Useful Links
http://keep2.sjfc.edu/faculty/tspitzer/helpingProf99.htm
http://www.myplan.com/majors/what-to-do-with-a-major-in-psychology-19.html
Search the career you’re interested in here: http://www.bls.gov/
Some ideas and skills: http://www.apa.org/gradpsych/features/2009/first-job.aspx
Career Resource Center (CRC): http://www.crc.ufl.edu/
Frequently Asked Questions
This can be a complex and difficult question. Masters level counselors can work in community settings and open their own private practices. They cannot become licensed psychologists, but in some cases they can be more competitive than psychologists because they are less expensive. Masters level degrees are good for people who want to start practicing as soon as possible and have no interest in research. Some Masters level careers include school counselors, mental health counselors, career counselors, rehabilitation counselors, substance abuse counselors, and marriage and family counselors. See the Bureau of Labor Statistics for details: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos067.htm.
Doctorates take more time but give you more flexibility in career choices. With a doctorate, you can conduct assessments, teach, and do research. You would also make more money than a Masters level clinician. Depending on the program, it may be easier to secure funding for a doctorate program than a Master’s program. See the Bureau of Labor Statistics for details: http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos056.htm.
Broadly, there are two paths in psychology: the research path, which focuses on generating scientific knowledge about human behavior, and the applied path, which uses this psychological research in applied settings. People who go into research generally become PhD level professors or work for private companies. There are many areas of psychology in which to conduct research: social psychology, developmental psychology, applied behavior analysis, behavioral neuroscience, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, industrial/organizational psychology, cognitive psychology, school psychology, etc. People in applied psychology do a variety of different jobs, such as therapy, business consulting, psychological assessment, teaching, etc. If you want more detailed information about different areas of psychology, click here.
The difference between these two fields reflects different historical developments. Clinical psychology has a historical emphasis on psychological dysfunction, rehabilitation, assessment, and diagnosis. Clinical psychologists tend to work in medical and hospital settings with people who have serious mental illness and use cognitive-behavioral techniques. Counseling psychology has a historical emphasis on vocation, multiculturalism, social justice, and optimal human functioning. Counseling psychologists tend to work in university and community counseling centers with people without serious mental illness. They tend to use more humanistic and person-centered approaches. That being said, there is actually more overlap between these two fields than there are differences. A PhD in either area provides substantial flexibility in career choice.
PhD’s and PsyD’s reflect different philosophies on what makes a good clinician. PhD’s come from the “Boulder Model”, which believes that clinicians should be scientist-practitioners: people who generate scientific knowledge as well as apply it. As a result, PhD programs require students to complete dissertations and conduct research projects. PsyD’s come from the “Vail Model”, which believes that clinicians should be practitioner-scholars: people who focus on clinical practice and applying scientific knowledge. Therefore, these programs focus on clinical skills, rather than scientific practice. Practically, PsyD programs have higher acceptance rates, but PhD programs are 3 times more likely to provide full financial assistance (Norcross et al., 1998). People with PhD’s are more likely to be employed in academic settings.