Psychology Majors

[immorehxcthanu]

Raise your hand!

[XErikxthexRedX]

hand officially raised. graduating in may *crosses fingers*

[mellzie14]

i'm a psych major, but since taking my personality class, im wondering if i am making the wrong choice. :shrug:

[immorehxcthanu]

i'm a psych major, but since taking my personality class, im wondering if i am making the wrong choice. :shrug:

I think there are always going to be certain classes for our particular major that people won't like. I don't particularly care for my psych of human relations class right now. Imagine sitting in a class for 3 hours each week basically being taught how to communicate better.

[NickLopez]

I think there are always going to be certain classes for our particular major that people won't like. I don't particularly care for my psych of human relations class right now. Imagine sitting in a class for 3 hours each week basically being taught how to communicate better.
Sounds really nice.

[mellzie14]

I think there are always going to be certain classes for our particular major that people won't like. I don't particularly care for my psych of human relations class right now. Imagine sitting in a class for 3 hours each week basically being taught how to communicate better.

I'm almost 3 years into it and I'm just not so sure anymore. But, whatever. I'm thinking of declaring a public relations minor, just so I have somethijng to fall back on in case I really dont want to go into it after I graduate.

[BoxxingTheStars]

:wave:
Double major: Psychology and Exercise Physiology.

[killerswells]

I just graduated...one suggestion, think about what you want to do with a psych degree BEFORE you graduate...

[perceptrons]

Double major: Psychology and Computer science.

What type of psych majors are all of you? Cognitive? Clinical? Industrial-Organizational? etc.

[Mr. Ryan]

I'm a psych major, hoping to attend grad/doctoral school. I'm in the last leg of my Neurobiology class. Fuck, I've never studied so much for a course in my life.

[Mr. Ryan]

Signed up for classes in the summer term.

Cognitive Psych, Social Psych, and Psych of Racial Prejudice.

Mmmmm.

[AlkalineAshes]

haha ya.. for a good job your gonna need a masters.. Im about to graduate, hopefully be in masters program by fall 2010

[Mr. Ryan]

haha ya.. for a good job your gonna need a masters.. Im about to graduate, hopefully be in masters program by fall 2010

I'm thinking about double majoring, just as a backup plan if I can't get into grad school(for psych) right away. A bachelors degree is almost worthless in the field.

[chcougar1]

I'm a psych major. I have my Master's in Counseling Psychology. I definitely think jobs in this field right out of college are underpaid. Hopefully in 5 years I can enjoy helping people AND get paid a decent amount for it in a private practice. Don't get me wrong I am not in it completely for the money but when your friend who dropped out of college gets paid $20,000 more per year than you and he only manages a car wash and convenience store it makes one a little bitter:)

[chcougar1]

I'm a psych major, hoping to attend grad/doctoral school. I'm in the last leg of my Neurobiology class. Fuck, I've never studied so much for a course in my life.

Neurobiology owned me lol. One of only 2 B-'s I got in undergrad

[killerswells]

Signed up for classes in the summer term.

Cognitive Psych, Social Psych, and Psych of Racial Prejudice.

Mmmmm.

i really enjoyed cog and social psych. does ucf have a master's program for psych? or is it linked to the phd program?

[samsara]

I want to go into Psychology. I can just read about it forever.

[le_rawr]

I started out in psych then changed to secondary ed-spanish and now I'm a communications major with a minor in creative writing.

[samsara]

I'm changing my major over to psych next week and I'm starting the program next semester.

[M.C COB]

The thing about psychology is that it is so broad. You can go in so many directions within psychology.

[Neo Cassady]

i'm a psych major, but since taking my personality class, im wondering if i am making the wrong choice. :shrug:

Weird...I took Personality as an elective and it made me wish I had majored in psych.

[Alou]

I'm a psychology major. It goes along with my music composition major.

[fridina09]

I'm not a psychology major but i just wanna ask those who are if why did they take up that course??? If you need a web banner design ad you can visit my website...have a nice day

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[perceptrons]

I'm not a psychology major but i just wanna ask those who are if why did they take up that course??? If you need a web banner design ad you can visit my website...have a nice day

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The question pertaining to psychology makes no sense, and the web design plug is tacky.

[Kozzy333]

I'm interested in psychology but I have no idea what I would do with it. I've also never liked science and haven't taken a science course since grade 10, is that a bad thing?

[M.C COB]

I'm interested in psychology but I have no idea what I would do with it. I've also never liked science and haven't taken a science course since grade 10, is that a bad thing?

Well first off, it is not uncommon for those majoring in psychology not knowing what they want or could do with a degree. A popular/somewhat necessary decision is to enter graduate school to obtain either a Master's or PhD. As far as not liking science, some branches are more science heavy (i.e. Cognition, Sensation, Biopsychology) and some are not (i.e. clinical).

[0s0]

Neuroscience. We're like the nerds of psychology.

[pambeesley]

haha im in second year pysch doing neuropsych and social psych right now!
dont regret taking psych for a minute, amazing stuff to learn

[KingsCrossing]

I have a B.A. in Psych and I'm currently enrolled in grad school pursuing my MEd. in school psych. If anybody has any questions about grad school, etc. let me know and I'll try my best to help.

[AlkalineAshes]

juat got my BA in PSY. plan on gettin my masters in counseling.

[Gat$by]

Been studying two days hardcore for this Psych test, just took an adderall and now I'm cramming before class starts. Wish me luck!

[AlkalineAshes]

im actually hopin to get an adderall or somethin like it script today, underdiagnosed ADD is part of the reason undergrad took me 6 years, hopin meds can get me on track for grad school

[samsara]

By the end of next semester I will have my associates degree, but I cant remember in what. My major is social with a minor in Psych.

[M.C COB]

By the end of next semester I will have my associates degree, but I cant remember in what. My major is social with a minor in Psych.

An Associates in Arts, or A.A.

[Of Dust and Nations]

I'm a psych major, hoping to attend grad/doctoral school. I'm in the last leg of my Neurobiology class. Fuck, I've never studied so much for a course in my life.

I got an A in this class by one point - easily one of the hardest classes I have taken. Good luck.

Psy. major graduating in May, with an IT minor. I'm going to take a year off before I go to grad school to save some $$....I want to go into I/O but part of me wants to go into counseling. The other part of me wishes I would've double majored.

[framebyframe]

I'm in my first year and I'm almost positive I'm going to major in psych. No idea what I'm going to do with it yet though. The counselling psychology degree sounds interesting.

[AlkalineAshes]

I'm in my first year and I'm almost positive I'm going to major in psych. No idea what I'm going to do with it yet though. The counselling psychology degree sounds interesting.
Do you see yourself in private practice as a therapist? That degree sets you up for becomin an MFT or marriage and family therapist, which is basically a psychologist but with a masters. technically you need a Phd or Psy D degree to have the "Psychologist" title.

[samsara]

Okay found out I will have my associates in Liberal Arts. lame.

[M.C COB]

Are you in a 4 year or 2 year program?

[SanePsychotic]

I'm considering majoring in Psych, though I''m not 100% sure about it. It seems like a smart career choice to me.

[crimsonandclovr]

I'm technically a Psych major - a Plan B just in case I don't get into Nursing school.
woohooo

So far, I've only taken Psych100.. haha and I'm already a sophomore. Yikes.

[M.C COB]

The first two years are so full of general requirements so not too much of a worry

[Spenny]

What prospects are there for those of us who are wanting to major in psych, but not become a counselor or something of the sort?
I'm a future criminology major, but my school offers a special joint major with Criminology and Psych that I'm interested in. I'll be taking my first psych course starting in January.

[M.C COB]

Psych-Law programs are pretty common

[perceptrons]

What prospects are there for those of us who are wanting to major in psych, but not become a counselor or something of the sort?
I'm a future criminology major, but my school offers a special joint major with Criminology and Psych that I'm interested in. I'll be taking my first psych course starting in January.
Being a counselor is only one of very many options you can go with a psychology degree. It's actually quite annoying how psychology is always associated with clinical psychology/counseling/therapy/etc.

[Mibabalou]

im a minor

[samsara]

Along with counseling there you can give referrals.

[KingsCrossing]

What prospects are there for those of us who are wanting to major in psych, but not become a counselor or something of the sort?
I'm a future criminology major, but my school offers a special joint major with Criminology and Psych that I'm interested in. I'll be taking my first psych course starting in January.

If you're interested in Criminology and Psych, then a Forensic Psychology program might be up your alley.

Some other big fields outside of counseling/therapy include School Psych, Neuropsychology, and Industrial Organizational Psych (basically Business Psych).

[guitarpickheart]

Not in college yet, but there's no profession I'd want to go into more.

[MattRM]

Starting college next year, having trouble deciding between education and psychology. I've always really wanted to be a teacher, but I'm also sort of interested in helping people on a more personal level, like a counselor would.

[maxvsmaradona]

Psych major, reporting in.

I may be getting an internship soon!

