Career Planning

What can I do with an undergraduate degree in Psychology?

Our psychology program offers a broad foundation, covering essential areas such as social, cognitive, abnormal, personality, and developmental psychology. You'll gain a well-rounded understanding of human behavior that is applicable to various fields.

Whether you're looking to jump straight into the workforce or pursue graduate education in psychology or related fields like social work or counseling, our program prepares you for both paths by focusing on coursework and the importance of hands-on learning through internships and volunteer opportunities. Develop critical skills in communication, leadership, teamwork, and more—qualities that employers highly value.

Some of the highly transferable skills our PSY graduates have are:

Oral and written communication skills
Critical thinking skills
Teamwork
Problem solving
Leadership
Research methodology
Computer literacy
Work experience

Psychology Bachelor's Degree Career Areas

A psychology bachelor’s degree can prepare you for a variety of career industries. This section provides an overview of potential career areas you can pursue.

Human Services
Common Career Paths
Direct care:

Counseling

Psychotherapy

Applied behavior analysis

Art therapy

Music therapy

Case management

Mental health services
Direct care (continued):

Physical health and wellness

Crisis work

Rehabilitation services (e.g., speech, physical, vocational therapies)

Performance enhancement

Testing/Assessment

Law enforcement
Administration:

Advocacy

Programming

Community relations

Management

Development/Fundraising

Grant writing
Employers

Federal government:

Health and Human Services

Justice

Veterans Affairs

State government:

Departments of Human Services

Departments of Mental Health

Departments of Justice

Community mental health centers

State psychiatric hospitals

Facilities for individuals with intellectual impairments

Boards of probation and parole

Local government

Senior citizens’ centers

Nursing homes

Social service/Nonprofit organizations

Religiously-affiliated service organizations

Hospitals/Healthcare providers

Private psychiatric facilities

Outpatient clinics

Employee Assistance Programs (EAP)

College and university counseling centers and career centers

Pain clinics

Rehabilitation facilities

Testing centers

Private practice
Education
Common Career Paths
- Teaching
- Adult learning/Community instruction (e.g., GED classes, life skills, parenting, etc.)
- Information/Library science
- Higher education administration and student support services:
  
  Admissions
  
  Financial aid
- Continued:
  
  Academic advising
  
  Development
  
  Alumni affairs
  
  International education and study abroad
  
  Career services
- Continued:
  
  Residence life
  
  Student activities and Greek life
  
  Orientation
  
  Leadership
  
  Multicultural affairs
  
  Recreational sports
Employers
- Public and private K-12 schools
- Colleges and universities
- Government agencies
- Federal Trio programs (e.g., Upward Bound, Talent Search)
- Nonprofit organizations (e.g., Project Grad)
- College prep programs
Human Resources
Common Career Paths
- Employment and recruitment
- Selection
- Labor relations
- Compensation and benefits
- Organizational development
- Training
Employers
- Large companies
- Government agencies
- Staffing and employment services
- Large nonprofit organizations
- Hospitals
- Educational institutions
Business and Industry
Common Career Paths
- Sales
- Customer service
- Public relations
- Marketing
- Advertising
- Insurance
- Claims management
- Underwriting
- Product design
- Management
- Real estate
- Sales
- Property management
Employers
- Service providers
- Wholesalers
- Manufacturers
- Retail stores:
  
  Department stores
  
  Specialty stores
  
  Discount stores
  
  Super retailers
  
  Online retailers
- Call centers
- Financial institutions
- Insurance companies
- Real estate companies
- Property management firms
- Apartment complexes
- Public relations departments of large businesses or nonprofit organizations

Plan for your future today.

Your academic performance and proactive career planning are key to standing out in the job market. Take steps each semester, beginning already as a first year student! Incorporate a combination of coursework and experiential learning throughout your degree. Below is an overview of resources and a suggested timeline for steps you can take to set yourself up for success.

Overview of Resources

Connect on Handshake

Set up and maintain your profile on Handshake. Find internship and job positions, in addition to career events and career advising, all in one place.

Visit Center for Community Engaged Learning

Apply learning through community partnerships with volunteer and service-Learning opportunities.

Visit Student Life for how to get involved on campus.

Join a student organization, participate in campus activities, and pursue leadership opportunities.

Complete Your Experiential Learning

Complete an internship, join a research lab or consider studying abroad. Explore all of your options by talking with a PSY advisor.

Explore Department Research & Connect with Faculty

Build relationships with faculty to gain research opportunities, letters of recommendation in the future, and to facilitate graduate and career conversations.

Utilize Career Services

Develop a career plan, access “What Can I do with this Major?, make a career advising appointment, attend career events, find a mentor on MSU Connect, and explore many additional career resources.

Resume Review

Submit to have your resume reviewed by a trained Career Consultant or Career Peer Intern

Record Experiences with My Spartan Story

Track co-curricular MSU experiences that complement your academic course of study by building your Spartan Experience Record.

A few more resources for you as you plan for your career:

College Social Science Career Services

MSU Career Services

What Can I Do With This Major?

Careers in Psychology

American Psychological Association Careers

Social Psychology Career Center

Mental Health Net- Professional Employment Resources
First-year & Sophomore Years

• Join a student organization. Participate in campus activities. Visit the Student Life Office

• Volunteer with the Center for Community Engaged Learning

• Schedule an appointment with academic advisor to set up academic plan

• Begin to develop relationships with the faculty

• Set up your profile on Career Services and Placement's Handshake

• Spend a day (or part of one) with a professional who has a job that interests you.
Junior Year

• Develop a career portfolio to chart your career and skills development

• Complete an internship or participate in research

• Aim for outstanding academic performance in all your course work

• Attend career fairs/seminars. Continue to use the Career Services Network

• Discuss academic/career decisions with your mentor, advisor, or counselor

• Update your profile on Handshake and monitor job opportunities
Senior Year

• Propel your job campaign into full swing; continue to attend career fairs and workshops

• Know the job market you hope to enter! Be prepared to compete effectively with other candidates

• Update your profile on Handshake and monitor job opportunities.

A degree in Psychology can offer you many opportunities, including some that you aren't even aware of! Be proactive in seeking out the many resources that are available on campus to connect you with opportunities.

And don't forget to schedule consistent meetings with a psychology advisor as they can help you explore fields of interests, search for internship placements, and assist you in career planning!