What is the field of psychology?
Psychology is the field of science that studies human behavior � basically, why people do what they do. Psychologists today can work in settings such as university laboratories, hospitals, counseling centers, and even large companies. The different settings account for the different types of psychologists, such as clinical psychologists, counseling psychologists, health psychologists, and industrial psychologists. All psychologists, no matter what their specialization, have the same mission: to improve people�s lives by analyzing behaviors and working with people to make life-improving behavior change.
What kinds of degrees are there in the field of psychology?
A psychology student can come out of school with many different levels of degrees, depending on how long they want to stay in school. The first degree earned is a Bachelor of Arts in psychology (B.A.) or a Bachelor of Science in psychology (B.S.). These degrees take between four to five years to complete. The B.A. and B.S. differ only in the number of science courses required; a Bachelor of Science in psychology requires more science coursework than the Bachelor of Arts degree. The next step on the road of psychology is a master�s degree. This is usually another year or two of work after a bachelor�s degree. Students can choose to enter a terminal master�s program, one that offers only a master�s degree, or enroll in a program that allows a student to earn a master�s degree in conjunction with a Ph.D. These extended programs last anywhere from four to eight years, depending on a student�s ability and specialization. A master�s or Ph.D. degree allows a psychology student to specialize in a particular piece of the psychology field, such as child psychology, health psychology or sports psychology. Usually students with a master�s or Ph.D will work in a research facility at a university or go into practicing as a counseling psychologist. A Psy.D. degree is another psychology degree that is specifically designed for those who only want to be a practicing doctor of psychology. A person with a Psy.D can open their own practice, or work within a mental health institution, but they don�t have the qualification to work in the research field.