[bNz719]

Wrapping up my first semester of college. Planning on finishing in 2 years (including this semester) and transferring to UCLA for a psych major.
Unfortunately, I am pretty confused with the steps I need to take so maybe one of you can help me out some. My first two years are finishing general education requirements and taking all the courses required to transfer to UCLA under their psychology program. What do I do after that? Probably a stupid question but I need some clarification.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I'm a psych major, I just started this year and I love it. I'm considering about getting into music psychology but at the same time I've always wanted to be a practicing clinical psychologist. I still have lots of time to think about those things, thankfully.

[SanePsychotic]

I'm a psych major, I just started this year and I love it. I'm considering about getting into music psychology but at the same time I've always wanted to be a practicing clinical psychologist. I still have lots of time to think about those things, thankfully.

What exactly would one do in music psychology? Is it pretty much just studying the effects of music on the brain or is there more to it than that?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

What exactly would one do in music psychology? Is it pretty much just studying the effects of music on the brain or is there more to it than that?
Research, mostly. I haven't read a lot on it yet but there are applications to music therapy, usually for mentally challenged children but I'm sure it can help treat people with mental disorders as well (such as schizophrenia). It pretty much integrates two of my biggest passions, which is why I find it really interesting. The problem is that the only sure thing that you can do with it is be a researcher and that doesn't pay well, so in the end I might resort to taking a clinical graduate program and take something related to music psychology for my dissertation.

[rosielikesyou]

I'm planning on it. I'm a freshman at college and have already cleared out 2 out of the 10 classes I need for the major within this first semester, and I'll be bulldozing through a lot of general eds and major reqs over the next year. Next semester I'm planning on taking Social Psych and going from there, and I might also go for Abnormal next Fall semester; that won't go toward my major now that I'm in Social, but I still feel like I should take it for breadth of the subject.

[rosielikesyou]

Wrapping up my first semester of college. Planning on finishing in 2 years (including this semester) and transferring to UCLA for a psych major.
Unfortunately, I am pretty confused with the steps I need to take so maybe one of you can help me out some. My first two years are finishing general education requirements and taking all the courses required to transfer to UCLA under their psychology program. What do I do after that? Probably a stupid question but I need some clarification.

I'm in the same boat as you, though I'm in for a 4-year; I'll probably apply to grad school programs either at my current college or back at UCLA/USC.

Uhh, I would think you just need to get UCLA-specific requirements out of the way and just complete the major in the last two years. I'm no expert with the transferring deal, though I know a bunch of people who take the 2-year-transfer route. You can probably find that out from any friends who plan to do the same thing. It's pretty much a ritual for a good chunk of the LA kids back home.

[M.C COB]

I'm planning on it. I'm a freshman at college and have already cleared out 2 out of the 10 classes I need for the major within this first semester, and I'll be bulldozing through a lot of general eds and major reqs over the next year. Next semester I'm planning on taking Social Psych and going from there, and I might also go for Abnormal next Fall semester; that won't go toward my major now that I'm in Social, but I still feel like I should take it for breadth of the subject.

At the undergrad level abnormal psych will be general enough. You will most likely find it fascinating.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

At the undergrad level abnormal psych will be general enough. You will most likely find it fascinating.
It is fascinating. I've had the book since high school since one of my exams back then required a reading of it and even though none of my first year courses require it, I still pick it up every once in a while.

[loudpunkguitar]

about to finish a master's in professional counseling

[TheReckoner]

im a minor
-rape-

[samsara]

-rape-
...

[TheReckoner]

...
:-| Im just playing...

[ArtForLovers]

I'm going back to school to get my Masters in Art Therapy and Counseling. yay!

[M.C COB]

Don't you have to put in a considerable amount of hours before graduating or something?

[maxvsmaradona]

Don't you have to put in a considerable amount of hours before graduating or something?

Nope. You kinda just show up to school, ask for your diploma, and they just hand it over. And then WAM! You're a doctor.

[storytelling__]

I'm starting my major in psychology next year. I just declined a major in International Relations at an amazing university to study psychology in a place I'll meet a bunch of people from high school.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW WHY I'M DOING THIS. :|

[Kozzy333]

I just radically changed my timetable so I can have classes that are recommended for Psychology. Does anyone know any good books about psychology? Nothing huge just something I can read in my spare time.

[SanePsychotic]

I just radically changed my timetable so I can have classes that are recommended for Psychology. Does anyone know any good books about psychology? Nothing huge just something I can read in my spare time.

Ditto, I want some psych books as well.

[perceptrons]

What area of psychology do you want books about?

[SanePsychotic]

Cognitive and clinical, mainly. Really, anything you think would be an interesting read. I'm not picky.

[samsara]

I know some good ones pertaining to Psychology. But the subject matter is mainly family and oneself.

[SanePsychotic]

I know some good ones pertaining to Psychology. But the subject matter is mainly family and oneself.

Titles?

[samsara]

Titles?

Born for Love - Leo Buscaglia
Family Secrets - John Bradshaw
Homecoming - John Bradshaw
Creating Love - Leo Buscaglia

Both talk about love and family and how people deal with different situations.

[bNz719]

Sybil was a really interesting read. I can't remember the author's name (I think it was the doctor), if someone can help me out with that. Or you can just google it.

[M.C COB]

The man who mistook his wife for a hat is a good book

[xxemo_kittyxx]

The man who mistook his wife for a hat is a good book
That was brought up in my Physiological Psychology class one day, but I never really got a chance to look for it.

[SanePsychotic]

The man who mistook his wife for a hat is a good book

What's it about?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

What's it about?
This guy who has this condition where he can't recognize faces. It's a brain defect, something about the visual processing being damaged so he can't recognize faces and thus, mistook his wife for a hat. I forgot what the condition is though, my physiological psych lecturer will kill me if she knows about this.

[bNz719]

This guy who has this condition where he can't recognize faces. It's a brain defect, something about the visual processing being damaged so he can't recognize faces and thus, mistook his wife for a hat. I forgot what the condition is though, my physiological psych lecturer will kill me if she knows about this.

prosopagnosia (googled) =]

[xxemo_kittyxx]

prosopagnosia (googled) =]
Yes, that's it. Thank you :)

Oh and I was wondering what the pathway to become a clinical psychologist in the USA is like? Where I'm from, you do a 4 year Bachelors degree and then proceed to a 2 year masters in clinical psychology before you get your practicing license, but I heard that in the US, it will require a full PhD before you can practice as a psychologist without any supervision.

[DragonJ1080]

Psych major, reporting in. Not sure what to do with it, but I'm gonna have the diploma in about 6 months from now...

[M.C COB]

You don't need a Ph.D, definitely a masters though. Also, a lot of supervised hours.
Yes, that's it. Thank you :)

Oh and I was wondering what the pathway to become a clinical psychologist in the USA is like? Where I'm from, you do a 4 year Bachelors degree and then proceed to a 2 year masters in clinical psychology before you get your practicing license, but I heard that in the US, it will require a full PhD before you can practice as a psychologist without any supervision.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

See that's the thing, I'm trying to avoid having to work under supervision because I want to continue my studies in the US and getting a work permit there is so hard considering I'm from a predominantly Muslim region. I also want to avoid having to re-do my masters when I get back to my home country as well.

[M.C COB]

Hmmm that sounds like a tricky situation. I'm not too sure how something like that would work. So it sounds like you would want to earn a Master's degree in the US then have it be able to transfer back home?

[KingsCrossing]

Yes, that's it. Thank you :)

Oh and I was wondering what the pathway to become a clinical psychologist in the USA is like? Where I'm from, you do a 4 year Bachelors degree and then proceed to a 2 year masters in clinical psychology before you get your practicing license, but I heard that in the US, it will require a full PhD before you can practice as a psychologist without any supervision.

In the U.S. you need a 4 year Bachelors degree before applying to any sort of Doctoral program in Psychology. You don't need a Masters to apply, however if you're GPA is low or if you need more research experience it would be recommended to obtain a M.A.

A PhD program in Clinical Psychology from start to finish, which includes 3-4 yrs of coursework, your externship, your dissertation, and your Post-Doc internship will take about 7-8 years to complete on it's own. Once you complete your Post-Doc you can practice on your own, but in order to do neuropsych testing without supervision you would need to complete the state licensing exam.

If you want to obtain your PsyD in Clinical Psychology it will only take about 4-5 years to complete from start to finish, however you'd have to pay for the entire program without much funding and that can come out to over $100k. The good thing about a PhD program is that it's completely paid for by the school.

If you're looking to do Mental Health Counseling and become licensed you would just need your Masters which can take about 2-3 years to complete, depending if you go full time or part time.

Hope that helps.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Hmmm that sounds like a tricky situation. I'm not too sure how something like that would work. So it sounds like you would want to earn a Master's degree in the US then have it be able to transfer back home?

I really wouldn't mind doing the full doctorate degree, but I heard that getting in itself is very competitive. As in minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4-point scale or something. Plus I would need to apply for a scholarship for it, the obvious would be Fulbright but apparently one of the requirements for a doctorate scholarship is a masters degree. Of course you can still beat the odds...but still.


