Psychology Major

1
Psychology Major

• Chapters 2, 3, and 4

2
Why Undergraduate Psychology?

• Doesnt prepare you to be a psychologist
• Does give you a number of valuable skills
• Knowledge base
• Thinking skills
• Language skills (oral and written)
• Information gathering and synthesis
• Research methods and statistical skills
• Interpersonal skills
• History of psychology
• Ethics and values

3
Specialization as a psychologist

• Note that the careers listed are specializations
  in psychology
• Doctoral degree needed for most
• Doesnt include counseling, social work, etc.
• Clinical or Counseling Psychologist
• Forensic Psychologist
• Neuropsychologist
• Industrial/Organizational Psychologist

4
Skills that a psychology major needs

• Working effectively with others
• Using technology
• Communication
• Problem-solving

• Positive personal traits, such as
• Responsibility
• Social skills
• Stress Tolerance
• Flexibility

5
Salary issues

• Avg. starting salary for psych. majors (2001)
• 29,952 (Source National Association of Colleges
  and Employers)
• 21,900-27,200 (Source Bureau of Labor
  Statistics)
• 25,000 (1999 statistic)
• Note that salary varies greatly
• Lowest Human services, childcare
• Highest Careers related to business, sales

6
Careers related to psychology

• There are so many!
• Think outside the boxthere are many things
  that are related to psychology that arent direct
  helping professions.

7
Finding a job

• Connectionsuse whatever you have!
• Network, try to meet people in the careers in
  which you are interested.
• Internships can be a good source of connections
• Dont burn bridges, even if you dont really
  like your internship!

8
Resumes

• Format varies greatly depending upon the setting,
  career, etc.
• For graduate school application, you are
  preparing a Curriculum Vita (aka Vita or CV)
• Very detailed, thorough academic history, job
  descriptions, etc.much longer than typical res.
• For many jobs, especially at the bachelors
  level, a shorter and more concise resume is
  appropriate.

9
Recommendation Letters

• You will need rec. letters, and if its for
  graduate school, theyre going to want some
  letters from professors.
• So, get to know your professors!
• They need to be able to say things about you
  other than your grades, which means they need to
  know you outside the classroom!
• Give the recommender all the instructions, copy
  of your vita and info. on what you want to be
  highlighted, a prepared envelope, etc.