Are you fascinated by the inner workings of the human mind? Perhaps you’re passionate about helping people lead better lives. Maybe you’re looking for a stable, satisfying and lucrative career where you can make a difference. Whatever the case, it seems that studying psychology would be the first step towards achieving your goal.
You’re not alone in that endeavor. In fact, psychology is one of the most popular degrees around the world. Knowing the benefits of pursuing a career in psychology, it’s easy to see why. The degree itself is a great avenue for personal growth. Moreover, the opportunities that open up to you upon graduation aren’t limited to clinical practice.
Let’s start by taking a look at some of the different psychology-related careers that are out there.
Careers Related to Psychology
In addition to clinical psychology, there are a couple of specialty areas for you to consider. This includes:
- Sports Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
- Health Psychology
- Industrial Psychology
- Aviation Psychology
But these aren’t your only options. For instance, you can also become an art therapist, whose job is to help clients enhance their emotional wellbeing through a combination of psychotherapy and art. Another option involves assisting people with their career choices as a vocational counselor.
If you have an affinity for technology, the emerging field of engineering psychology is worth considering. Those who enjoy working with children can become a special education teacher, while those with an athletic inclination should look into sports psychology. Many other fields, including journalism and law, involve psychology to some degree. Keep in mind that some of these professions might require you to have a masters degree in psychology.
Knowing your options can help you make a more informed decision about whether or not to study the subject. But what else should you consider before making a final decision?
What to Consider Before Studying Psychology
As you can see, the employment opportunities for psychology students are more diverse than it seems. It’s worth noting that some of them have lower barriers to entry than others, which can be advantageous if you prefer spending less time in class before moving into the career world.
Be sure to ask yourself whether you’ll have the commitment and resources to pursue the specific career you want. Perhaps you should spend some time researching alternative fields and what is required to enter them. As you explore your options, ask yourself the following questions:
- Do people with my personality thrive in this career?
- What does this job involve on a daily basis?
- Is this career challenging and rewarding enough?
- Will this field still be around and thriving in a decade?
While you shouldn’t let it have too much of an influence on your decision, it’s important to consider whether the salary of the career you’re looking into is sufficient for your desired lifestyle. Granted, most psychology-related careers have excellent pay. Below are some additional reasons to study psychology.
Reasons to Study Psychology
Aside from opening the door to a wide range of careers with generous compensation, there are several other benefits to studying psychology. Here is a couple of them:
1. Work with Data
When you study psychology, some of your time will be dedicated to understanding research methods and statistics. Not everyone is fond of it, but knowing how to record, organize, and interpret data is a valuable skill both in and outside of the work world. It’s one of the ways that studying psychology can help you change the way you see the world.
2. Learning Options
Before you can study psychology, you need to find the right university. This has challenged many students in the past. But today, a wealth of resources is available to make things easier. For instance, you can conduct your search at Uni Compare to start looking for the best universities that offer psychology courses.
The website includes all that you need to know about each institution to help you easily make the right choice. This way, you can identify the highest quality education at a cost that suits your financial situation.
3. Gain Useful Skills
In addition to working with data, studying psychology can teach you numerous skills. This includes predicting and understanding individual and group behavior. You’ll also be more proficient in determining the legitimacy of claims, which is invaluable in all aspects of life. Insight into problematic behaviors is another skill that you’ll gain.
Studying psychology will help you better demonstrate the capacity to improve and adapt to change. Moreover, you’ll learn how to navigate stressful situations and environments. These are just some of the skills you’ll learn that will prove immensely powerful in work and personal life.
4. Rewarding Experience
Many students struggle with their tertiary education due to a lack of interest in the work. But in psychology, you might just want to study the subject for the love of the subject matter alone. It’s a fascinating field that will keep you captivated and motivated as you move through your courses. Plus, you’ll have plenty of fellow students at your side.
With that said, let’s end things off with a few considerations.
Final Considerations
If you’re still undecided, the following points may help you obtain some clarity:
- Write down your talents, interests, and career goals.
- Consult with an academic advisor or someone who is already in the field for some insight.
- Think about whether you will be able to commit to university for as long as required.
Keeping the above points in mind should help you decide whether or not to study psychology. If you’re genuinely interested, then it’s definitely worth pursuing as the benefits are clear.
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