In the U.S. you need a 4 year Bachelors degree before applying to any sort of Doctoral program in Psychology. You don't need a Masters to apply, however if you're GPA is low or if you need more research experience it would be recommended to obtain a M.A.

A PhD program in Clinical Psychology from start to finish, which includes 3-4 yrs of coursework, your externship, your dissertation, and your Post-Doc internship will take about 7-8 years to complete on it's own. Once you complete your Post-Doc you can practice on your own, but in order to do neuropsych testing without supervision you would need to complete the state licensing exam.

If you want to obtain your PsyD in Clinical Psychology it will only take about 4-5 years to complete from start to finish, however you'd have to pay for the entire program without much funding and that can come out to over $100k. The good thing about a PhD program is that it's completely paid for by the school.

If you're looking to do Mental Health Counseling and become licensed you would just need your Masters which can take about 2-3 years to complete, depending if you go full time or part time.

Hope that helps.

Thanks. Prior to reading this I just bought a new book that had a section that explained all the career paths and stuff, but this is insightful as well. Currently I really want to do clinical, but looking at the amount of work and patience involved I might consider steering away to a different field, like research or social work if I'm incapable of doing clinical. Its just a freshman thing, I guess. A lot of my friends want to do clinical and most of them really don't seem like they're up to the study and pressure load. I just learned that clinical differs from counseling, I don't think my friends know that and now that I know, most of them look like they suit counseling better. Even after knowing that I'm still into clinical, though, but we'll see how the next four years turn out.

[SanePsychotic]

This is probably a stupid question, but what is the difference between clinical and counseling? Not just in how long it takes to get a degree and licensed, but also in terms of what kind of work one would be doing. Is there a big difference between the two or really not that much?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Well to put it in an easy way, clinical deals more with people who are borderline insane. Like you know how in the treatment of mental disorders, you need both psychotherapy and medical intervention (drugs)? The clinical psychologist deals with the psychotherapy and the psychiatrist deals with the medical things. Some states allow clinical psychologists to prescribe medication as well if they have been trained enough in psychopharmacology for the sake of convenience. Counseling psychologists deal more with "normal" people who have problems. So I guess clinical psychologists fix what is broken while counseling psychologists prevent things from getting broken. That's how I see it, this is an excerpt from the APA website which might explain things better:


Clinical Psychologists assess and treat mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. These range from short-term crises, such as difficulties resulting from adolescent rebellion, to more severe, chronic conditions such as schizophrenia.
Some clinical psychologists treat specific problems exclusively, such as phobias or clinical depression. Others focus on specific populations: youngsters, ethnic minority groups, gays and lesbians, and the elderly, for instance. They also consult with physicians on physical problems that have underlying psychological causes.


Counseling psychologists help people recognize their strengths and resources to cope with their problems. Counseling psychologists do counseling/psychotherapy, teaching, and scientific research with individuals of all ages, families, and organizations (e.g., schools, hospitals, businesses). Counseling psychologists help people understand and take action on career and work problems. They pay attention to how problems and people differ across life stages. Counseling psychologists have great respect for the influence of differences among people (such as race, gender, sexual orientation, religion, disability status) on psychological well-being. They believe that behavior is affected by many things, including qualities of the individual (e.g., psychological, physical, or spiritual factors) and factors in the person's environment (e.g., family, society, and cultural groups).


Regarding the education time, I think they both take about the same amount of time.

[SanePsychotic]

Ah, I see. Thanks for the clarification.

[KingsCrossing]

This is probably a stupid question, but what is the difference between clinical and counseling? Not just in how long it takes to get a degree and licensed, but also in terms of what kind of work one would be doing. Is there a big difference between the two or really not that much?

Well to put it in an easy way, clinical deals more with people who are borderline insane. Like you know how in the treatment of mental disorders, you need both psychotherapy and medical intervention (drugs)? The clinical psychologist deals with the psychotherapy and the psychiatrist deals with the medical things. Some states allow clinical psychologists to prescribe medication as well if they have been trained enough in psychopharmacology for the sake of convenience. Counseling psychologists deal more with "normal" people who have problems. So I guess clinical psychologists fix what is broken while counseling psychologists prevent things from getting broken. That's how I see it, this is an excerpt from the APA website which might explain things better:

Regarding the education time, I think they both take about the same amount of time.

Education time they are definitely not the same. To become a licensed mental health counselor, all you need is a Masters degree, which takes about 2-3 years to complete. To become a clinical psychologist you absolutely need your PhD or PsyD (both Doctoral degrees) which can take 7-8 years for a PhD and 5-6 years for a PsyD.

Also, I'd say the main difference between clinical and counseling psychology would be that counseling is typically more focused on psychoeducational and developmental approaches whereas clinical is usually more medically focused with a strong emphasis being placed nowadays on the fields of neuropsychology and biopsychology.

[SanePsychotic]

Education time they are definitely not the same. To become a licensed mental health counselor, all you need is a Masters degree, which takes about 2-3 years to complete. To become a clinical psychologist you absolutely need your PhD or PsyD (both Doctoral degrees) which can take 7-8 years for a PhD and 5-6 years for a PsyD.

Also, I'd say the main difference between clinical and counseling psychology would be that counseling is more focused on psychoeducational and developmental approaches whereas clinical is usually more medically focused with a strong emphasis being placed nowadays on neuropsychological and biopsychology aspects.

Thanks, I appreciate your info.

[KingsCrossing]

No prob, glad to be of service.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Education time they are definitely not the same. To become a licensed mental health counselor, all you need is a Masters degree, which takes about 2-3 years to complete. To become a clinical psychologist you absolutely need your PhD or PsyD (both Doctoral degrees) which can take 7-8 years for a PhD and 5-6 years for a PsyD.

Also, I'd say the main difference between clinical and counseling psychology would be that counseling is typically more focused on psychoeducational and developmental approaches whereas clinical is usually more medically focused with a strong emphasis being placed nowadays on the fields of neuropsychology and biopsychology.

I thought there are distinctions between "mental health counselor" and "counseling psychologist"?

[AlkalineAshes]

No prob, glad to be of service.
good info, i just graduated with my BA in psy and was kinda bummed realizing i needed a Dr. degree to be called a psychologist. yes sad but true

[KingsCrossing]

I thought there are distinctions between "mental health counselor" and "counseling psychologist"?

I got confused. You're right. I misread and thought she had meant mental health counseling. You're original post explaining the differences was spot on.

Here's another good link that explains the differences and gives some insight into PhD and PsyD programs as well - http://www.science.fau.edu/student_services/handouts/counseling_psychology.pdf

edit: Also doing some more research on my own, it seems a small number of schools in the U.S. actually do offer Masters in Clinical as well, though it seems most of these programs are designed to prepare students to eventually pursue their Doctorate. Here's a school that offers an M.S. in Clinical - http://www.udc.edu/academics/cas/psychology/ms_clinical_psychology.htm

[xxemo_kittyxx]

good info, i just graduated with my BA in psy and was kinda bummed realizing i needed a Dr. degree to be called a psychologist. yes sad but true
Yes, I agree. It seems that a lot of people are mislead when it comes to defining psychology as a profession. I was bummed to only find all this out when I already got to college.

I got confused. You're right. I misread and thought she had meant mental health counseling. You're original post explaining the differences was spot on.

Here's another good link that explains the differences and gives some insight into PhD and PsyD programs as well - http://www.science.fau.edu/student_services/handouts/counseling_psychology.pdf

edit: Also doing some more research on my own, it seems a small number of schools in the U.S. actually do offer Masters in Clinical as well, though it seems most of these programs are designed to prepare students to eventually pursue their Doctorate. Here's a school that offers an M.S. in Clinical - http://www.udc.edu/academics/cas/psychology/ms_clinical_psychology.htm
Great links, thanks :)

[mogley]

The research I worked on last semester with my professor and one other student got accepted to be presented at the Eastern Psychological Association's convention in New York next semester! Go me.

This will be nice to put on my curriculum vitae!

[xxemo_kittyxx]

The research I worked on last semester with my professor and one other student got accepted to be presented at the Eastern Psychological Association's convention in New York next semester! Go me.

This will be nice to put on my curriculum vitae!

Nice. What was it about?

[mogley]

Nice. What was it about?

Our study focused on exploring what factors went into a person's decision to either stay in or leave a domestically violent relationship. We wanted to see whether the severity of the abuse, the frequency of the abuse, or if a child was present in the relationship had any effect on the dependent variable.

[KingsCrossing]

Update:

I talked to my co-worker today who's a Post-Doctoral candidate in a Clinical program and she said the main difference between the counseling and clinical is that clinical is designed to train you for academia, research, or testing, while a counseling program is designed more to do therapy.

[oliviaemmer]

I was thinking about going into this in college. Any suggestions for me? I'm not exactly sure because I know all of the schooling that it takes to go into it.

