Approximately 62 percent of MSU PSY graduates go directly into the workforce with a bachelor's degree, while the other 38 percent go to graduate school or other continuing education (Destination Survey). Graduates can compete effectively with other students who obtained a general/liberal arts education, as well as those who opted for more specialized curricula. Academic performance as a psychology major and a student's willingness to prepare for a variety of career options will influence attractiveness to employers and eventual career placement. Preparing for the job market and then building to a career takes planning and effort over a long period of time. Students should take steps each semester, beginning in their freshman year, toward this end. Students should strive to incorporate a combination of coursework and experiential learning throughout their degree to gain:
High-achieving, conscientious students who are motivated and dedicated to a much higher level of scholarly reading, writing and research, may be good candidates for graduate school. Students must be able to demonstrate a commitment to academic success through achievement in undergraduate education. Graduate school is not something students just fall into because they haven't chosen what to do next in life; it also does not guarantee a job or a high salary.
Graduate study consists of advanced training in a specific area of study. Students should consider very carefully why they want to go to graduate school and what their expectations are. Those who are interested in graduate school in psychology will need to know which area of psychology they want to pursue.
There are many graduate school opportunities available to psychology students outside of the Psychology discipline. Students interested in working closely with people may wish to examine graduate programs in human services, such as social work, counseling psychology, or family studies. Other fields of interest for psychology students may include (but are not limited to) education, law, public health, human resources, public affairs administration, and medicine. Please consult with your academic advisor for more information.
Below are a few examples of different types of graduate programs you may wish to explore at Michigan State University:
Clinical Social Work: Master's degree. This two-year degree program prepares students to work in the field of social work as therapists, mental health professionals, school social workers, and coordinators of various programs, to name a few.
Counseling, Educational Psychology, and Special Education: Master's degree and Ph.D. programs. MSU's College of Education offers a variety of graduate programs through Counseling Educational Psychology. Applied Behavioral Analysis, School Psychology, Rehabilitation Counseling, and Educational Psychology are a few of the programs offered in the College of Education.
Marriage and Family Therapy: Master's degree and Ph.D. program. Students pursuing a PhD in Human Development and Family Studies select a concentration in Child Development, Couple and Family Therapy, or Lifespan Human Development and Family Diversity.
School Psychology: Ed Specialist and Ph.D. program.
Educational Administration: Master's and PhD programs. Are you interested in working at a college or university with students and faculty? Does becoming an academic advisor, resident hall director, or working with special programs interest you? Areas of focus in education administration include Higher, Adult and Lifelong Education and Student Affairs.
Human Resources and Labor Relations: Master's degree. The School of Human Resources or Labor Relations internationally recognized master's degree program prepares students to be leaders in their field.
Child / Youth / Elder Care | Human Resources | Residential Services |
Community Services | Human Services | Retail Management |
Consulting Services | Manufacturing / Production | Retail / Wholesale Sales |
Court / Juvenile Services | Market Research | Social Services |
Customer Services | Government / Legislative Services | Special Populations Services |
Employee Relations | Personnel / Human Resources | Student / Alumni Services |
Employment Services | Private / Nonprofit Management | Substance Abuse Services |
Financial Services | Public Relations / Media Services | Volunteer Services |
The suggested timeline below incorporates career planning strategies into your college experience. Our suggestions are not intended to be exhaustive. This section is intended to get you THINKING and TAKING ACTION.
Freshman & Sophomore Years
• Join a student organization. Participate in campus activities. Visit the Student Life Office
• Volunteer through the Service-Learning Center
• 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 students many opportunities, including some that they are not even aware of. There are many resources on campus to connect students to these opportunities, but students need to seek out these resources. Psychology advisors are able to help students explore fields of interest, search for internship placements, and assist students with career planning. In addition to the Psychology Department, students can seek out career information from the Career Services Network and the College Social Science Career Services.
Psychology Career Center: socialpsychology.org/career.htm
Mental Health Net- Professional Employment Resources: https://www.mentalhelp.net/
MSU Career Services: https://careernetwork.msu.edu/
Careers in Psychology: http://www.psywww.com/careers/
Psychology Careers: http://www.apa.org/careers/res...
MSU 2020-2021 Student Handbook: https://careernetwork.msu.edu/resources/msu-career-handbook/