Thursday, January 27, 2011

Top Psychology Careers for 2011?

Various 'lists' often weigh in on what some believe to be the most sought-after careers for psychology students in 2011.  Two of the careers that often make such lists are School Psychologist and Marriage and Family Counselor, and we've sent AU Psychology graduates into both of these fields in the past few years.  In fact, graduates from our department have entered a variety of occupations/programs in the past 5-7 years.  Our alums have gained admittance to graduate programs in psychology, applied behavior analysis, law, medicine, occupational therapy, social work, marriage and family counseling, school psychology, and higher education administration, to name a few.  Other students are working in social service agencies, homes for troubled teens, research centers, universities, and human resource departments.  This goes to show that an undergraduate degree in psychology opens up the doors to many career paths, and our students leave Ashland University well-prepared for whatever occupation their future holds.  Psychology majors at AU are given broad training in foundational areas of the discipline, yet our curriculum is flexible and allows students to tailor the courses they take to specific career objectives.  Every student completes at least one research course (many of our students take an advanced research course), which develop critical thinking, writing, and communication skills.  All in all, students leave Ashland University with a deep understanding of why people think and behave the way they do.  This knowledge is applicable to a wide variety of career paths, thus giving our students the opportunity to explore a variety of occupations after graduation.