[mogley]

I was thinking about going into this in college. Any suggestions for me? I'm not exactly sure because I know all of the schooling that it takes to go into it.

I definitely love it. You generally won't make jack shit without some sort of a grad. school degree, and even with a graduate degree you might only make around 60-80k a year depending on your job. So if money is a top priority in your life, steer clear of this profession. With that being said, if you enjoy helping people, or if you're interested in learning all sorts of things about the human mind, and don't mind not making 100s of thousands of dollars a year, then definitely check out psychology. It's supposed to be quite the rewarding career path for those that are suited for it.

[oliviaemmer]

I definitely love it. You generally won't make jack shit without some sort of a grad. school degree, and even with a graduate degree you might only make around 60-80k a year depending on your job. So if money is a top priority in your life, steer clear of this profession. With that being said, if you enjoy helping people, or if you're interested in learning all sorts of things about the human mind, and don't mind not making 100s of thousands of dollars a year, then definitely check out psychology. It's supposed to be quite the rewarding career path for those that are suited for it.
yeah, i don't care too much about money, but i've always been fascinated about how the mind works and what not. i wanted to go into psychology for a while, and i forgot about it. and now that i'm getting closer to graduating it sounds like a good idea.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I was thinking about going into this in college. Any suggestions for me? I'm not exactly sure because I know all of the schooling that it takes to go into it.
Being a psych major is the best decision I ever made. Its a very interesting discipline that can be applied in just about anything, although the downside to it is that you probably need more than a Bachelor's degree in order to gain a good placement in the workforce. But even if you want to get in to non-Psychological careers like Business, International Relations or Communications and even Law, I think it's a lot more rewarding to do Psych for Bachelor's and go on to those fields I just mentioned in grad school. Sometimes Psychology can be defined as the basic to all things related to people. If you enjoy learning, I think Psychology should be great for you.

[SanePsychotic]

I'm considering majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. Would that look good for graduate school? I'm asking this because my ultimate goal is to become a professor and I want to do everything possible to make this happen.

[M.C COB]

If you get solid grades then yes. Depending on what type of program you are looking to enter, a minor will not be necessary.

I'm considering majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. Would that look good for graduate school? I'm asking this because my ultimate goal is to become a professor and I want to do everything possible to make this
happen.

[perceptrons]

I'm considering majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. Would that look good for graduate school? I'm asking this because my ultimate goal is to become a professor and I want to do everything possible to make this happen.
What looks good for grad school are letters of recommendation, first and foremost. How do you get good letters? Do research with professors. Letters that just say, "Johnny was great in my class(es), blah blah blah" get thrown in a "Did Good In Classes" pile, according to a lot of professors I've talked to.

[M.C COB]

Good point. You want to get an amazing letter from somebody that knows you well, not a decent one.
What looks good for grad school are letters of recommendation, first and foremost. How do you get good letters? Do research with professors. Letters that just say, "Johnny was great in my class(es), blah blah blah" get thrown in a "Did Good In Classes" pile, according to a lot of professors I've talked to.

[SanePsychotic]

Ah, thanks guys.

[deFobbed14yrs]

I'm considering majoring in Psych, though I''m not 100% sure about it. It seems like a smart career choice to me.

was lurking became curious. how so?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I'm considering majoring in psychology and minoring in philosophy. Would that look good for graduate school? I'm asking this because my ultimate goal is to become a professor and I want to do everything possible to make this happen.

Yes, that seems fine although the credit requirements in some schools for a psych major is more than other majors so leaving you not enough credits left to go for another minor. Check with your school's program first. And the recommendation letter thing is true, as well as good grades obviously.



was lurking became curious. how so?
Wide range of possible career choices? Discipline combines the critical thinking skills of the liberal arts with logical reasoning of the sciences?

[SanePsychotic]

[/b]

was lurking became curious. how so?

My other career choice was going into music, which I would love to do but I don't think I'm talented enough for it. There's so many career choices with a psychology degree, so I don't really have to be locked into one job.

[deFobbed14yrs]

My other career choice was going into music, which I would love to do but I don't think I'm talented enough for it. There's so many career choices with a psychology degree, so I don't really have to be locked into one job.

ah ok. i did apply to a few schools for psychology but then realized that it's like a one of those majors that a lot of people do and i hate competition lol. also i didn't want to stay in school for so lnog to get a PhD when i could do pharmacy and get my PhD in 6 years lol.

[SanePsychotic]

ah ok. i did apply to a few schools for psychology but then realized that it's like a one of those majors that a lot of people do and i hate competition lol. also i didn't want to stay in school for so lnog to get a PhD when i could do pharmacy and get my PhD in 6 years lol.

Well I'd like to eventually become a professor, so I don't think I'll mind staying in school for a long time. That may change when I actually go to college though.

[deFobbed14yrs]

Well I'd like to eventually become a professor, so I don't think I'll mind staying in school for a long time. That may change when I actually go to college though.

ah see i hate school lol. i like working so i can't wait to graduate lol

[xxemo_kittyxx]

My other career choice was going into music, which I would love to do but I don't think I'm talented enough for it. There's so many career choices with a psychology degree, so I don't really have to be locked into one job.
Ahh me too. I had the form for Music school but my parents weren't too keen on it and I didn't start my piano lessons until I was thirteen so my grades might not be enough. I still want to do music but on the other hand it's nice to be studying something else that's equally interesting for college. I still practice and write when I have time and I'm looking forward to getting some demos done at an actual studio sometime this year.

ah ok. i did apply to a few schools for psychology but then realized that it's like a one of those majors that a lot of people do and i hate competition lol. also i didn't want to stay in school for so lnog to get a PhD when i could do pharmacy and get my PhD in 6 years lol.
Not all Psychology students end up being psychologists. Going to an MBA program and getting into business is another popular choice. Or you could get into industrial-organisational psychology and work in the human resources department at a big company or do market research for them.

[SanePsychotic]

Ahh me too. I had the form for Music school but my parents weren't too keen on it and I didn't start my piano lessons until I was thirteen so my grades might not be enough. I still want to do music but on the other hand it's nice to be studying something else that's equally interesting for college. I still practice and write when I have time and I'm looking forward to getting some demos done at an actual studio sometime this year.


Not all Psychology students end up being psychologists. Going to an MBA program and getting into business is another popular choice. Or you could get into industrial-organisational psychology and work in the human resources department at a big company or do market research for them.

I've already gotten into a couple of music schools (except the one at the college I'm going to because that's freakishly amazing) so I know that I'd be able to do it technically, I just don't I'd be able to do it creatively, you know? I also think that I wouldn't enjoy being a musician as much if I had to rely on it for income.

[Zeran]

juat got my BA in PSY. plan on gettin my masters in counseling.

i'm a psych major who is going to graduate at the end of this term. i'm not sure, but i'm considering going to grad school for my master's in clinical or counseling, and after that i'll see about a phd or not. my only problem is getting accepted into grad school, because most of my psych grades are not amazing and i know it's probably really competitive.

[AlkalineAshes]

i'm a psych major who is going to graduate at the end of this term. i'm not sure, but i'm considering going to grad school for my master's in clinical or counseling, and after that i'll see about a phd or not. my only problem is getting accepted into grad school, because most of my psych grades are not amazing and i know it's probably really competitive.
ya its competeive for sure at the top schools,but i think as long as you have around a 3.0 you should be able to find a decent school tho

[Zeran]

ya its competeive for sure at the top schools,but i think as long as you have around a 3.0 you should be able to find a decent school tho

i've never exactly been great at gpa conversion...what exactly is a 3.0? does it differ depending on where you are? a 4.0 is what, an A+ or something right?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

i've never exactly been great at gpa conversion...what exactly is a 3.0? does it differ depending on where you are? a 4.0 is what, an A+ or something right?
4.0 is straight A's, 3.0 is about a B average.

I've already gotten into a couple of music schools (except the one at the college I'm going to because that's freakishly amazing) so I know that I'd be able to do it technically, I just don't I'd be able to do it creatively, you know? I also think that I wouldn't enjoy being a musician as much if I had to rely on it for income.
Whoa that's great. But yeah, with all the career options Psychology has a lot more financial advantages.

[KingsCrossing]

i'm a psych major who is going to graduate at the end of this term. i'm not sure, but i'm considering going to grad school for my master's in clinical or counseling, and after that i'll see about a phd or not. my only problem is getting accepted into grad school, because most of my psych grades are not amazing and i know it's probably really competitive.

All grad schools (at least here in NY) require a 3.0 GPA as as minimum to apply, so if you have that or higher and decent enough GRE scores, as well as some field or research experience then you'll be fine.

A lot of schools also offer non-matriculated classes - if you're GPA isn't high enough or there's another factor that's not up to par, then you can take the same classes that are part of their program in the meantime and do well in them to prove you can handle the coursework.

If you re-apply for the next semester and get accepted then all the credits from those classes will transfer into a matriculated program.

[concernedparent]

haha! you all won't have jobs!



just kidding...

