If you’re reading this, it’s probably safe to assume that you’re either already a psych major or you’re undecided and leaning towards studying psychology. As a psychological sciences major, I think there are a couple of important things for you to know.
Psychology degrees are flexible!
People tend to lump psychology majors into the same box and assume that we are all getting a psychology degree in order to become a therapist, but there is so much more you can do with a degree in psychology. Within psychology, there are different subgroups that include abnormal psychology, biopsychology, social psychology, cognitive psychology, developmental psychology, forensic psychology, and industrial-organizational psychology, along with so many more.
Within those subgroups of psychology are various jobs that utilize the skills you learn in psychology to complete a number of different tasks.
For example, I want to become a behavioral analyst for the NSA (National Security Agency) or the FBI. Other people I’ve met majoring in psychology plan on becoming forensic psychologists who review the mental state of people accused of crimes to determine whether they are competent to stand trial. You can work in HR; you can be a mental health counselor; the options are endless.
Don’t let people tell you psychology is not stem
I can’t even begin to count all the times I’ve told people my major and been met with the “wow, that must be really easy” comment. Not only is that annoying, but it’s not true. People tend to forget that psychology is actually a part of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math). Psychology is the scientific study of the mind and behavior. Psychology uses the scientific formula; you learn research methods and conduct statistical analyses.
Many people struggle to label psychology under the natural science umbrella or social science umbrella, but it can actually fall under both. Since psychology is technically a part of STEM, be prepared for the workload. As a psych major myself, I’ve been surprised by the amount of work I’ve had to put into my classes to understand the content and maintain good grades. So keep that in mind if you’ve ever thought that psychology was a major that you could get off easy.
Be proud of your major
Psychology is a fantastic field that helps you gain a better understanding of yourself and other people; with the knowledge of how the mind functions and human behavior, you can go out into the world with more empathy for others. When you graduate and move into your career, you can impact other people’s lives and even change the world. Don’t let anyone ever make you feel bad about your major; psychology is an essential part of everyday life, and, hey, curious people are often the revolutionaries.
