Benefits of Majoring in Psychology

Psychology is a complex and multifaceted scientific field that explores the inner workings of the mind and the factors that contribute to human behavior. A psychology degree is a popular choice among undergraduates. If you are thinking of majoring in psychology, you might aspire to conduct research or perhaps help clients directly by working with them one-on-one. There are many compelling reasons to earn a bachelor's degree in psychology.

Specializations enable psychology majors to pursue their passion in alternative careers:

• Forensic psychology
• Performance and sport psychology
• Health psychology
• Human factors psychology
• Life coaching
• Industrial and organizational psychology
• Geropsychology
• Social psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology

In addition, if you choose to pursue a doctoral degree and license to become a psychologist, you may decide to narrow your practice. For example, some psychologists focus primarily on working with children and adolescents. Other professionals narrow their focus by disorder, such as by specializing in depressive and anxiety disorders.

You can major in psychology even if you don’t plan to earn a doctoral degree and become a licensed psychologist. A psychology degree offers the opportunity to develop important skills that are transferable to a wide range of other fields. Psychology students learn how to communicate well in written and spoken language. They learn how to become effective listeners who fully process what the other speaker is truly saying. Psychology majors also develop critical thinking skills.

Knowledge of psychology is often helpful in other fields. Some of the most common career choices for graduates include sales, business administration and education. In all of these fields, professionals find it useful to understand how people think and why they behave the way they do. For example, if you go into sales, your knowledge of the inner workings of the human mind will be useful in enticing people to purchase products or services.

Every relationship, whether it’s a personal or professional one, has the potential for conflict. However, as common as conflict and disagreements are, not many people understand how to effectively resolve them. It can be difficult to put one’s emotional response to the situation aside in order to think through the problem logically. It can also be difficult to understand why the other person is truly upset about something, as people often do not express what they really mean.

As a psychology major, you will develop an in-depth understanding of what makes people tick. When you graduate, you will be prepared to critically analyze everyday situations, identify the reasons behind a person’s behavior and the motivation for the disagreement. You will also be prepared to find a reasonable solution that works for everyone involved. Conflict resolution is a skill that will benefit you no matter what your path in life may be.

Many students choose to earn a psychology degree because they feel called to effect positive change in their community. There are countless ways you could improve the lives of your neighbors as a psychology major. If you do earn a doctoral degree and become a licensed psychologist, you will work one-on-one with people who are struggling through challenges like substance use disorders, suicidal ideation or relationship problems. You are likely to find your one-on-one work with your clients immensely fulfilling.

Even if you do not ultimately become a psychologist, there are alternative careers for psychology majors. For example, you might decide to pursue a career in social services, connecting members of your community to the important resources they need to learn skills, find jobs, secure housing or apply for benefit programs.

You can pursue your passion for helping others with their mental wellness by earning a psychology degree from Grand Canyon University. Emerge with solid foundational knowledge in child and adolescent psychology, adult development, cognitive neuroscience and abnormal psychology. To explore the Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree program or our specialization options, click on Request Info at the top of your screen.