[applejackss7]

I'm still in highschool but on my way to becoming a psych major. im in psych AP and plan on being a childrens psychiatrist. :)

[M.C COB]

Unfortunately, depending on what field of psych you are talking about you are kind of correct. I'm currently working with a bunch of post-docs who are in social psych and have been really struggling to find a job.

haha! you all won't have jobs!



just kidding...

[Zeran]

All grad schools (at least here in NY) require a 3.0 GPA as as minimum to apply, so if you have that or higher and decent enough GRE scores, as well as some field or research experience then you'll be fine.

A lot of schools also offer non-matriculated classes - if you're GPA isn't high enough or there's another factor that's not up to par, then you can take the same classes that are part of their program in the meantime and do well in them to prove you can handle the coursework.

If you re-apply for the next semester and get accepted then all the credits from those classes will transfer into a matriculated program.

when the say gpa, i assume they mean gpa of all your courses, not just psych, right? about the gre, i hear it's a real bitch to study for. not looking forward to that.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

when the say gpa, i assume they mean gpa of all your courses, not just psych, right? about the gre, i hear it's a real bitch to study for. not looking forward to that.
Yeah, all courses.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Quick question to those who know more than me about grad schools: to what extent does extracurriculars matter for adult clinical programs? When I started, initially I was really determined to get into clubs and here one of the most prestigious is BEM, which is kind of like a student council/student government. I applied for the one in my faculty and I thought I had a good chance of getting in but unfortunately I didn't and now I'm bummed and kind of concerned that it will affect my standings. My GPA is fine though. I thought that since I don't want to work in a company or get into industrial/organisational psychology, these things don't matter as much but does anyone know anything more about this?

[M.C COB]

Try not to get too bummed out about not getting in. If one of the main reasons was to bolster your resume, as you said it was, then I would say two things to that. (1) Having one more line on your resume is just one tiny piece of the puzzle or overall package you will be presenting to grad schools when you apply (i.e. gpa, letters of rec, GRE scores, etc). (2) I am not sure what types of clubs you may be interested in or have access to, but doing something at like a YMCA or Boys and Girls Club would look amazing on a resume (especially since it is community oriented so a clinical type program would certainly like to see that).

Quick question to those who know more than me about grad schools: to what extent does extracurriculars matter for adult clinical programs? When I started, initially I was really determined to get into clubs and here one of the most prestigious is BEM, which is kind of like a student council/student government. I applied for the one in my faculty and I thought I had a good chance of getting in but unfortunately I didn't and now I'm bummed and kind of concerned that it will affect my standings. My GPA is fine though. I thought that since I don't want to work in a company or get into industrial/organisational psychology, these things don't matter as much but does anyone know anything more about this?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

The ones I'm involved in so far are the debating club (university-wide) and the music appreciation club (faculty-specific). So far I'm only a member for both and not on the board of executives. I'm only going to be here for another year though, so I'll get another chance to get involved when I do the other half of my degree overseas next year.

[Alou]

I get to finally start getting into psychology next semester. I'm taking Research Design in Psychologhy. It's the first course of major work because UGA is seriously into research.

"Design of research in psychology. Experimental and quasi-experimental design, as well as the general principles of the scientific method. Direct experience with the formulation of hypotheses, collection of data, and description of research findings is required."

Should be interesting.

[M.C COB]

I always enjoyed that class, took it as an undergraduate and graduate student. You will certainly learn a lot. Who knows, you may even get to run your own mock experiment.

[Alou]

I always enjoyed that class, took it as an undergraduate and graduate student. You will certainly learn a lot. Who knows, you may even get to run your own mock experiment.

UGA has a course where you aid the professors in their research, I'm really excited about getting the opportunity to do that. Ultimately, I just want to learn how to do experiments effectively, as I'm most likely going to be doing research.

[M.C COB]

That's sounds like a really sweet approach.

[Alou]

That's sounds like a really sweet approach.

UGA seems to be geared more towards research than say therapy or something. So it seems like a good fit.

[bNz719]

What's a GRE score and what are they for?

[AlkalineAshes]

i would reccomend the autism spectrum field to those interested in a higher paying psy field. also works for ba degrees when you cant do much else

[M.C COB]

The GRE is a graduate school admission test that I believe almost every doctoral program in psychology requires, not too sure about master programs. It is analogous to the MCAT for those applying to med school or the LSAT for those applying to law school.
What's a GRE score and what are they for?

[bNz719]

The GRE is a graduate school admission test that I believe almost every doctoral program in psychology requires, not too sure about master programs. It is analogous to the MCAT for those applying to med school or the LSAT for those applying to law school.

Ah, okay. Thanks. So it's not required just to get into a graduate school? Only for doctoral programs, correct?

[perceptrons]

Ah, okay. Thanks. So it's not required just to get into a graduate school? Only for doctoral programs, correct?
Depends on the program.

[AlkalineAshes]

Ah, okay. Thanks. So it's not required just to get into a graduate school? Only for doctoral programs, correct?
ya around half of the masters programs require it, maybe less

[KingsCrossing]

Ah, okay. Thanks. So it's not required just to get into a graduate school? Only for doctoral programs, correct?

Most M.A. programs I've looked into require GRE scores, such as General Psych, Forensic Psych, Mental Health Counseling and IO. However, it seems most School Psych (M.Ed.) programs do not require GREs.

[BadRomance]

http://www.absolutepunk.net/showthread.php?t=1561672

Care to share some opinions, Psych majors?

[M.C COB]

Well no doubt some of Freud's stuff was a bit whacky, but to say 99% of it was bull shit is a gross (and false) generalization.

[bNz719]

Depends on the program.

ya around half of the masters programs require it, maybe less

Most M.A. programs I've looked into require GRE scores, such as General Psych, Forensic Psych, Mental Health Counseling and IO. However, it seems most School Psych (M.Ed.) programs do not require GREs.

Hmm, great! Thanks for the help. That means I don't have to worry about it for awhile since I'm still finishin up GED requirements in community college lol. :-)

[saving jonathan]

About to graduate with an M.A. in Psych and Soc.
I haven't applied to any grad schools yet because I'm really not sure what I want to go into yet. I might be able to get a job that would pay for grad school, which would be sweet.
Sucks to say it but in this economy I really fear if I'll be able to find a job I'll be happy with.

[karadoll]

Not in college until next year, but then I will be.

Forensic Psychology, to be more specific.

[Zeran]

Not in college until next year, but then I will be.

Forensic Psychology, to be more specific.

this is weird, but i've never heard of forensic psychology. what does a forensic psychologist do?

[perceptrons]

this is weird, but i've never heard of forensic psychology. what does a forensic psychologist do?
Forensic psychology (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forensic_psychology)

[karadoll]

^ What he said.

[M.C COB]

Some of the grad students I talk to in the Psych & Law program seem to be aiming to do this type of work.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Unfortunately, depending on what field of psych you are talking about you are kind of correct. I'm currently working with a bunch of post-docs who are in social psych and have been really struggling to find a job.
That's because Social Psych don't have much of a professional career prospect, it's better for research. They could get into market research or advertising but then again those fields will have competitors from other educational fields as well.

[JGood4]

I have a psych degree but I don't know what I'm going to do with it.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I have a psych degree but I don't know what I'm going to do with it.
Grad school?

[asthenia*]

i'm a first year psych major and english minor and i wanna go into I/O. after reading this whole thread i'm debating getting a double major but i have no idea what in. any suggestions??

[lbopm]

I have a psych degree but I don't know what I'm going to do with it.

it's how the world works

[KingsCrossing]

i'm a first year psych major and english minor and i wanna go into I/O. after reading this whole thread i'm debating getting a double major but i have no idea what in. any suggestions??

I'm not too familiar with I/O, but my cousin got her Masters in I/O and is now the head of human resources at a really great company. So, if you're thinking of doing a double major that coincides with that field, I'd probably suggest going into Business or Human Resources.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

i'm a first year psych major and english minor and i wanna go into I/O. after reading this whole thread i'm debating getting a double major but i have no idea what in. any suggestions??
I'm not too familiar with I/O, but my cousin got her Masters in I/O and is now the head of human resources at a really great company. So, if you're thinking of doing a double major that coincides with that field, I'd probably suggest going into Business or Human Resources.
I'd definitely recommend Business, with a specialization in Management.

[saving jonathan]

i'm a first year psych major and english minor and i wanna go into I/O. after reading this whole thread i'm debating getting a double major but i have no idea what in. any suggestions??
If you want to go into I/O, a business major isn't necessary. You won't really need most of the material and business classes suck. I just graduated with a psych degree and honestly it'll only matter what you get your masters in anyway. If you really want to double major I'd recommend Human Resources.

[asthenia*]

If you want to go into I/O, a business major isn't necessary. You won't really need most of the material and business classes suck. I just graduated with a psych degree and honestly it'll only matter what you get your masters in anyway. If you really want to double major I'd recommend Human Resources.

that makes sense. thanks dude!

