As you pursue a Psychology degree, it is natural (and encouraged!) to think “what’s next?”
The path forward in Psychology is broad and varied, depending on your goals, expectations, and how you want to make an impact. To employers and graduate schools, PSY majors are those who can work well with others, analyze and interpret information, understand people’s behavior and motivations, and communicate clearly.
This page will help you explore what you can do and how you can prepare for your next steps, post-MSU.
What can I do with a PSY Degree?
A PSY degree is like a Swiss Army knife. While engineers or accountants have training that’s very sharp and specific (think: scalpel), PSY majors possess a flexible skillset that allows you to adjust and fit into a variety of careers.
So, how do you figure out what’s right for you?
Step 1: Reflect
Reflect on your interests using the P.A.C.E Method:
- People
- Who do you want to work with? Spend your time with? Make an impact with/on?
- Action
- What type of work do you want to do?
- Picture what you might do: are you an advocate? Hands-on worker? Consultant? Others?
- Community
- What sort of community do you belong to? Want to belong to? Have an impact on?
- Environment
- What type of organization do you want to work for/with? Nonprofit? Fortune 500 company? Government?
- Do you want to work in your local community or travel the world? Do you prefer big-city or small-town living?
- Do you prefer a desk job or staying on the move?
Step 2: See what’s out there
- Explore common job options associated with a Psychology degree (psst, check out our list below).
- Plug these job titles into career websites like Handshake and ZipRecruiter to get a sense of a role’s:
- Responsibilities and tasks.
- Educational requirements and qualifications.
- Build relevant experience!
- Visit our Experiential Learning page for ideas.
- Attend Career and Internship Fairs to explore opportunities.
Need Support?
- Check in regularly with your PSY advisor about your career interests and plans.
- MSU’s Career Service Network Consultants can help you:
- Map out your career pathway.
- Create a job search strategy.
- Write resumes and cover letters.
- Prepare for interviews.
- Evaluate job offers.
What jobs can I get with a degree in psychology?
It’s a common misconception that you need a graduate degree in PSY to get a decent job. While some jobs do require graduate education (e.g., mental health practitioner), many do not.
Human Resources and Business Roles
- HR specialist
- Market research analyst
- Public relations specialist
- Sales representative
- Employee relations
- Training and development specialist
Social Service & Community Support
- Case manager
- Social services coordinator
- Community outreach coordinator
- Victim advocate
- Housing specialist
- Homeless shelter worker
- Crisis hotline operator
Healthcare and Mental Health Support
- Behavioral health technician
- Patient advocate
- Personal care aide
- Health educator
Education and Youth Support
- Childcare worker
- Paraprofessional
- Tutoring center coordinator
- Education program assistant
Law and Corrections
- Correctional/probation officer
- Legal assistant
- Social services liaison
- Court advocate
- Juvenile advocate
For more information and details, review What Can I Do With This Major? via MSU Career Services Network.
Counselor/Therapist
- Requires an approved master’s degree to qualify for licensure
- Many types of counselors and therapists exist:
- Mental health therapist/counselor
- Marriage and family therapist
- Substance abuse counselor
- School counselor
- Rehabilitation counselor
- Art therapist
- Play therapist
- Trauma therapist
- Youth counselor
- Crisis counselor
(Clinical) Social Worker
- Requires completion of an accredited MSW program
- Many types of social workers exist:
- Mental health social worker
- Child and family social worker
- School social worker
- Healthcare social worker
- Substance abuse social worker
- Military social worker
- Housing social worker
- Rehabilitation social worker
Psychologist
- Requires a PhD or PsyD
- Many types of psychologists exist:
- Clinical psychologist
- Counseling psychologist
- School psychologist
- Industrial/organizational psychologist
- Health psychologist
- Sports psychologist
- Environmental psychologist
- Consumer psychologist
- Cross-cultural psychologist
- Child psychologist
- Social psychologist
- Developmental psychologist
Psychiatrist
- Requires medical school training.
- Check out MSU Pre-Health for more information on medical school.
Is graduate school for me?
Graduate school represents a significant commitment of time, energy, and resources (money!), regardless of your pathway and direction. Here are a few questions to consider as you think about graduate school:
- What is your motivation for graduate school?
- Is graduate school necessary for your career pathway?
- Can you navigate your career pathway by building skills and gaining experience, rather than more education?
- Do you have all the information you need to decide (understanding of timeline of the program, funding options to pay for the program, living options and expenses, etc.)?
- Are there other factors influencing your choice? What are they?
- Are you (or will you be) a qualified candidate?
- Graduate admissions at the master’s level often requires:
- a 3.0 minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA.
- a CV/resume with experiences relevant to your pathway (e.g., internships, research, volunteering, and related).
- Doctoral graduate programs are more competitive, typically requiring:
- a 3.6 minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA.
