vast majority of employers want a bachelor’s degree combined with solid experience. However, students graduating with a psychology A.A. can apply for jobs as drug counselors or crisis hotlines workers. Also available are positions as medical receptionists, orderlies, staff members at residential treatment centers for kids and adults, and psych tech.

In some states, students with a psychology associate’s may qualify for a SSW license (social service worker), which would open up additional employment opportunities. In general though, an associate’s degree is the very first and most basic stepping stone to higher-paying jobs in the field of psychology. Bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate degrees are more common and more useful for future endeavors.

How do I choose between psychology specialties such as family, clinical, and child?

Choosing between the many psychology specialties has everything to do with the specific interests of a student as well as how much schooling the student is willing to go through. For example, students wanting to pursue clinical psychology should be prepared to work in counseling centers, independent or group practices, hospitals, and clinics. These professionals assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. A Ph.D. or a doctorate of psychology degree is required to become a clinical psychologist, which is at least 5 years of schooling after receiving a bachelor’s.

Students interested in becoming child psychologists will also need at least a master’s if not a doctorate. Beyond this, they must genuinely enjoy working with children as well as with their parents and/or guardians. Students interested in become family therapists or who want to go into marriage and family counseling will need at least a master’s and will need to pass specific family therapy certifications and licensure exams. These professionals study problems within the context of the family unit.

Other things to consider when choosing a psychology specialty include the prescribing of medicines. If this is of interest to a student then they might want to look into psychiatry. If the student is more interest in psychology research or working with patients all day, they may want to look into receiving a doctorate in psychology.

If I receive a bachelor’s in psychology will I need to go back to school for practical experience?

For those interested in pursuing a job in psychology, a bachelor’s degree is the first step to higher paying positions in the field. A bachelor’s in psychology is a stepping stone to more advanced degrees including a master’s degree or a doctorate. If a student’s career goal is to become a counselor, then a B.A. might suffice. If, however, they want to become an actual licensed psychologist then he or she will need to pursue a more advanced degree. Psychology majors, however, are usually best for those who possess an above-average interest in people. All psychology majors take many courses in which they are encouraged to understand and appreciate people from a wide variety of perspectives. The things learned through a psychology B.A. program are valuable for an incredible wide variety of jobs including those outside the fields of psychology and social services.

Students graduating with a BA in Psychology possess a higher than average understanding of human behavior, which can be a valuable lifelong asset. With a psychology B.A., students can pursue jobs in:

• Business
• Social services
• Teaching,
• Advertising,
• Human resources,
• Public relations
• News reporting

Some of the jobs in these areas do require an additional degree, but for most a B.A. is an excellent start to a job that pays well and is satisfying. The answer to this question depends largely on what the student’s ultimate career and life goals are. Additional education is never a bad thing, but unless the student definitely wants to pursue a career as a licensed psychologist or therapist, going back to school may not be necessary.

Is training different for counseling and psychology?

While it is true that both psychologists and counselors help people deal with emotional stress, licensed clinical psychologists, counseling psychologist and educational psychologists all possess advanced degrees. At least half of all licensed counselors have post-bachelor’s degrees (either an M.A. or a Ph.D.), however, some alcohol and other drug abuse (AODA) counselors only need an Associates degree to practice.

The majority of professionals practicing strictly as counselors do not pursue education higher than a master’s, though all psychologists must possess a Ph.D. or Psy.D. In general, a counseling model of practice emphasizes solutions and problem-solving, whereas a clinical psychology focus emphasizes diagnosis and treatment of pathologies. So, in essence, the most basic training for both counselors and psychologists does not differ greatly; it is only at the master’s and doctorate levels that the two fields diverge, and students begin to study different facets of the disciplines.

Some counselors choose to pursue a higher level of psychology education in order to become a psychologist or psychiatrist, and some professionals choose to stay a certified counselor. There are differences in the amount of schooling and the specific areas of specialty, but at the most basic level, both counselors and psychologists are trained to help people with their emotional and psychological problems. It is not uncommon for counselors to refer clients to psychologists for more extensive evaluation and treatments.

Can I learn about psychology and the way people interact by studying online?

In short, yes! Psychology has a lot to do with emotions, behaviors, and how people interact with one another, but before any of the information can be applied to real subjects, the information must be learned from books and research studies.

Online psychology programs do just as good of a job presenting this information as any program which takes place on a physical campus. What is more, online programs in psychology are perfect for individuals who already have busy lives with families and jobs and who simply do not have the time to commute back and forth to a physical campus several times per week.

Additionally, one of the most important parts of a psychology degree is the ability to communicate in writing, and this is another skill which can be easily learned as well as evaluated in an online psychology course. Between research projects, papers, and other homework assignments, writing skills are frequently practiced and therefore developed in online Psychology programs.

Of course, the further a student gets into a psychology training program, the more experience they will have with actual patients through testing and experiments. Regardless, one of the most important skills learned in any program is the ability to locate necessary information, and this can be achieved in an online program or in a program at an actual campus. Networking with professionals and asking questions of those already in the profession becomes very important at this stage.

What is the difference between clinical psychology vs. psychology?

Essentially, the answer to this question is that psychology school emphasizes solutions as well as problem solving, where as clinical psychology schooling focuses more on the diagnosis and treatment of pathologies.

Usually, accredited counseling psychology training prepares graduates to work with more psychologically healthy people, whereas clinical psychologists work with people with serious mental illnesses and issues such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

Clinical psychologists, on the other hand, focus on more specific areas such as depression and substance abuse. Both can see both inpatients and outpatients. Both (when a few additional requirements are met) can practice independently. In many cases, both will sit side by side in the exact same classes.

In short, certified counseling psychologists help facilitate both personal and interpersonal relationships with their clients, whereas clinical psychologists deal with more of the disorders and serious mental health issues. Beyond this, clinical psychologists are often more trained in areas of research.

What careers are related to psychology?

Psychology is a very popular major as well as a very popular field and there are many different types of positions and jobs related to the subject. Some of these jobs include counselors, psychiatrists, marriage and family therapists, child psychologists, social workers, advertisers, and drug counselors (to name a few). While each of these positions is different from the others, they all are similar in that they deal with the human mind’s emotions and behaviors.

• Psychiatrists are able to administer medicine to patients with psychological and emotional problems and the job requires a PhD to perform.
• Marriage and family therapists are trained to provide counseling to couples experiencing problems in their marriages, as well as to families. Marriage and family therapists study family dynamics and how these dynamics apply to the roles that people fill within the families.
• Child psychologists are specifically trained to help children with emotional and psychological issues. Becoming a child psychologist also requires a PhD. Social workers are not psychologists, per se, but they do have to take coursework in counseling for most licenses.
• Social workers can work with poor people, young people, old people, and the homeless, all of these jobs revolving around helping those in need. This field is related to psychology because social workers often work with clients who are in difficult circumstances emotionally.
• Drug counselors work with those addicted to drugs or who are recovering from drug abuse. Drug abuse can be both a physical and a psychological addiction, so psychological training is necessary in this profession.