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Both Psy.D. and the Ph.D. degree programs lead to the doctoral degree
in psychology, which can open up many career opportunities. At least
four years of study are usually required to obtain a doctorate. If
you wish to provide psychological services, another year for the internship
and at least one additional year of supervised practice are necessary.
Individuals interested in careers as professional clinical, counseling,
or school psychologists may consider the "Professional School" doctoral
program, some of which offer the Psy.D. rather than the more traditional
Ph.D. or Ed.D. Professional schools place greater emphasis on training
students for professional practice, whereas traditional programs place
a greater emphasis on developing the psychologist as both a researcher
and a practitioner. Psy.D. programs tend to feature more structured
course sequences as well as extensive practical work.
The APA accredits programs that provide doctoral training in the professional
areas of psychology. Graduation from any of these programs is considered
appropriate preparation for the professional practice of psychology
(assuming, of course, the subsequent completion of state licensing
requirements).
Clinical: 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.
Counseling: Counseling psychologists help people to accommodate
to change or to make changes in their lifestyle. For example, they
provide vocational and career assessment and guidance or help someone
come to terms with the death of a loved one. They help students adjust
to college, and people to stop smoking or overeating. They also consult
with physicians on physical problems that have underlying psychological
causes.
Developmental psychologists study the psychological development
of the human being that takes place throughout life.
Educational psychologists concentrate on how effective teaching
and learning takes place.
Engineering psychologists conduct research on how people work
best with machines.
Forensic psychologists apply psychological principles to legal
issues.
Health psychologists are interested in how biological, psychological,
and social factors affect health and illness.
Industrial/organizational psychologists apply psychological
principles and research methods to the work place in the interest
of improving productivity and the quality of work life.
Neuropsychologists explore the relationships between brain
systems and behavior.
Quantitative and measurement psychologists focus on methods
and techniques for acquiring and analyzing psychological data.
Rehabilitation psychologists work with stroke and accident victims,
people with mental retardation, and those with developmental disabilities
caused by such conditions as cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and autism.
School psychologists work directly with public and private
schools.
Social psychologists study how a person's mental life and behavior
is shaped by interactions with other people.
Sports psychologists help athletes refine their focus on competitive
goals, become more motivated, and learn to deal with the anxiety and
fear of failure that often accompany competition.
Doctoral graduates: As might be expected, the highest paid
and greatest range of jobs in psychology are available to doctoral
graduates. Although the number of doctoral graduates has at least
doubled over the past 12 years, the demand continues to meet the supply.
Furthermore, unemployment and underemployment rates for doctoral psychologists
are slightly below the average for other scientists and engineers.
Few drop out of the field.
The greatest expansion of career opportunities for doctoral psychologists
in the last decade has been in the sub-fields of clinical, counseling,
school, health, industrial, and educational psychology. As a consequence,
proportionally fewer new doctorates have headed into faculty positions
as compared with the past.
Master's graduates: The number of psychology students who pursue
a terminal master's degree has increased six fold since 1960. Competition
for positions in psychology-related jobs is keen; nevertheless, approximately
one-third of those with a master's degree in psychology find such
work. Many handle research and data collection and analysis in universities,
government, and private companies. Others find jobs in health, industry,
and education, the primary work settings for psychology professionals
with master's degrees. With growing recognition of the role of the
psychologist in the community, more jobs for psychologists with master's
degrees may also become available in community mental health centers.
Psychologists with master's degrees often work under the direction
of a doctoral psychologist, especially in clinical, counseling, school,
and testing and measurement psychology.
Some jobs in industry, for example, in organizational development
and survey research, are held by both doctoral- and master's-level
graduates. But industry and government jobs in compensation, training,
data analysis, and general personnel issues are often filled by professionals
with master's degrees in psychology.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia have laws that require
psychologists to be licensed or certified by a state board in order
to engage in the independent and unsupervised practice of psychology.
Before enrolling in a graduate program, any student planning to seek
licensure after graduate school should contact the State Examining
Board for Psychology in the state where he/she intends to practice.
Prior to taking the licensing exam in psychology, the licensing board
reviews students' educational backgrounds carefully; having a doctoral
degree does not make a person automatically eligible to take the exam.
More information regarding licensure and a list of state licensing
boards can be obtained by contacting the APA.
The APA does not rank schools or programs. However, the APA publishes
the book Graduate Study in Psychology which lists over 550 graduate
psychology programs throughout the United States and Canada. The book
includes information on programs and degrees offered, admission requirements,
degree requirements, financial aid, tuition, deadlines, internships,
and much more! To order a copy of Graduate Study in Psychology (cost
is $19.95 + $3.50 shipping and handling), please contact the APA Order
Department at 1-800-374-2721. A list of APA accredited doctoral programs
in clinical, counseling, and school psychology can be found on the
Accreditation page or can be obtained by contacting the APA Office
of Program Consultation and Accreditation at 202-336-5979. After reviewing
these lists, it would be most helpful to contact the programs directly
for more detailed information. |
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