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Psychology Department |
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The most intensive psychology-related and best paying work is available only to persons with graduate degrees. Nonetheless, many psychology majors with B.A. degrees find satisfying employment within or outside the field of psychology. The Bachelor's degree in psychology functions like, and is probably as marketable as, any other liberal arts degree. Indeed, because of the importance of "people skills" in most types of work, many employers favor psychology majors. To make the most of that degree, Calvin College offers several kinds of assistance. Broene Counseling Center The Broene Counseling Center offers its services to all students at Calvin and provides help in identifying and organizing personal interests and career goals. Each of the counselors can assist with career planning as well as counseling geared toward self-growth and under-standing. Cousework and individual Preparation Although career counseling is a vitally important step in discovering interest and opportunities, a careful selection of courses is equally important. At least some of the classes you choose at Calvin, whether for core requirements, a psychology major, or electives, should be relevant for work after graduation. Aim to develop some of the specific skills mentioned under job opportunities. Take advantage of the wide variety of courses Calvin offers. Be assured that a solid degree in psychology will serve you well, but also be aware that many employers respect a college record which gives evidence of a wide range of interests and abilities. You may find it helpful to talk to upper-class students, graduates, or faculty members to get opinions on course selection. Make an effort to get personally acquainted with some professors. Developing a professional network (a collection of people in the field whom you know and who know you) can be a great asset in finding entry-level positions and apprenticeships, assistantships, and in connecting with other professionals. Student memberships with organizations like the American Psychological Association (APA), the American Psychological Society (APS), and the Christian association for Psychological Studies (CAPS) are beneficial for additional involvement with the field of psychology. (Information on these organizations is available in the Psychology Department Office. Career Services The services of the Office of Career Development (Library Lobby 372) are open to all Calvin students. Seniors who will be seeking employment after graduation are encouraged to take advantage of this help during the fall semester of their senior year. Psychology majors can benefit from the services of the Career Services in several ways. For example, it offers help with writing resumes and training for skillful interviewing. The Career Services also has information concerning the outlook for employment in such psychology-related fields as social work, education, counseling, personnel, and rehabilitation. A list of jobs that Calvin graduates have accepted is also available. They also provide vocational guidance by means of testing, career files, and a computerized career informational program at any time during a student's college career. You can also visit the Career Resource Center located on the 2nd floor of the Hekman Library. Psychology as a Liberal Arts Degree. As a wide ranging liberal arts degree, psychology prepares you to work in a large variety of fields that require critical thinking, problem solving, and general human relations skills. Many employers in business, for example, look for general liberal arts graduates. Keep in mind that many jobs and careers do not fit into the disciplinary or professional categories that we use in college. You have the opportunity to use your liberal arts background in careers as diverse as your imagination allows. Psychology as a Social Science Degree. Many graduates look for work more directly related to psychology. Many psychology majors have found work at places like Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Wedgwood Christian Youth and Family Services, Hope (Rehabilitation) Network, or state departments of social services. (Many majors greatly enhance their marketability by working at such places during their college years.) Managed health care has, in recent years, had significant and pervasive effects. One major implication is that it appears there will be more meaningful job opportunities for BA and MA-level people but new challenges for clinicians with doctorates. When you think about employment, keep in mind the following specific skills that you can acquire as a result of your psychology major:
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The following statement, taken from Paul Woods' book, The Psychology Major neatly and concisely conveys the main ideas regarding employment for BA Psychology major: "Most of the readers of the present book are, for the time being at least, primarily concerned with employment prospects at the baccalaureate level. Those graduating from college with majors in psychology are similar to and different from all other college graduates. They are just as well qualified and should be as competitive and successful in the general job market as many other liberal arts graduates. But those aspects of their training that deal with the subject matter and methodology of psychology (including experimental methodology and statistics and an appreciation of the relatively unique ways psychologists view human behavior) give them a distinct advantage over other graduates in a variety of job situations. At this level of education we cannot talk about jobs for psychologists; those graduates looking for a job should not expect to find "psychology major" listed in the qualifications or job description. A student graduating as a psychology major cannot expect to be employed as a psychologist any more than a student graduating from a prelaw program, say, can expect to be employed as a lawyer. Yet the psychology major is generally prepared for a wide variety of roles and is specifically prepared to fill many of them better and more competently than people who have majored in other fields." Additional resources regarding careers include the following (available in the Psychology Department Library and on reading reserve in the Calvin College Hekman Library): Morgan, B. L. & Korschgen, A.J. (1998). Majoring in Psychology: Career Options for Psychology Undergraduates. Boston, MA: Allyn & Bacon. ISBN: 0-205-27525-7. Although this book could probably be more complete, it is a quick way to answer questions posed by some of the chapter titles. Should I be a psychology major?; How can I be sure?; Will I get a job?; What kinds of jobs are available?; Will I make any money?; What resources are available? How do I do a job search?; Do I want to go to graduate school?; etc. Sternberg, R. J. (Ed.). (1997). Career Paths in Psychology: Where your degree can take you. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. ISBN: 1-55798-411-2. This book describes how some psychologists have arrived at some very specialized careers within psychology. However, it may not be as helpful as the title applies. You may also visit the careers hyomepage of the American Psychological Association at www.apa.org/students/brochure/ Be sure to visit each of the successive links on this page.
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| Our psychology majors have found psychology-related employment in the following fields: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| account officer |
infant stimulation teacher parent educator
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