[BlaqOptic]

Was a Clinical-Cousneling Psych Major. Have used my temporary degree(going back to be a High School Counselor) to be a TSS worker. This job is so rewarding while being so easy.

[Zeran]

what is tss?

[bung]

what is tss?

Therapeutic Staff Support, I believe.

". . . [they administer] Behavioral Health Rehabilitation Services (BHRS, "wraparound" services) by working 1-on-1 with a child or adolescent in the child's home, school or community to deter the child from behaving inappropriately, to teach the child how avoid inappropriate behavior, and to assist parents in helping their children to develop more successful, healthy and age-appropriate emotional coping and behavioral skills."

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Its so confusing that they have so many terms for counselors.

[crush_groove]

i have a psych degree, and right now it sits on my fireplace, collecting dust.

[azul360]

haha finally some psych people!!!!!!!!!!! :) I'm going into Marriage and Family Counseling and then i'm trying for either a PhD or PsyD so I can be a therapist!!!! I'm pretty excited but I'm on my last semester of AA so I have a LONG way to go!!! Any suggestions from you guys/girls?

[KenzuCo]

I like NYU

[M.C COB]

haha finally some psych people!!!!!!!!!!! :) I'm going into Marriage and Family Counseling and then i'm trying for either a PhD or PsyD so I can be a therapist!!!! I'm pretty excited but I'm on my last semester of AA so I have a LONG way to go!!! Any suggestions from you guys/girls?

A PsyD may be better if you just want to focus on providing therapy. It is less work and time than a PhD program. All the Marriage and Family Counseling folks I know are only obtaining their Master's.

[azul360]

Thanks a lot M.C Cob :) Yeah I'm not sure if I want to stop at my masters or not and I definitely just want to focus on therapy but that may change later

[wahwah16]

I'm gonna be a freshman in the Fall, and I was thinking about pursuing a psychology major, cause I honestly don't know what I wanna major in. What's good/bad about being a psych major?

[KingsCrossing]

I'm gonna be a freshman in the Fall, and I was thinking about pursuing a psychology major, cause I honestly don't know what I wanna major in. What's good/bad about being a psych major?

Good - you learn about the underpinnings of human behavior, can be applied to many different fields, variety of careers available, can have a direct influence on improving the quality of life for many individuals, usually many female classmates.

Bad - grad school is a must, pay isn't THAT great (obviously this can vary), jobs aren't easy to come by (this also varies depending on your field).

[xent]

im a freshmen...psych major also
hoooray!..for the psych majors:wave: :wave:

[Laotzu]

Hmh. I was thinking about focusing on A Psych. Masters degree..

I work in PSYOP, human behavior is my life.

[Sir Comfort]

psych maj right here. hell ya!

[Jgoddard]

Double major: Psychology and Computer science.

What type of psych majors are all of you? Cognitive? Clinical? Industrial-Organizational? etc.

off topic, but I'm considering doing computer science next year. Is it primarily coding and algorithms? and it is very high end math work?

[perceptrons]

off topic, but I'm considering doing computer science next year. Is it primarily coding and algorithms? and it is very high end math work?
It really depends on the program, what school are you looking at? With that said, my program was less math-y than others, but we definitely still had to have a solid mathematical basis (Calc I & II, Linear Algebra, Discrete, and Logic).

[Jgoddard]

It really depends on the program, what school are you looking at? With that said, my program was less math-y than others, but we definitely still had to have a solid mathematical basis (Calc I & II, Linear Algebra, Discrete, and Logic).

When I looked at the course is was java programming, I do discrete at the moment, it's not calc difficulty is it?
thanks for replying :)

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I like NYU

I like NYU too but they discontinued their clinical program. I hope they reopen it when I start applying for grad schools.

[xsweetness523x]

Just a question...

I'm going into my freshman year, and, being a very organized prepared person, I was trying to pick out the classes that i want to take for the next 4 years that will fulfill my requirements and such. Also, i am aiming to go to grad school and get my masters (but im going more for the counseling side of psych).

I technically took calc a in my second semester of junior year, and i was going to take bc last year and take the ap test. however, it did not fit in my schedule, so instead i figured id just take calc in college. now im realizing i really dont want to take a 5 credit hr course if i dont need it, nor do i know how many calc classes id need (calc 1, 2, 3 etc). However i am interested in taking some extra stats classes, and i noticed all but one require calc 1 or higher as a prereq.

so i guess my question, to anyone who has wondered this themselves and got an answer or anyone who went to grad school, is: as a psych major, do i really need to worry about taking calc in college, and if i don't will it be a huge deal when applying for grad schools?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I don't think so. In psych, the focus is more on statistics and research methods. I think they'd focus more on your GPA and the amount of psych courses you took, especially when you're going into counselling where it'll be more practical and less research-oriented.

[KingsCrossing]

Just a question...

I'm going into my freshman year, and, being a very organized prepared person, I was trying to pick out the classes that i want to take for the next 4 years that will fulfill my requirements and such. Also, i am aiming to go to grad school and get my masters (but im going more for the counseling side of psych).

I technically took calc a in my second semester of junior year, and i was going to take bc last year and take the ap test. however, it did not fit in my schedule, so instead i figured id just take calc in college. now im realizing i really dont want to take a 5 credit hr course if i dont need it, nor do i know how many calc classes id need (calc 1, 2, 3 etc). However i am interested in taking some extra stats classes, and i noticed all but one require calc 1 or higher as a prereq.

so i guess my question, to anyone who has wondered this themselves and got an answer or anyone who went to grad school, is: as a psych major, do i really need to worry about taking calc in college, and if i don't will it be a huge deal when applying for grad schools?

Calc is not a big deal and as far as I know not even a requirement for most if not all Psych grad programs. Stats is pretty essential though and most programs require you take at least one stats course as an undergrad.

[ncf_thesis]

:) psych grad in may!

[xxemo_kittyxx]

:) psych grad in may!
Wooo congrats :)

[boonethompson]

Gonna finally declare my major as Psychology, but I dropped my A&P class today, it was too damn hard. Wish I could have my cake and eat it too, haha!

[abstain]

I look to graduate in June '12. Not going to grad school, hoping I can make a living with nothing more than a BA. Anyone know some good entry level jobs that typically require little to no experience?

[Demilition]

I got into a Bachelor of Psychology Science, here in Brisbane. I love psychology and learning about it, but 3 years learning? I just wanna earn some cash and travel around and not deal with tests and stress and all that. So we'll see where I end up, hah.

[wahwah16]

hmmmm... what can I do witha double major in CS and psych!? the thought has crossed my mind many times....

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I got into a Bachelor of Psychology Science, here in Brisbane. I love psychology and learning about it, but 3 years learning? I just wanna earn some cash and travel around and not deal with tests and stress and all that. So we'll see where I end up, hah.
Can I ask where? I'm transferring to Brisbane next semester and we might end up at the same university hahah.

[KingsCrossing]

hmmmm... what can I do witha double major in CS and psych!? the thought has crossed my mind many times....

What's CS?

[KingsCrossing]

I look to graduate in June '12. Not going to grad school, hoping I can make a living with nothing more than a BA. Anyone know some good entry level jobs that typically require little to no experience?

There are a fair amount of entry level jobs in the field here in NY for those with a BA in Psych. For the most part, they typically pay around $12-15/hr, but in some cases you can go higher - it really depends on the job. Sticking with a BA though still keeps you pretty limited in terms of any sort of career path.

[bNz719]

hmmmm... what can I do witha double major in CS and psych!? the thought has crossed my mind many times....
I just switched my major from psychology to computer science a few months back. Just off the top of my head, I'd think you can get data from certain parts of others' brains (or whatever you're studying) and create/use a program to analyze the results or design programs to visualize those results, etc. Things along that vein, I'm guessing.

[Demilition]

Can I ask where? I'm transferring to Brisbane next semester and we might end up at the same university hahah.

I'm at Griffith at the moment, but if a full time job comes along I won't go. I'm at the Mt Gravatt Campus now, its pretty nice. Where are you now?

[The Personist]

Wish psych majors took psychoanalysis more seriously. Makes 'em look silly when they don't.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I'm at Griffith at the moment, but if a full time job comes along I won't go. I'm at the Mt Gravatt Campus now, its pretty nice. Where are you now?
I'm still in Indonesia, but next semester I'll be at UQ St. Lucia.

[Demilition]

I'm still in Indonesia, but next semester I'll be at UQ St. Lucia.

I hear thats a good campus. Its a bugger to get to however. Good luck!! Brisbane is so good, you'll love our weather!

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I hear thats a good campus. Its a bugger to get to however. Good luck!! Brisbane is so good, you'll love our weather!
Thanks. How's the music scene over there?

[Demilition]

Thanks. How's the music scene over there?

Its okay, growing slowly!! Our soundwave was the second city to sell out which is impressive. We have great venues for live music at pubs etc.

[KingsCrossing]

Wish psych majors took psychoanalysis more seriously. Makes 'em look silly when they don't.

