Psychology is becoming increasingly popular among students. And it’s no surprise – it’s a fascinating subject that allows you to explore the inner workings of the mind and better understand human behaviour.
But you’re probably wondering, what exactly can I do with a psychology degree?
Well, for starters, with a BPS accredited Psychology degree you can move on to specialist postgraduate study and train to become a chartered psychologist. However, you aren’t limited to just this role; what you learn can be applied to so many other areas.
Here are five fantastic career options for psychology graduates.
Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychologists work within the criminal justice system. They have an exciting and wide ranging remit which can include conducting one-on-one assessments of prisoners and offenders, providing expert testimonials in court, and developing offender treatment and rehabilitation programmes.
While many forensic psychologists work within a legal setting, it’s a varied role that can see you working in variety of places (prisons, rehabilitation units, social services departments) and with a range of stakeholders (victims of crime, prison officers, psychiatrists).
Psychotherapist
If you’re someone who enjoys helping others, a career in psychotherapy could be very rewarding. Psychotherapists work with individuals and groups to help them overcome issues such as stress, emotional problems and mental illness.
In this role, you’ll run private sessions with clients where you’ll actively listen to them, encourage them to reflect on their personal issues and help them to develop strategies for coping with and overcoming these issues.
In order to become a psychotherapist, you’ll need to complete a postgraduate course that is accredited by the UKCP (UK Council for Psychotherapy) or BPC (British Psychoanalytic Council), as well as a set number of hours in practice.
Teacher
As a psychology graduate you’ll have a fantastic understanding of group dynamics and behavioural issues, which makes teaching a super suitable career option.
You could teach psychology and share your enthusiasm for the subject with the next generation of psychologists. Alternatively, you could consider a different subject or look into a specialism such as primary education or SEN (Special Educational Needs).
There are various routes you can take to become a teacher, however, the most common one is to complete a one-year PGCE course, where you’ll learn important teaching theory and gain the classroom experience necessary to set your career off to a flying start.
Human Resources Officer
Human resources is all about people, and as a psychology graduate you’ll have a deep understanding of people and their behaviours.
A human resources officer is responsible for advising on, developing and implementing policies and procedures relating to the effective use of employees within an organisation.
It’s a truly varied role where you could find yourself jumping from assisting managers on implementing new policies and procedures, to creating a job advertisement, to delivering staff training, and much more, all within the same day.
Life Coach
Where psychologists are concerned with deep emotional issues, life coaches are focused on helping people improve their lives by working towards carefully developed goals. Life coaches can specialise in all sorts of areas, like career coaching, personal development and relationships.
Life coaching is not a regulated field, which means you don’t need specific qualifications. However, if you’re operating as a freelance coach, it’s worth completing a course with a professional body such as the AC (Association for Coaching) or BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy), to demonstrate your experience and professionalism to potential clients.
Psychology is an exciting subject that can unlock the pathways to an impressive array of careers that will put your skills to use and keep you stimulated as you make your way in the world.
Feeling psyched about psychology? Head to our website for more info about Psychology at Bradford.
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