Careers With
a Master's Degree in Psychology
If you are interested in helping others improve the quality of their lives, consider a career in psychology. Psychologists work in a variety of locations from schools to manufacturing plants. These professionals also have the background for positions in government, social work and prisons. There are also many opportunities to conduct research. Some fields focus on therapy; others on more practical applications of psychological theory. The following positions have entry-level positions for candidates with a master's in psychology. However, in most cases, your employment and advancement opportunities will be greater if you eventually pursue a doctorate in psychology.
Forensic Psychology
Forensics is an area of increasing interest for psychologists, especially because of all the television shows that have been focusing on this area. As a forensic psychologist, you will be involved with criminal investigation and the legal systems. Forensic psychologists must be able to combine their psychological findings and understanding of the legal system and express information in a manner that juries and legal representatives will understand. Every year, more colleges and universities are adding degree programs in forensic psychology, which will prepare you for this career. In addition, each state has different educational and licensing requirements for forensic psychologists.
School Psychologists and Counselors
If you are interested in education and psychology, you may want to consider gearing your college experience to become a school psychologist. These professionals are often responsible for testing children and determining the cause of learning difficulties. Other psychologists team with teachers to create programs for students with academic, emotional or behavioral problems at home and/or school. The psychologists may also provide counseling in an individual or group setting. A similar career area is a school counselor. These individuals often help students determine their academic direction and future career opportunities. In upper grades, they provide guidance on courses and scheduling. They meet with students when there is a specific issue about a class, recommend ways to improve academic performance and provide support when someone is facing a personal problem.
Social Workers
Psychologists in the social work field help children and their families to ensure they receive the community services and support needed for their well being. Psychologists help adults improve their parenting skills, assist single parents with their specialized needs, provide advice to seniors and elderly individuals and their caregivers about health care and other services and assist employees who are having job-related issues that are causing poor work performance. You may work in a nonprofit or public agency or spend time in the schools or with the criminal justice system.
Industrial Psychologists
Industrial psychologists use their psychological education and experience to enhance workers' interest in their jobs and increase the quality of work-life and overall productivity. They may also be members of work teams with management, sales or marketing on specific industrial projects, such as revising a work area to be more functional and ergonomically comfortable for the employees. In many cases, they work with the human resources department to interview and train new employees as well as provide counseling as needed. They may be called on to provide insights into issues concerned with employee benefits, performance appraisals, equal opportunity, harassment issues and leadership training.
Music Therapists
Research has found that music can be an effective psychological tool to help emotionally challenged children, such as those with autism. It can also benefit individuals who have suffered severe physical injury. These therapists use music to respond to the emotional, cognitive and social needs of clients of all ages. Music therapists design interventions to enhance wellness and quality of life, handle stress and anxiety, reduce pain, improve communication and increase memory and expression of feelings. They work as a team member with other professionals in settings such as hospitals, community mental health organizations, schools, elder-care facilities and rehabilitation centers or in their own practice. If you have an interest in music and psychology, you can find additional information from the American Music Therapy Association.
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