Choosing a Career in Psychology - A Guide to Graduate School Admissions

Aug 30, 2026

Guide on choosing a psychology career and evaluating whether graduate school is the right next step. Explains key graduate pathways including the Ph.D. and Psy.D. clinical routes, contrasts their research versus clinical emphasis, and outlines how class size and work settings may differ. Also covers master’s training options and school psychology roles, then presents a structured self-check framework for deciding when to pursue advanced study and how to plan applications, requirements, and fee waivers.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages12

Reading Time30 min

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Choosing a Career in Psychology

Graduate Programs in Psychology

Clinical and Counseling Psychology

School Psychology

Industrial/Organizational Psychology

Is Graduate School Right for Me?

Why are you considering a graduate degree?

When should you consider obtaining a graduate degree?

Overview: Application Requirements

Application Fee Waiver Programs

# CHOOSINGA CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY Graduate Programs in Psychology Clinical and Counseling Psychology The Ph.D.(doctor of philosophy)degree in clinical psychology is the traditional doctoral degree,symbolizing graduate training in both the science and practice of clinical psychology.Theseprograms educate students about issues related to mental health and mental health treatment.Many programs emphasize research and will require you to take courses in statistics andexperimental design.You will be expected to conduct experimental research,which willculminate in your dissertation. The Psy.D.stands for Doctor of Psychology and is similar to the Ph.D.(Doctor of Philosophy)inacademic standing.The Psy.D.is designed primarily to train psychologists to be clinicians ableto work in a wide range of clinical settings.Generally the emphasis is on clinical work andfocuses less heavily on research than Ph.D.programs.Psy.D.clinical psychologists usually workin hospitals,clinics,and private practice.Psy.D.programs tend to have more students per classthan Ph.D.programs as many as 30 or 40,as compared to 5 or 10 in the Ph.D.programs. Master's degree-A Master's degree(M.A.,M.S.,M.Ed.,M.S.W.)can be suitable training formany industrial positions and for clinical or counseling positions.While admission to a Master'sprogram is much less competitive than admission to a Ph.D.program,career opportunities aremore limited. School Psychology School psychologists are training to do counseling and psychological testing in a school setting.Their strength,therefore,is their understanding of school systems and education.They may workwith the children in the school or the staff.Some school psychologists may also have a privatepractice.Some school psychology programs offer the Ed.D.Others,which may place moreemphasis on research training,will offer the Ph.D. ## Industrial/Organizational Psychology Industrial Psychology majors study psychology as it applies to the workplace:attitudes ofemployees and employers,organizational behavior,workplace environment and its effects,andmuch,much more.The program of study includes topics such as personality,cognition,perception,and human development.You might be given the option to take relevant businesscourses,such as management,since you will focus on organizational settings # IS GRADUATE SCHOOL RIGHT FOR ME? Quintessential Careers: Considering Graduate School?Answer These Four Questions Before You Decideby Randall S.Hansen,Ph.D. Deciding to seek one or more graduate degrees is a major commitment of time and money;adecision not to take lightly.You will face several years of intense work and research ---a muchmore demanding course load than in your undergraduate program.Before deciding your nextstep,you should take the time to honestly answer these five questions. ## Why are you considering a graduate degree? Career Goal:You need to have a clear understanding of what you want to do with your career --and how earning a graduate degree will help you reach that goal.If you have any doubt at allabout your professional goals,consider putting off graduate school and,instead,spend some timeworking on some self-assessment and career planning.If you go to graduate school without aclear goal,you willprobably end up wasting both time and money. While certain careers definitely require an advanced degree --doctors and lawyers,for example--many other careers offer plenty of job opportunities for job-seekers with just an undergraduatedegree.In fact,in some situations having an advanced degree can actually hurt you in ajobsearch if you also have little or no job experience. Compensation:Most studies show that people with advanced degrees earn more on average thanpeople with bachelor's degrees.According to the U.S.Census Bureau,in 1998 the averageworker with a bachelor's degree earned $40,478,while a worker with a master's degree earned$51,183,and a worker with a doctorate earned $77,445 Staying Marketable:While a

FAQs

What is the difference between a Ph.D. and a Psy.D. in clinical psychology?

The Ph.D. is a traditional doctoral track emphasizing both science and practice, with stronger research requirements such as statistics, experimental design, and dissertation work. The Psy.D. trains clinicians for a wide range of clinical settings with less emphasis on research than the Ph.D.

Do master’s degrees in psychology provide career training, and how do they compare to Ph.D. admissions?

A master’s degree (such as M.A., M.S., M.Ed., or M.S.W.) can be suitable for industrial roles and some clinical or counseling positions. Admission is generally less competitive than a Ph.D., but career opportunities are described as more limited.

What self-check questions should be answered before deciding on graduate school?

The document frames the decision as a major commitment and recommends answering key questions about career goals, when to pursue a degree, and how a graduate degree affects outcomes like employability, compensation, and marketability. It also advises delaying graduate school if career goals are unclear.

Aug 30, 2026

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