Career Opportunities in Psychology

What can I do with a major in Psychology?

Graduate/Professional School Opportunities

Recent graduates have entered well-respected doctoral or master’s programs, including those at:

• North Carolina State University
• Kent State University
• Ohio University
• University of Virginia
• Bowling Green State University
• Ball State University
• University of Cincinnati

Other students have remained at Heidelberg to complete a Master of Arts in Counseling or have gone on to law school and medical school.

Employment Opportunities

Graduates not wishing to pursue advanced degrees can work in a variety of positions, such as:

• Sales consultants
• Probation officers
• Job trainers
• Human resources administrators
• Caregivers for people with developmental disabilities

For additional information about employment opportunities in Psychology, consult:

• Career Paths in Psychology: Where Your Degree Can Take You by Robert J. Sternberg
• Great Jobs for Psychology Majors by Julie Degalan and Stephen Lambert

Or visit the following websites:

• Online Psychology Career Center
• Careers in Psychology

Alumna Profile

Ashley Hoffman, ‘07

While at Heidelberg, Ashley was a Psychology Major – Mental Health Track. She is now a graduate student at North Carolina State where she is pursuing a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.
 
Ashley noted that her Heidelberg education helped prepare her for graduate school in a number of ways. First and foremost she appreciated that many Psychology classes were run in a “seminar style” to help encourage discussion and participation amongst students. She explained that this was essential to her transition to graduate school, “where most of the classes are run in this manner.”
 
In addition, Ashley acknowledged the leadership development opportunities Heidelberg offered her. Such leadership positions taught her “the importance of personal responsibility and motivation, both of which are very important regarding success in graduate school.” She also found the internship required for the Mental Health Track to be extremely beneficial: “I'm not sure how programs at other schools work, but I know that my experiences in my internship have made the theories we learn in grad school less abstract because I have already had that experience.”
 
However, Ashley most valued the personal relationships she developed with her Psychology professors: “The psychology field is very competitive, and getting into a good grad program can be difficult. Having that personal relationship with professors really helped when it came time to get information about grad school, recommendation letters and tips on how to be successful.”
 
Overall, Ashley credits Heidelberg with preparing her for the future: “The choice to come to Heidelberg is an interesting one. On one hand, I could have gone to a well-known school and gotten a ‘big name’ degree. On the other hand, I could go to Heidelberg and get the information necessary to be successful while fostering important networking relationships with my future colleagues, and having a one-on-one relationship with my professors. I am so glad that I chose to attend Heidelberg, and I feel confident that the opportunities afforded to me through Heidelberg have led me to the success I am enjoying today.”