A Bachelor of Arts in Psychology is flexible enough to prepare you for many career options. This versatile degree can provide you with a strong platform for careers in health and mental health care, research, teaching, and positions at governmental agencies, nonprofit organizations, or advocacy services.
A bachelor of arts in psychology can get you a job in a wide range of fields. One of the most obvious is working as a psychologist, which is one of the most common jobs for people with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Other common jobs include working as an assistant psychologist or counselor at an educational institution, working as an assistant psychologist or counselor at a medical facility, and providing psychological services to businesses or organizations.
If you want to work in the field of research psychology, on the other hand, you might want to consider pursuing a master’s degree instead of just a bachelor’s degree. This will give you more specialized skills and knowledge, and allow you to conduct more complex research projects that require advanced statistical analysis and sample sizes that wouldn’t be possible at the bachelor level.
What jobs can you get with a bachelor of arts in psychology
Introduction
A lot of students get their bachelor’s in psychology with the intent of going on to graduate school. And that’s a good plan! Psychology is one of the most popular majors for medical students, and many universities offer master’s and doctoral programs in this field. However, it can be nice to know that there are other options if you decide not to go onto graduate school. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you can get a variety of jobs depending on your interests. For example, if you’re interested in working with people behind the scenes, you could use your degree for human resources or public relations work. If you want to help people on a more intimate level by resolving disputes or advocating for those who need it most, then counseling or victim advocacy might be up your alley.
Counselor
Counselors provide support to people with mental, physical and emotional disabilities. You’ll help them adjust to the world around them through therapy and guidance. A bachelor’s degree is typically required for this job, as well as a master’s degree for some positions. You may also need certification from your state board before you’re hired in this career field. The average salary is $40 an hour with experience, but it could go higher depending on where you work.
The job outlook for counselors is expected to grow by 17% through 2026, which is faster than average growth for all occupations
Human services worker
- Work with people who are disadvantaged.
- Social services can include case management, counseling and educational programs for children.
Fellow researcher
The research component of a bachelor of arts in psychology degree is considered to be one of the most important parts. Without research, you cannot learn about how your psychological theories and ideas actually play out in real life. Research also helps you gain experience and knowledge that will make you a more competitive job candidate. Further, it gives you an edge over other applicants because it shows that you have a keen interest in learning about the field and keeping up with advancements in psychology.
If you are interested in becoming a fellow researcher at an organization or company, follow these steps:
- Pick an area of study related to psychology (e.g., neuroscience). This will help ensure that your interests align with what they’re looking for when hiring researchers.
- Look online for entry-level jobs related to your chosen area of study (e.g., lab assistant). It’s possible that many organizations won’t hire someone without previous experience working as a lab assistant or intern first—but it never hurts to try!
Case manager
As a case manager, you’ll be responsible for coordinating the care of patients. You might work with patients and their families to ensure that they have the resources they need to maintain healthy lives. Case managers may help these people find housing, transportation, or community services. They also will help them find the services they need and then try to find ways for them to pay for those services.
Human resources specialist
Human resources specialists are responsible for identifying, developing and implementing strategies to manage human capital. They are also responsible for overseeing the recruitment process and employee relations.
Human resources specialists generally have a bachelor’s degree in human resources or a closely related subject area. Most employers require applicants to have at least five years of experience in this field, although some may prefer candidates with an advanced degree such as an MBA (Master of Business Administration).
Salary estimates vary based on your location, experience level, education level and other factors. According to Payscale, the average salary ranges from $30k per year for someone with less than two years’ experience up to $57k per year when you’re working toward your master’s degree or higher.
Victim advocate
Victim advocates help victims of crime and abuse. They are not the same as lawyers, but they do provide legal advice if needed and help guide victims through the legal system. Victim advocates also assist victims in seeking compensation for their losses and injuries, as well as work with other agencies to ensure that all needs are met.
The bulk of a victim advocate’s job involves helping clients navigate the complicated world of legal proceedings, from filling out paperwork to going before judges and juries (sometimes on multiple occasions). This can be especially difficult for people who may have never dealt with these processes before or who don’t understand their rights within the context of courtrooms and criminal cases.
Art therapist
Art therapists are mental health professionals who use art and other visual media as a way to help patients express their feelings and come to better understand themselves. Art therapists can be found in a variety of settings, including hospitals, schools, community centers, and private practice offices.
Art therapy is a field with its own history and professional organization (the American Art Therapy Assocation), so if you’re interested in working as an art therapist you may need to take extra steps toward certification. However, these are not required for some jobs that involve using art therapeutically; for example, there are positions for art therapists at children’s hospitals where people work directly with kids who can benefit from creative expression.
Public relations specialist
Public relations (PR) is a field involving the planning and implementation of communication strategies for organizations and people, in order to promote their interests and build their reputation. PR specialists can work in many different industries, from advertising to politics or even sports. The main job of a public relations specialist is to get their clients—whether it be an individual or a company—good press coverage. This may include promoting good causes, writing articles about them or helping them get more social media followers.
Public relations specialists need at least an undergraduate degree in public relations or journalism, but it’s also helpful if they have some formal training in social media skills like Facebook advertising and Twitter marketing. In addition to these technical skills, they also need excellent verbal communication skills so they can write emails persuasively and interview potential clients professionally.
The job prospects are expectedly good; according to the U.S Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), “employment [in PR] is expected to grow at an average rate over the next decade.” A mean salary range for these professionals was listed as $53K-$74K annually by Payscale back in January 2019; however this figure will vary depending on what type of organization you work for along with your education level and years of experience within this industry
Recreation director
If you’re interested in working with the public, a job as a recreation director may be a good fit for your career goals. A recreation director is responsible for managing facilities and planning activities, often working with volunteers to help run programs. You might also be responsible for hiring staff members or other workers who work at the facility.
A bachelor of arts in psychology can prepare you well for this role because it will give you an understanding of how people think and behave under different circumstances. This knowledge could make you more effective at setting up recreational activities that appeal to different groups of people, which is one of the main responsibilities of a recreation director.
You can get many types of jobs with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.
So, what type of jobs can you get with a bachelor’s degree in psychology? Well, that really depends on what kind of career path you choose. For example, if you want to work with children and families, then becoming a child psychologist would be a good option for you. If instead your main interest is working with adults who have mental health issues and/or substance abuse problems, then becoming a clinical psychologist might be more up your alley.
There are lots of different types of jobs available within the field of psychology—and many require only an undergraduate degree! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics report from 2018 (using data from 2017), over 127 thousand people were employed as psychologists in the United States alone; this number has grown by 12% since 2014 when there were just over 110 thousand employed psychologists nationwide!
Conclusion
Psychology has a wide range of applications, from helping people to working with animals. If you’re majoring in psychology, make sure to take advantage of all the opportunities your school has to offer so you can find the right path for you.
