Becoming A Psychologist

If you decide to major in psychology as preparation for a career as a psychologist, you need to realize that the bachelor’s degree is not adequate preparation; you must pursue graduate studies. Though psychologists may have a bachelor’s degree in a field other than psychology, they usually have a bachelor’s degree (B.A. or B.S.) in psychology. You need one to two years of study beyond the bachelor’s degree to earn a master’s degree (M.A., M.S., or M.Ed.). A master’s degree usually requires advanced courses in psychology related to a field of specialization and completion of a thesis or original research study. The most popular master’s-level fields of specialization are clinical psychology, counseling psychology, and school psychology. You need four to six more years of study beyond the bachelor’s level to earn a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Psy.D., or Ed.D.). The Ph.D. requires advanced courses in research methods, statistics, and a specialized field of study. It also requires completion of an ambitious original research project, which is then described in a written doctoral dissertation. The Psy.D. requires advanced courses in a particular field of study, usually clinical or counseling psychology, and an internship in an applied setting, such as a community mental health center. The Ph.D. indicates expertise in research; the Psy.D. indicates expertise in providing therapy. Note, however, that many psychologists who practice clinical or counseling psychology have a Ph.D., which means that they, too, are experts in providing therapy and have served an internship in an applied setting. Almost all states require that a person earn a doctoral degree, serve an internship, and pass a licensing exam to be licensed as a psychologist. The Ed.D. is normally offered by an education department and usually signifies expertise in relating psychology to education or counseling. There are different fields of specialization of psychologists; click on a division of the chart to see APA divisions related to that specialty.

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