Loyola University Chicago

There are many career options for students who want to pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology, but who do not want to become clinical psychologists or university psychology professors. For more information:

Visit the Psychology Department to learn about smaller subfields in psychology. The Psychology Department maintains career notebooks on fields in psychology. Read a notebook in the department office (Damen Hall, 6th Floor) or borrow one from the receptionist.

Check out these Websites about psychology-related careers. Your desire to work with people can be fulfilled in many different ways without getting a doctoral degree (Ph.D.) in psychology.

Social Work

Student who complete a B.A. in Psychology may choose to pursue a master's degree in social work; you do not need an undergraduate degree in social work to get an M.S.W. Social workers are being hired by health maintenance organizations to offer counseling. They work in nursing homes for the elderly, help disabled people find community services and administer public aid among many other types of work.

Rehabilitation Counseling

Counseling involves more than just counseling about psychological conflicts. Sometimes people have objective needs which can be met by rehabilitation counselors (who help people deal with the personal, social and vocational effects of their disabilities) and employment counselors (who help individuals make wise career decisions). You'll need a master's degree for these and related counseling fields.

• Careers with the YMCA
• Recreation-centered careers

Physical therapy: It is very rewarding to help people regain their mobility. Physical therapy is another career which offers close personal contact with others. For more information, visit the American Physical Therapy Association.

Speech therapy: Without language we are hardly human. The spoken language is the easiest way to communicate. Helping people speak effectively after illness or injury is a service to people in need. For more information, visit the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.

Occupational therapy: Helping injured people return to work can be a marvelous contribution to their well-being. For more information, visit the American Occupational Therapy Association.

• Occupational Therapists: Occupational Outlook Handbook description 

Public Health

Public health departments are concerned about the health of the community. They care about pollution, immunization, threats from terrorists and finding the causes of outbreaks of unusual diseases. A master's degree in public health is available from many universities. For more information, visit the American Public Health Association.

Human Resource Management

We spend a great deal of our time at work; human resource personnel are essential in large organizations.

• Human Resources: Occupational Outlook Handbook description 
• Human Resources Guide: Includes links to graduate programs thoughout the world and examples of human resource careers in many organizations.
• Society for Human Resource Management

Market Research

Psychology majors might seek an M.B.A. in Market Research. You don't need to be a business major to get into an M.B.A. program.

• American Marketing Association
• IPSOS-ASI: Marketing research firm that specializes in television, print and new media advertising research
• Nielsen Media Research: The leading provider of television information services in the U.S. and Canada

Law Enforcement

With a career in law enforcement, you'll get a chance to use your training in psychology in a career with lots of people contact, possible excitement and a chance to make a difference in the lives of people in need. For more information, see the Police and Detectives entry in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.