Psychology Professions: Educational Requirements for a Psychology Career

There are jobs within the psychology career field that require different degrees. The majority of these jobs require graduate training and many require a doctoral degree. Besides coursework, experience is incorporated into many of these programs.

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Educational Requirements for Psychology Professions

Psychological Assistants

While jobs in most psychology professions require graduate education, psychological assistants may find work with a bachelor's degree. These individuals assist psychologists with research, treatment and administrative duties. With experience, psychologist assistants may take on jobs with greater responsibility, like managing a laboratory.

Bachelor's programs include coursework that may range from neuroscience to social behavior. Some programs require students to select courses from major concentration areas, including clinical and social psychology. Basic prerequisite courses in math and foundation-level psychology may need to be completed before a student can declare psychology as their major.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists

Industrial-organizational psychologists are concerned with improving quality and productivity in workplaces. According to the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychologists, Inc., these professionals apply psychological principles to areas relevant to business, such as talent management, assessment, organizational development and performance (siop.org). They may work directly with the employees through training or counseling.

Prospective industrial-organizational psychologists need a master's degree to practice. Most colleges and universities offer a master's degree program in industrial-organizational psychology. These curricula educate students to recognize, diagnose and plan strategies to solve organizational problems. They combine advanced coursework in cognitive behavior and psychology and behavior development with research in organizational psychology.

School Psychologists

School psychologists identify children with learning difficulties or behavioral problems and plan programs for them. Typically, they work with students, their parents and school personnel to create an efficient learning environment. Outside of schools, they may work for clinics, hospitals or juvenile justice centers.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), most states require school psychologists to earn a specialist degree or its equivalent (www.bls.gov). Educational specialist (Ed.S.) degrees in school psychology include topics in counseling, child development and assessment. Ed.S. programs typically last three years and include a 1-year internship, in which they work with students, faculty members and licensed school psychologists.

Clinical Psychologists

Clinical psychologists use their knowledge in science and experience with patients to help people of all ages cope and adapt with hardships. These professionals may work in a concentration, such as health or neurology, as well as give interviews, conduct group sessions or administer diagnostic tests. As such, clinical psychologists work in many industries, including rehabilitation, substance abuse and general consulting.

The BLS indicates that most state licensing boards require clinical psychologists to have a doctorate. Individuals may enter a doctoral program directly after undergraduate school or earn a master's degree and transfer credits toward their doctorate. When pursuing a doctorate, students may choose from Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) programs. The difference is that Ph.D. programs are research-based and Psy.D. programs are geared more toward the practice of psychology.

Both Ph.D. and Psy.D. programs typically have research or experience requirements. Ph.D. programs include research-based coursework, while Psy.D. programs largely require courses in applied psychology. Topics may include substance abuse, neuropsychology and counseling. The BLS reports that some psychology Ph.D. programs require one additional year of supervised clinical experience.

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