- National Counselor Examination
- NCE Format
- NCE Exam Scoring
- NCE Questions by Content Areas
- NCE Test Tips
- National Board for Certified Counselors
- NCE Preparation
- Overcoming Text Anxiety
- National Certified Counselor Benefits
- NCC vs. State License
- Recertification
- Publicizing Your NCC credential
- Publicizing Your NCC credential
- Psychology Schools
- Psychology Career
- Psychology Degree
- Special Education Degree
- Communications Degree
- Psychologist Jobs
- Counselor Certification
- Counselor Jobs
Psychology Degree
Most academic institutions offer both a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology. Deciding which option a student chooses will depend on their intended career. A BA psychology degree is a general degree with a broad liberal arts background. This type of degree is a good fit for students with an interest in psychology, but who want to explore other academic disciplines as well. Students who choose this degree might opt to go on to further study in law, education, journalism, political science or business.
For those interested in pursuing a career in science, or further academic study in the field of psychology, the BS psychology degree is a better choice. A BS will focus more on math and science courses, with coursework to include statistics, scientific methodology, research skills and applied psychology. Having a BS psychology degree will give students more flexibility and a wider range of career options.
Students with a BS might go into the fields of human or social services for their career. They could become a career counselor, helping others to understand their professional strengths and weaknesses and define their career goals. These professionals might work as a rehabilitation specialist, helping others adjust to the routines and struggles of day to day life after traumatic incidents, incarceration or time in a hospital. A bachelor's degree also allows students to become research or clinical assistants to psychology professionals with higher level degrees such as a master's or doctorate.
In order to become a licensed psychologist, students will need to earn a doctorate psychology degree. The first step in this process is pursuing a master's degree. A master's degree typically takes two years to complete. The process involves advanced classes in psychology and clinical experience in a professional setting. Students will be required to publish original research in the form of a master's thesis. Students with a master's psychology degree often assist Ph.D.s with their research.
Obtaining a Ph.D. in psychology allows students to become licensed psychologists or counselors. A Ph.D. requires five to seven years of post-graduate work. Students study advanced psychology theory, computer analysis of research data and become involved in a practical internship. They will be required to submit a large body of research in the form of a doctoral dissertation. Those holding Ph.D.s can work as practicing psychologists in a clinical setting, teach at a university or head research groups.