Psychoanalysis is a pretty broad field. Could you be more specific which ideas/concepts you think should be taken more seriously?

[The Personist]

Psychoanalysis is a pretty broad field. Could you be more specific which ideas/concepts you think should be taken more seriously?

Freudian/Lacanian psychoanalysis. You know, the interesting stuff.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Freudian/Lacanian psychoanalysis. You know, the interesting stuff.
Freud's findings were non-scientific and Psychology is a science.

[The Personist]

Freud's findings were non-scientific and Psychology is a science.

Freud himself would probably (rightfully) argue that his work comfortably coexists with that "science."

[KingsCrossing]

Freud himself would probably (rightfully) argue that his work comfortably coexists with that "science."

While some of Freud's assumptions have been supported more recently by neuroscience research (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-psychoanalysis), his theory as a whole has numerous flaws and is inherently sexist and misogynistic. Another major issue with Freud is that his theory is not falsifiable. This is summarized well by Karl Popper: http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/popper_falsification.html.

Despite this, overall, I personally think Freud's theories had a profound impact on the field of psychology and should not be discredited completely. However, I'm certainly glad that psychoanalysis is not the crux of psychology, as there are a bunch of other theories and perspectives which can explain human behavior more succinctly (imo).

[The Personist]

While some of Freud's assumptions have been supported more recently by neuroscience research (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuro-psychoanalysis), his theory as a whole has numerous flaws and is inherently sexist and misogynistic. Another major issue with Freud is that his theory is not falsifiable. This is summarized well by Karl Popper: http://www.stephenjaygould.org/ctrl/popper_falsification.html.

Despite this, overall, I personally think Freud's theories had a profound impact on the field of psychology and should not be discredited completely. However, I'm certainly glad that psychoanalysis is not the crux of psychology, as there are a bunch of other theories and perspectives which can explain human behavior more succinctly (imo).

The misogyny claims against Freud are in part unfounded. Yes, there is misogyny in his thought, but he also was the first person to argue for the inclusion of women in psychotherapy. Anyway, I think Freud's idea of the unconscious is massively important, and the notion of a fragmented, de-centered identity is one with which I absolutely agree. So in terms of theoretical, subjective, lived experience, I think Freud (and Lacan) are tops.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

The misogyny claims against Freud are in part unfounded. Yes, there is misogyny in his thought, but he also was the first person to argue for the inclusion of women in psychotherapy. Anyway, I think Freud's idea of the unconscious is massively important, and the notion of a fragmented, de-centered identity is one with which I absolutely agree. So in terms of theoretical, subjective, lived experience, I think Freud (and Lacan) are tops.
His misogynistic claims were responded quite well by many psychoanalysts after him, among which Karen Horney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womb_envy) and her responses to Freud's theories about penis envy. I'm not sure whether he was the first person to think that women should be included in psychotherapy, but back then psychotherapy was not even popular anyway. Although current perspectives agree that the unconscious does play an influence to our behaviour, the perspectives have long evolved from the early days of Freudian thinking and does not adapt the Freudian (Id-Ego-Superego) model of the mind. I think Freud did influence Psychology, but the more we come to understand human behaviour, the more we know that he was only on the right track and not necessarily right.

[perceptrons]

Freud gets his due for his accomplishments and gets enough coverage in certain circles (e.g. abnormal psych). Aside from the notion of the unconscious, I don't find much of value in the guy. Also, psychoanalytic theory is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the interesting stuff.

[The Personist]

His misogynistic claims were responded quite well by many psychoanalysts after him, among which Karen Horney (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Womb_envy) and her responses to Freud's theories about penis envy. I'm not sure whether he was the first person to think that women should be included in psychotherapy, but back then psychotherapy was not even popular anyway. Although current perspectives agree that the unconscious does play an influence to our behaviour, the perspectives have long evolved from the early days of Freudian thinking and does not adapt the Freudian (Id-Ego-Superego) model of the mind. I think Freud did influence Psychology, but the more we come to understand human behaviour, the more we know that he was only on the right track and not necessarily right.

Well if you think anything can ever be "necessarily right" then we have a whole different problem. But I don't really care about Freud's particular theories about sexuality, etc. because most of those are tenuous. However, the unconscious is a RADICAL shift in the discourse of psychology and in philosophy as well, and as I've said--and will continue to say--it remains valid and doesn't impinge on the scientific aspects of psychology. Reading Freud for science is like reading science for good writing.

WHAT. Yeah I went there.

Freud gets his due for his accomplishments and gets enough coverage in certain circles (e.g. abnormal psych). Aside from the notion of the unconscious, I don't find much of value in the guy. Also, psychoanalytic theory is not, by any stretch of the imagination, the interesting stuff.

Freud is the basis for the post-structuralist critique of identity, even if his later stuff got a little wonky. And the post-structuralist critique of identity extends to and entails a critique of the metaphysics of presence (via Derrida) which necessarily includes the problematic discourse of science. SO I would say the psychoanalytic stuff is interesting because it critiques the science stuff, not to say "oh science is wrong" but it's interesting to have the dialogue. And besides, psychoanalysis focuses on language, which is the basis for discourse in general, so it really gets to the meat of things.

[perceptrons]

Freud is the basis for the post-structuralist critique of identity, even if his later stuff got a little wonky. And the post-structuralist critique of identity extends to and entails a critique of the metaphysics of presence (via Derrida) which necessarily includes the problematic discourse of science. SO I would say the psychoanalytic stuff is interesting because it critiques the science stuff, not to say "oh science is wrong" but it's interesting to have the dialogue. And besides, psychoanalysis focuses on language, which is the basis for discourse in general, so it really gets to the meat of things.
Perhaps I should rephrase, "I find it extremely difficult to understand how psychoanalytic theory is, by any stretch of the imagination, the interesting stuff."

I know you love that stuff, but if I were going to rank interesting things in psychology, psychoanalytic theory would be close to the bottom.

[flawedandfree]

I'm really very interested in psychology, but I'm just not sure what direction I want to go with it or if my personality really fits the job. What are more science based options as opposed to counseling options?

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I'm really very interested in psychology, but I'm just not sure what direction I want to go with it or if my personality really fits the job. What are more science based options as opposed to counseling options?
There's a lot - basically the majority of the stuff we learn in Psychology is research-based and as an undergraduate all psych majors are obliged to take classes in research methods and stats. Your options are endless if you want to do something science-based, since all sub disciplines (Social Psychology, Developmental Psychology, etc) are based upon scientific principles and for the most part it's just research. I've been told that neuroscience is becoming really popular, so you might want to check up on that. Most undergraduate Psych majors don't end up being counselors anyway.

[ericag1]

i'm thinking possibly music therapy

[Kassie09]

my minor is psychology simply because I enjoy the courses and it's not that hard of a minor/ it compliments my major nicely.

[Iwudstilldie4u]

Psychology major minoring in Philosophy, hoping to go to grad school in neuroscience :)

[M.C COB]

Nice. Neuroscience, especially cognitive psych in general is huge with a ton of research opportunities.

[sarahmay]

i'm thinking possibly music therapy

One of my profs studied music therapy -- he really enjoyed it! He showed us videos to educate us on the process, and it seemed really, realy cool. I actually auditioned for Laurier University for Music Therapy, but afterwards I figured a much broader degree will keep my options open.

[ericag1]

One of my profs studied music therapy -- he really enjoyed it! He showed us videos to educate us on the process, and it seemed really, realy cool. I actually auditioned for Laurier University for Music Therapy, but afterwards I figured a much broader degree will keep my options open.

i auditioned at university of miami for music therapy. my other schools are more general b.m. degrees. what do you play?

[sarahmay]

i auditioned at university of miami for music therapy. my other schools are more general b.m. degrees. what do you play?

I auditioned with vocal and piano.

[saturday_snow_squall]

i might wanna do this.

[KingsCrossing]

For those interested in a pretty cool Psychology related blog with constantly updated articles - http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/frontal-cortex/

[xxemo_kittyxx]

How good at music do you have to be if you want to apply for Music Therapy?

[ericag1]

How good at music do you have to be if you want to apply for Music Therapy?

it depends on the school, but most places you're getting a bachelors of music or a bachelors of fine arts, so you need to audition according the university's requirements. conservatories that actually have music therapy will probably have the most difficult requirements, but music schools will have very similar if possible less requirements. also, there are not too many music therapy undergrad programs.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

it depends on the school, but most places you're getting a bachelors of music or a bachelors of fine arts, so you need to audition according the university's requirements. conservatories that actually have music therapy will probably have the most difficult requirements, but music schools will have very similar if possible less requirements. also, there are not too many music therapy undergrad programs.
I meant for graduate programs. I'm getting a BA in Psychology and although I had some training in classical piano, I'm not sure if it's good enough for music therapy.

