Pemex gurgaon : Career Information for a Degree in Psychology

Essential Information

Psychology students study human mental states, behaviors, motivations, learning patterns and emotional development. Graduates of a degree program in psychology might use their education to find employment in career fields such as counseling, psychology or social work. Some lower-level careers, such as psychiatric technician and probation officer, might be obtained with a bachelor's degree. However, professions such as industrial psychologist and clinical psychologist require a master's degree or a doctoral degree, respectively. Social workers and mental health counselors also need at least a master's degree.

Career Options

Several career options are available for those with a bachelor's degree in psychology. These positions include community relations officer, psychiatric technician and probation or parole officer. Some individuals use these careers to gain experience before moving on to other careers that have foundations in psychology studies, including licensed psychologist, social worker and mental health counselor.

Psychologist

Psychologists apply their knowledge to problems in organizations or with individuals. Many work as clinical psychologists, providing therapy and counseling to patients with emotional or mental difficulties. Clinical and most other psychologists must hold a doctoral degree, but industrial-organizational psychologists usually need only a master's degree, according to BLS.

Some clinical psychologists specialize in a particular group of clients, such as senior citizens, teenagers or minority groups. They may also work in conjunction with doctors in order to identify physical problems connected with mental health issues.

The BLS expected job opportunities for all psychologists will grow at a rate of 12% for the years 2012-2022. The median annual wage for clinical, counseling and school psychologists in May 2013 was $67,760 while industrial-organizational psychologists earned a median annual salary of $80,330 in the same year.

Social Worker

Social workers help troubled or at-risk individuals solve personal and professional problems. Most social workers specialize in a specific area, such as domestic abuse, terminally ill clients, senior citizens or pregnant teenagers. Social workers usually need a degree in social work, according to the BLS, but a degree in psychology can qualify workers for entry-level positions or prepare them for graduate studies. The BLS estimated that all social workers will see a faster than average job growth of 19% for the years 2012-2022. The median annual income for a substance abuse or mental health social worker in May 2013, according to the BLS, was $40,970. Child, family and school social workers earned a median of $42,120 in that same year.

Mental Health Counselor

Counselors work to help people overcome and identify their problems. They may teach and perform research. Counselors are also concerned with environmental influences, such as upbringing and social surroundings. The educational requirements for this career include a master's degree in psychology, social work or counseling.