1.4 Notes on Psychology Careers: Academic Paths and Beyond (Page-by-Page)
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Learning Objectives
Understand educational requirements for careers in academic settings.
Understand the demands of a career in an academic setting.
Understand career options outside of academic settings.
Overview of academic careers in psychology
Psychologists can work in many different places doing many different things.
For a career at a 4-year institution (college/university): usually a doctoral degree in psychology is required for most specialties; in some areas a master’s degree suffices.
In most areas, this means earning a PhD in a relevant area of psychology.
What PhD stands for: PhD = Doctor of Philosophy. In this context, "philosophy" refers to the broad disciplinary perspectives housed in liberal arts and sciences, not the field of philosophy per se.
PhD requirements vary by country and by school; usually must complete a dissertation.
Dissertation definition: a long research paper or a collection of published articles describing research conducted as part of doctoral training.
In the United States, the dissertation generally has to be defended before a committee of expert reviewers before the degree is conferred. (Figure 1.17)
Figure 1.17 caption note: Doctoral degrees are generally conferred in formal ceremonies involving special attire and rites. (credit: Public Affairs Office Fort Wainwright)
After earning a PhD, individuals may seek a faculty appointment at a college or university.
Key takeaway
A PhD is the typical pathway for faculty roles at 4-year institutions; the PhD process includes rigorous training and a dissertation, followed by potential faculty appointment.
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Being on the faculty of a college or university
Faculty time is usually divided among teaching, research, and service to the institution and profession.
The balance among teaching, research, and service varies dramatically between schools.
It is common for faculty to move between institutions in search of the best personal fit among different academic environments.
Diversity of academic psychology roles
The range of major areas in psychology departments means, depending on training, an individual could be a biological psychologist, a clinical psychologist, or other specialties (Figure 1.18).
Figure 1.18 caption note: Individuals earning a PhD in psychology have a range of employment options.
LINK TO LEARNING: An interactive tool exists to explore different careers in psychology based on degree levels.
Adjunct and teaching roles in academia
Often, schools have more psychology courses than their full-time faculty can teach, so adjunct faculty or instructors are brought in.
Adjunct faculty/instructors usually have an advanced degree in psychology, but their primary careers may be outside academia; they may serve as a secondary job.
Some adjuncts may not hold doctoral degrees and use these opportunities to gain teaching experience.
Many 2-year colleges (and some other institutions) hire faculty to teach psychology courses.
In general, people who pursue careers at 2-year institutions often have master’s degrees in psychology; some PhDs also teach there.
Some PhDs may enjoy research in academia but may not be interested in teaching; such individuals might hold positions devoted exclusively to research, typically at large research-focused universities.
Postdoctoral training opportunities exist for recently earned PhDs before securing a full-time faculty position.
Postdoctoral training allows young scientists to develop research programs and broaden research skills under supervision of other professionals; one or two postdocs are common before obtaining a permanent faculty role.
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Career Options Outside of Academic Settings
A PsyD (Doctor of Psychology) is another doctoral path for those pursuing clinical psychology.
PsyD programs emphasize application of psychological principles in clinical contexts rather than research-oriented skills (Norcross & Castle, 2002).
Regardless of PhD or PsyD, many states require postdoctoral work under supervision to practice as a licensed clinical or counseling psychologist; some states have begun to remove this requirement, allowing an earlier career start (Munsey, 2009).
After meeting state requirements, credentials are evaluated to determine eligibility to sit for the licensure exam. Only those who pass the licensure exam can call themselves licensed clinical or counseling psychologists (Norcross, n.d.).
Licensed clinical or counseling psychologists can work in settings ranging from private practice to hospital settings.
Differences between clinical psychology and psychiatry:
Clinical psychologists can have a PhD or a PsyD.
Psychiatrists have an MD (doctor of medicine).
Licensed clinical psychologists administer and interpret psychological tests; psychiatrists can prescribe medications.
Doctoral training outcomes (PhD) and career versatility:
A PhD can lead to a variety of settings depending on specialization. For example:
A biopsychologist might work in a pharmaceutical company testing the efficacy of a new drug.
A clinically trained psychologist might become a forensic psychologist, working within the legal system to make recommendations in criminal trials and parole hearings, or serving as an expert in court cases.
Duration of doctoral study: typically about of graduate study (DeAngelis, 2010).
Careers with a master’s degree in psychology (broader opportunities)
Master’s degrees can still lead to careers in psychotherapy by becoming licensed professional counselors (Hoffman, 2012).
Master’s degrees can also qualify individuals to work as school psychologists (NASP, n.d.), in some sport psychology roles (APA, 2014), or as consultants in various industrial settings (Landers, 2011).
Undergraduate psychology coursework provides a knowledge base and skill set attractive to many employers.
BA in psychology graduates pursue diverse careers, including:
Case managers
Sales
Human resources
Teaching in high schools
Growing healthcare professions intersect with psychology training; for example, the MCAT now includes a section on the psychological foundations of behavior, highlighting the relevance of psychology in medical education.
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BA in Psychology: Top Occupations (as reported by Fogg, Harrington, Harrington, & Shatkin, 2012)
Table 1.1: Top Occupations Employing Graduates with a BA in Psychology (Rankings)
Mid- and top-level management (executive, administrator)
Sales
Social work
Other management positions
Human resources (personnel, training)
Other administrative positions
Insurance, real estate, business
Marketing and sales
Healthcare (nurse, pharmacist, therapist)
Finance (accountant, auditor)
Source and context
Table 1.1 and the rankings are cited to illustrate broad career prospects for BA psychology graduates.
The APA provides career information about various areas of psychology (link to learning/noted as a resource).
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Additional context on the BA in Psychology outcomes
The same Table 1.1 reinforces the idea that a bachelor’s degree in psychology opens doors beyond traditional psychology roles, highlighting management, sales, social work, HR, healthcare, and finance as common sectors.
The presence of psychology in a wide variety of careers underscores the value of the psychology knowledge base (theory, research methods, understanding human behavior) in organizational, clinical, educational, and public settings.
For students planning careers, exploring the APA career information and other listed resources can help tailor coursework and internships to desired paths.
Notes on terminology and distinctions
PhD: Doctor of Philosophy; a research-focused doctoral degree leading to faculty or research-intensive roles; typically requires a dissertation and defense.
PsyD: Doctor of Psychology; a practice-oriented doctoral degree emphasizing clinical training and application.
MD: Doctor of Medicine; the degree held by psychiatrists who can prescribe medications.
Postdoctoral training: additional supervised research or clinical training after the doctoral degree, common before securing independent faculty or advanced clinician roles.
Licensure: required in many jurisdictions to practice independently as a psychologist; involves meeting state requirements and passing a licensure exam.
Summary of connections and implications
Education pathway choice (PhD vs PsyD) influences career focus (research/teaching vs. clinical practice).
Academic careers require balancing teaching, research, and service; flexibility in job settings is common, with mobility across institutions.
Non-academic career options for psychology graduates are diverse and include roles in management, sales, HR, and healthcare, among others; the psychology background remains valuable in many settings.
Licensing and certification are critical for clinical practice; understanding state requirements and credentialing processes is essential for licensure.
The field emphasizes ethical practice, quality of research, clinical competence, and ongoing professional development across all pathways.