Types Of Psychology Degrees
If you are looking to pursue a career in psychology, there are different types of psychology degrees available both at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. However, there are different levels of education attached to certain careers. You have to know which level you should be targeting in order to attain your career goal. For some career, a bachelor’s degree may be enough but some careers options might require a postgraduate degree. Below are the types of psychology degrees available for any chosen career in psychology.
Associate Degree in Psychology
This is the most basic of all types of psychology degrees . 2 years is the normal duration for this program and it is usually used as a stepping stone for more advanced degrees. These programs are usually available at community colleges. Graduates from this program can work as psychiatric technicians in mental hospitals. There are not many entry-level professions available for associate degree holders. Most of the professions will require a minimum of a bachelor’s degree, which is why most students would go on to complete a bachelor’s degree in a state university after the associate degree program.
Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology
This is an undergraduate program that lasts for four years and about 8 academic semesters. There are two groups for these types of psychology degrees : the Bachelor of Science (B.Sc. or B.S.) and the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). B.sc. courses tens to dwell more on science related subjects while B.A courses are more inclined to liberal arts.
Holders of these types of psychology degrees have more job opportunities than holders of associate degrees. However, there are equally some positions that would need advanced types of psychology degrees. In this case, a postgraduate study will be needed to be relevant in such job opening. In a recent survey, about 25% of bachelor’s degree holders often find work in areas related to their field of study. Common jobs available for bachelor degree holders in psychology include rehabilitation specialists, career counselors, psychiatric technicians, and case managers. They can equally work in fields other than their core areas such as childcare, teaching, marketing, sales and advertising.
Master’s Degree in Psychology
These types of psychology degrees usually take about 2 to 3 years to complete depending on the university. It is a graduate level degree that gives individuals a wide range of options in their career paths. This is why it is the most popular of all types of psychology degrees. The degree has two distinct groups: the Master of Science (M.Sc. or M.S.) or the Master of Arts (M.A.) in psychology.
Some of the jobs available for a master’s degree holder include human resource manager, child protection worker, behavioral counselor, alcohol and drug specialist, and social service manager. They can work in business organizations, government agencies, or mental health services.
Ph.D. in Psychology
This is the most advanced of all types of psychology degrees and it usually takes between 5 to seven years to complete. It is more research oriented and requires the completion of a thesis, coursework, and series of exams within the 7-year period. A Ph.D. in psychology gives you the chance to obtain a professorship if you are interested in becoming a lecturer. It will equally be better to have a Pd.D. if you want to open a private practice or you want to work in psychotherapy.
