How Many Psychology Majors Go To Graduate School?

If you're working towards a bachelor's degree in psychology at a college or university, you may be wondering about how far you need to go in school to attain your career goals.

How many psychology majors typically go to graduate school? We've done some research into this question, and the answer is a little bit complicated.

People who earn undergrad degrees in psychology may pursue an advanced degree. Either a master's, doctoral, or both in the field of psychology. However, they may also switch fields for grad school.

Similarly, not all students working on master's or doctorate degrees in psychology earned their bachelor's degrees in psychology. Some of them switched fields as well.

But you're probably asking this question because you want to know if you can establish a solid career with a bachelor's degree in psychology or whether you need an advanced degree. Keep reading to find out.

How Many Psychology Majors Go To Grad School to Earn Advanced Degrees?

According to the American Psychological Association, of the 3.5 million Americans with a bachelor's degree in psychology in 2017, about 44% had continued to earn an advanced degree in some fields.

14% had earned at least one graduate degree in psychology.

Breaking those numbers down a bit, of those who had earned a psychology bachelor's degree:

• 4% had attained a doctorate or professional degree in psychology
• 3% had earned both a master's and a doctoral or professional degree in psychology
• 13% had earned a psychology master's degree
• 30% had pursued and earned graduate degrees in fields other than psychology, such as education, health, or social services
• 56% had not earned any advanced degree

Which Psychology Careers Require Graduate Degrees?

To achieve a career as a licensed independent practitioner in psychology typically requires a doctoral degree in clinical, counseling, or school psychology.

These are often accompanied by post-doctoral training such as internships, postdoctoral residencies, and licensing examinations.

In some states, psychologists holding a master's-level degree in a health service psychology subfield may become licensed to practice (usually under the supervision of a licensed Ph.D. or Psy.D. psychologist).

In some states, a master's degree in school psychology or an education specialist (EdS) degree allows one to practice within a K-12 school setting.

What Kinds of Jobs Are Available With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology?

Even though most professional 'psychologist' positions require advanced credentialing, you can prepare to qualify for a wide array of careers if you earn a bachelor's degree in psychology.

After all, so many employers are looking for smart entry-level hires who have strong know-how when it comes to human behavior, and who better than a psych major to provide that expertise?

According to Indeed.com, many industries are seeking candidates for entry- and mid-level positions who bring a bachelor's degree in psychology and the social sciences. These include:

Human Services and Nonprofit Agencies

Careers in human services are central to keeping society functioning well and providing public or private services that assist people in need.

An undergraduate degree in psychology can prepare you with the skills to understand people's behaviors and circumstances.

Some examples of jobs in this sector include being a social worker, disability advocate or case manager, career counselor, social services specialist, disability specialist, or child welfare specialist.

You could also work with any number of nonprofit organizations in roles such as managing volunteer services, fundraising, activities director, event planning, community educator, trainer, recruiter, or researcher.

Business

The business sector offers higher-paying career options for a graduate with a psych degree, in general, since you would be working in the for-profit sector rather than in government or nonprofit work.

In the business sphere, you would apply your knowledge about human behavior to serve the needs and interests of the company rather than primarily serving the needs of the public.

Psychology graduates often excel in human resources or management roles, including careers in public relations, customer service, sales, hiring, market research, and executive coaching.

Healthcare

The healthcare sector hires psychology graduates for a diverse range of careers. In healthcare, you could work directly with people who have emotional needs, mental disorders, disabilities, or substance abuse issues.

Psych majors can excel in careers such as patient care coordinator or case manager, behavioral health technician, wellness coach, mental health or psychiatric aide or technician, or substance abuse counselor.

Education

With a bachelor's degree in psychology, especially with an emphasis in school or educational psychology, you will be well-positioned to work in a school environment.

Your knowledge of psychology, the brain, and human behavior can help with several areas within a school environment.

That could be working with students with learning disabilities who have alternative styles of learning or working with administrators to develop ways to assist students with behavioral problems.

Some career roles in this arena include those of preschool teacher, K-12 teacher, teaching assistant, school administrator, special education teacher, school counselor, career counselor, or even a college alumni director.

For teaching roles, you likely need additional certification.

Government and Law Enforcement

Graduates with bachelor's degrees in psychology often find entry-level positions working in local, state, or federal government careers in a variety of career fields.

A few that Indeed.com recommends being a veteran affairs coordinator, border patrol agent, intelligence analyst, regulatory affairs specialist, or policy analyst.

The law enforcement sector often seeks job candidates with expertise in psychology for legal and law enforcement professions.

These include correctional officers, probation officers, parole officers, public safety officers, polygraph examiners, and detectives.

Creative and Media Industries

Let's consider using your psychology degree in a very different way.

Creative and media professions are terrific places for psychology majors who may also have strengths in art and design, creative writing, or content creation.

One way that creative professionals use psychology graduates is to understand and engage with their target audiences, which leads to significant roles in marketing and advertising.

Some possible career opportunities in these areas include serving as a content writer, screenwriter or scriptwriter, digital marketer, marketing researcher, advertising agent, or account executive.

These can be high-paying jobs since they are in the for-profit business world.

You Can Qualify for Many Careers as a Psychology Major

As we've explained regarding how many psych majors go on to grad school in psychology, your level of education in the field will determine the credentials you bring to any job.

Although advanced degrees may be required for top-level psychology professionals, you can find many careers with an undergraduate degree in psychology.