[ericag1]

I meant for graduate programs. I'm getting a BA in Psychology and although I had some training in classical piano, I'm not sure if it's good enough for music therapy.

it depends on where the graduate program is. At a music school or conservatory the level of proficiency is going to be quite high, but obviously there are exceptions. NYU Steinhardt has a program for example where you just have to show average levels of proficiency, expression, and accuracy

[Alou]

Taking Cognitive Psych now and kind of enjoying it. Taking Social Psych next semester along with one more. Thinking Sensation and Perception or Cognitive Neuroscience or Psychopathology...decisions decisions.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Taking Cognitive Psych now and kind of enjoying it. Taking Social Psych next semester along with one more. Thinking Sensation and Perception or Cognitive Neuroscience or Psychopathology...decisions decisions.
Take Psychopathology, it's really, really interesting.

[KingsCrossing]

Taking Cognitive Psych now and kind of enjoying it. Taking Social Psych next semester along with one more. Thinking Sensation and Perception or Cognitive Neuroscience or Psychopathology...decisions decisions.

A lot of the material on sensation and perception gets rolled into cognitive neuroscience so if I was you I'd just end up taking that course so you can kind of kill two birds with one stone.

[Alou]

Interesting idea. Might have just narrowed it down to either cognitive neuro and psychopathology. hmmm.

[perceptrons]

A lot of the material on sensation and perception gets rolled into cognitive neuroscience so if I was you I'd just end up taking that course so you can kind of kill two birds with one stone.
Havng taken both S&P and CogNeuro, I think saying they overlap a lot is a tad misleading, at least for me, though there definitely is some.

As far as the choice between CogNeuro and Psychopathology, CogNeuro wins by a landslide.

[KingsCrossing]

Havng taken both S&P and CogNeuro, I think saying they overlap a lot is a tad misleading, at least for me, though there definitely is some.

As far as the choice between CogNeuro and Psychopathology, CogNeuro wins by a landslide.

Yeah, I suppose it depends on your professor. Mine was heavy into attentional processes and perception so he put a large focus on that in the class.

As a whole, I'd also choose Cognitive Neuroscience over Psychopathology as well. Though, they're both pretty interesting.

[M.C COB]

Glad to see love for psychopathology. Doing my thesis on it.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

I'd love to someday do mine on psychopathology.

[KingsCrossing]

Officially going to be starting a doctoral program this fall for School Psychology. Super stoked :)

[Taking_Frags]

Officially going to be starting a doctoral program this fall for School Psychology. Super stoked :)

What school are you doing your studies at?

[KingsCrossing]

What school are you doing your studies at?

St. John's University in New York.

[Perkins]

currently trying to make a decision on what major i am going to study. Im abou tto finish up my first year of school and psychology is on eof the last few things i am considering. curious if some of you guys can give me examples of real world jobs that are available to psych majors. I feel like that may be one area in which i am particularly uneducated. I know that you basically need to go to the graduate/masters level to be competitive already so i guess this is geared towards jobs with those sorts of qualifications.

Basically i'm not sure what to major in and i need to choose my courses for next year and am kind of freaking out. whole thing is far more stressful than it needs to be for me.

[Taking_Frags]

St. John's University in New York.

Congratulations. Study hard my friend, study hard.

[M.C COB]

currently trying to make a decision on what major i am going to study. Im abou tto finish up my first year of school and psychology is on eof the last few things i am considering. curious if some of you guys can give me examples of real world jobs that are available to psych majors. I feel like that may be one area in which i am particularly uneducated. I know that you basically need to go to the graduate/masters level to be competitive already so i guess this is geared towards jobs with those sorts of qualifications.

Basically i'm not sure what to major in and i need to choose my courses for next year and am kind of freaking out. whole thing is far more stressful than it needs to be for me.

First off, if you want to land a solid gig in psychology you certainly need a master's at the very minimum, would strongly encourage a ph.d. Second, the types of jobs you can get with a graduate degree in psychology is INCREDIBLY broad, as is the topic. Traditionally, a master's or ph.d in psychology is used to either be a clinical psychologist (i.e., be a therapist) or enter 'academia' (being a professor/researcher). In academia there is a spectrum that ranges from heavy teaching load (think working in a small liberal arts college) to heavy researching (think large traditional research universities like Duke, UNC, Stanford).

However, you can get very clever with psychology and certainly use the various skill sets you gain in graduate school, along with a ph.d., to land a job you may not traditionally associate with psychology. For example, any ph.d. program in psychology will heavily focus on statistics so you could theoretically use that skill set and apply to various types of fields (i.e., be an epidemiologist studying health patterns or working for a firm that runs sports statistics that ESPN uses. They hire a third company to run all the stats that they report, I have met some). Additionally, grad school trains you to be a researcher. The federal government has positions specifically for individuals you know how to go about properly conducting research (not molecular or quantum physics type research however).

I know this post is quite robust but to giving you an honest answer could not have been quick reply.

[xxemo_kittyxx]

Think about what you want to be first, what matters to you and what you like. Then come back to this thread and we'll see if Psych is right for you :)

[KingsCrossing]

First off, if you want to land a solid gig in psychology you certainly need a master's at the very minimum, would strongly encourage a ph.d. Second, the types of jobs you can get with a graduate degree in psychology is INCREDIBLY broad, as is the topic. Traditionally, a master's or ph.d in psychology is used to either be a clinical psychologist (i.e., be a therapist) or enter 'academia' (being a professor/researcher). In academia there is a spectrum that ranges from heavy teaching load (think working in a small liberal arts college) to heavy researching (think large traditional research universities like Duke, UNC, Stanford).

However, you can get very clever with psychology and certainly use the various skill sets you gain in graduate school, along with a ph.d., to land a job you may not traditionally associate with psychology. For example, any ph.d. program in psychology will heavily focus on statistics so you could theoretically use that skill set and apply to various types of fields (i.e., be an epidemiologist studying health patterns or working for a firm that runs sports statistics that ESPN uses. They hire a third company to run all the stats that they report, I have met some). Additionally, grad school trains you to be a researcher. The federal government has positions specifically for individuals you know how to go about properly conducting research (not molecular or quantum physics type research however).

I know this post is quite robust but to giving you an honest answer could not have been quick reply.


All of this.

[Moosic]

What's up psychologists?! Close to my PhD here, currently teaching part time too. Would love to converse with others anytime. :)

[KingsCrossing]

What's up psychologists?! Close to my PhD here, currently teaching part time too. Would love to converse with others anytime. :)

Hey there fellow doctoral student. Congrats on almost being done! What's the focus of your PhD program?

[RyanPm40]

Psychology is a really interesting field and I would absolutely love to be a therapist, but I didn't like how colleges don't seem to have a set structure for psychology when it comes to taking the right courses for a career you want. At least at my school, you're pretty much on your own in deciding what you need to do as far as courses go and whatever things need to be done outside of school.

I'm glad to have a nursing program that tells exactly what I need to do and take throughout my entire college career. At least until my bachelor's, anyway XD

[KingsCrossing]

Psychology is a really interesting field and I would absolutely love to be a therapist, but I didn't like how colleges don't seem to have a set structure for psychology when it comes to taking the right courses for a career you want. At least at my school, you're pretty much on your own in deciding what you need to do as far as courses go and whatever things need to be done outside of school.

I'm glad to have a nursing program that tells exactly what I need to do and take throughout my entire college career. At least until my bachelor's, anyway XD

Psychology programs in undergrad are generally structured to allow students to take a wide range of courses and decide which specialty or area they find interesting. Grad programs are very structured and prepare you for your actual career.

[Moosic]

Hey there fellow doctoral student. Congrats on almost being done! What's the focus of your PhD program?

I'm in a developmental program studying youth violence and aggression. Looking to go into academia, but that sure seems to be a tough gig to get into right now. how about you?

[KingsCrossing]

I'm in a developmental program studying youth violence and aggression. Looking to go into academia, but that sure seems to be a tough gig to get into right now. how about you?

That sounds like a really cool program. I did a literature review on aggression and video game violence in youth and adolescence for my social psych class and found the research incredibly interesting.

I just started a program in school psychology - jobs aren't as plentiful as they used to be at the moment as well, but I'm hoping by the time I finish the field will rebound. My research area is mainly focused around ADHD in children and their cognitive/neuropsychological deficits.

[JALT]

Anyone going to the IARR conference in Chicago this year?

[ecartman(>< )]

truly, do you think a business management, with a minor in psychology would be a decent degree?

[JALT]

truly, do you think a business management, with a minor in psychology would be a decent degree?

If you're interested in pursuing a career in industrial psychology/HR, yes

[KingsCrossing]

Anyone going to the IARR conference in Chicago this year?

I wish I could go - this sounds really interesting and I've always wanted to visit Chicago. I'm going to the NASP conference in Philly next month (http://www.nasponline.org/conventions/2012/index.aspx) and APA's annual shindig in Orlando this summer.

[plastic_knife]

I just gave up a dead-end job I've had for almost eight years to completely change my life up and go to college for psychology. I've been really interested in cognitive psychology for a while. Hope I've made the right decision!