- A CV/resume with significant and sustained involvement in experiences relevant to your pathway (e.g., research, internships, clinical hours, etc., depending on the program).
- Strong letters of recommendation are a must for graduate school acceptance. These most often come from faculty with whom you have cultivated a strong, professional connection.
- Graduate admissions at the master’s level often requires:
- When is the right time for graduate school?
- Some students are ready to continue straight into further education after completing the bachelor’s degree and apply during senior year.
- Other students take a ‘gap year’ - a break in time to think about their goals and interests, gain experience, save money, etc. while also working on their application materials.
How do I get Prepared for Graduate School?
Graduate school applications include five main components:
GPA/Transcript
- Tells your academic story.
- Shows academic performance, course rigor, and grade trends.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
- Tells the story of what you have done outside the classroom.
- Highlights relevant experience including:
- Undergrade Research
- Internships
- Volunteer work
- Leadership development
- Should be tailored to the specific program and field, not a generic list of everything you have ever done.
Application Statements (Essays)
- Most graduate programs will ask you to write at least one application statement. Common types of application essays include:
- Statements of Purpose
- Personal Statements
- Diversity Statements
- Program-specific Essays (e.g., client case study, short-answer questions)
- Typically address your academic and professional goals, preparation (i.e., experience), and motivation for graduate study.
- Demonstrate your familiarity and fit with a graduate by referencing their faculty, research labs, and/or program strengths.
Letters of Recommendation
- Typically 3 letters from professors, supervisors, or professionals who know your work.
- Among the most influential parts of your application because they offer an outside perspective on your abilities, character, and potential.
Standardized Tests (if required)
- Some programs require that you take and report your scores for standardized tests.
- For PSY and PSY-related programs, the Graduate Records Exam (GRE) is most common. This assesses
- Verbal Reasoning,
- Quantitative Reasoning, and
- Analytical Writing.
Have questions about graduate school, the application process, or how to get started? Make an appointment with a PSY advisor.
FAQs
In short, it depends.
Some students think that the BS degree (with STEM coursework) is the only way to graduate school, but if you earn low grades in STEM courses, you may significantly hurt your chances for admission. If your future graduate program does not require or recommend those courses, you could have just lowered your GPA for no reason.
Planning a career in healthcare, research, or brain-focused areas of psychology? A BS is a good idea ...if you can take STEM coursework and maintain strong grades. For most other career areas (including counseling/therapy, business, HR, human services, and law), a BA can be just as competitive as a BS.
Most graduate programs want a diversity of courses. They also want students to show that they can do well in challenging courses. This can be done through either the BA or the BS degree in Psychology. It is most important to do well in the most challenging courses that you can handle.
We recommend looking ahead to see what courses are recommended by the graduate programs to which you plan to apply.
- A bachelor's in PSY opens doors to diverse careers across business, healthcare, and social services.
- Salary varies greatly depending on the specific job field.
- A master's degree or licensure (e.g., Licensed Professional Counselor or Licensed Clinical Social Worker) substantially increases earning potential.
Entry-Level Starting Salary
- Entry-level positions often begin around $45,000.
- Location makes a significant difference.
Longer-Term Outlook
- Median annual wage for PSY bachelor's holders is approximately $60,000–$65,000
- Long-term earnings approach $67,000 annually.
Data from careersinpsychology.org, (2025)
Elective space in the PSY degree offers an amazing opportunity to take classes that may help inform your interests and career choices.
Below is a summary of sample elective areas related to common PSY career fields:
Business and Industry
- ACC – Accounting
- ADV - Advertising
- COM – Communications
- EC – Economics
- FI – Finance
- GBL – General Business / Law
- HB – Hospitality Business
- HRLR – Human Resources & Labor Relations
- MKT – Marketing
- MGT - Management
Education
- CEP – Counseling & Educational Psychology
- COM – Communication
- HDFS – Human Development & Family Studies
- SOC – Sociology
- TE – Teacher Education
Human Resources
- COM – Communications
- GBL – General Business / Law
- HB – Hospitality Business
- HRLR – Human Resources & Labor Relations
- MGT – Management
- PHL - Philosophy
- SOC – Sociology
Human & Social Services
- CEP – Counseling & Educational Psychology
- COM – Communication
- HDFS – Human Development & Family Studies
- PHL - Philosophy
- SOC – Sociology
- SW – Social Work
- TE – Teacher Education
According to the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE), “career readiness is a foundation from which to demonstrate requisite core competencies that broadly prepare the college educated for success in the workplace and lifelong career management.”
NACE defines eight career readiness competencies in:
- Career & Self-Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity & Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
More information on these can be found on NACE's Career Readiness page.
To best prepare for your next steps in your career pathway, connect with MSU Career Services Network.
The MSU Career Services Network has a variety of resources and supports for students to navigate career options, including advising, skill and experience assessments, professional development workshops, career fairs, mock interviews, resume/cover letter support, and more!