Careers in Psychology
Your psychology education opens doors to a wide range of professional avenues—allowing you to navigate and thrive in the diverse landscape of opportunities.
Even after you’ve chosen to pursue a career in psychology, you may still wonder which path is best for you. Fortunately, the options are wide open. Because psychology is such a broad field of study, your skills are well suited to a wide range of careers.
Generally speaking, psychologists use their applied knowledge and research to service the community, or they choose to advance the discipline by pursuing basic research and teaching. But in reality, the line between research and application frequently overlaps since many professionals engage in both activities. The model of the scientist-practitioner is the standard for many graduate programs, and it is based on a combination of knowledge-seeking and practical application.
An undergraduate major in psychology allows graduates to pursue paths in education, social and welfare services, health services and industry. An advanced degree in clinical psychology can lead to careers not only in practice and research, in healthcare and academic settings, but also in executive and organizational consultation. Psychology can be a platform for a great range of possibilities.
J. Christopher Muran, PhD
Dean, Gordon F. Derner School of Psychology
Center for Career and Professional Development
Explore opportunities through the career center. You can also find jobs and internships related to your degree in psychology by using Handshake, Adelphi’s online job recruiting service.
Specializations in Psychology
Because psychology is a broad field that encompasses many disciplines, most people choose to focus on one aspect. However, some professional psychologists still choose to pursue more than one specialty. Fortunately, there are many specialties to select from. The American Psychological Association (APA) offers a helpful listing as part of its Careers in Psychology resource.
American Psychological Association
Today, the American Psychological Association (APA) recognizes more than 50,000 individuals who have earned a PhD, PsyD or EdD from an accredited graduate school.
Learn more about the many professional opportunities in psychology by consulting your Adelphi adviser and networking with other students and professionals. Additional sources include:
- Careers in Psychology, a free online resource from the APA.
- The U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics offers specific information about the field, job growth, income and professional opportunities.
- Is Psychology the Major for You?, a book published by the APA, is available in the undergraduate office in 212 Blodgett Hall, or can be ordered from:
The American Psychological Association
1200 Seventeenth St., N.W.
Washington, DC 20036