Psychology

Psychology Links:

• Penn State Psychology Department
• American Psychological Association: Career Resources
• American Psychological Association: Nonacademic Careers for Scientific Psychologists

A special note about graduate study in clinical psychology:

The helping professions offer somewhat limited opportunities for those who do not have a doctoral degree. Only some states license Masters level therapists, which allows therapists to practice privately. However, there are opportunities for Masters level therapists in community mental health agencies and residential treatment facilities. Other fields, such as social work, offer many opportunities to Masters level professionals.

The two doctoral degrees in psychology are the Ph.D. and the Psy.D. In clinical psychology, the Ph.D. emphasizes research training, but should promote a balance of research and clinical training. The Psy.D. emphasizes preparation for clinical work and is not research-oriented. The Psychology Department at Penn State University offers doctoral training in six areas: clinical (adult and child specializations), cognitive, developmental, industrial/organizational, psychobiological, and social areas of psychology.

Doctoral Graduates

As might be expected, the highest paid and greatest range of jobs in psychology are available to doctoral graduates. Although the number of doctoral graduates has at least doubled over the past 12 years, the demand continues to meet the supply. Furthermore, unemployment and underemployment rates for doctoral psychologists are slightly below the average for other scientists and engineers. Few drop out of the field.

The greatest expansion of career opportunities for doctoral psychologists in the last decade have been in the subfields of clinical, counseling, school, health, industrial and educational psychology. As a consequence, proportionally fewer new doctorates have headed into faculty positions as compared with the past.

Master's Graduates

The number of psychology students who pursue a terminal master's degree has increased six-fold since 1960. Competition for positions in psychology-related jobs is keen; nevertheless, approximately one-third of those with a master's degree in psychology find such work. Many handle research and data collection and analysis in universities, government, and private companies. Others find jobs in health, industry, and education, the primary work settings for psychology professionals with master's degrees. With growing recognition of the role of the psychologist in the community, more jobs for psychologists with master's degrees may also become available in community mental health centers.

Psychologists with master's degrees often work under the direction of a doctoral psychologist, especially in clinical, counseling, school, and testing and measurement psychology.

Some jobs in industry, for example, in organizational development and survey research, are held by both doctoral- and master's-level graduates. But industry and government jobs in compensation, training, data analysis, and general personnel issues are often filled by professionals with master's degrees in psychology.

Last modified: 07/02/07 | Contact Webmaster