What Is a Psychology Degree 

The field of psychology focuses on the human mind, answering questions about how people think, why they behave in certain ways, and why they make the decisions they do. These principles can have wide-ranging effects across a range of fields, from law to advertising and education to criminal justice. Pursuing a formal education in psychology can be intellectually stimulating and professionally enriching.

Explore what a psychology degree is and the range of topics related to the psychology degree, and find out what differentiates it from related disciplines, such as social work. Also, discover all the ways that a psychology degree can provide a firm foundation for ongoing professional success.

What Is a Psychology Degree Program?

Psychology is a discipline that revolves around human cognition, emotion, and decision-making. It seeks to understand the mental processes that affect the way humans think, speak, and behave. An academic background in psychology can be paramount for success in any social science, but it can also provide meaningful tools and resources for anyone whose work involves other people, whether that means understanding and influencing individuals or groups.

Different Levels of Psychology Degrees

Those who are interested in the field of psychology may explore multiple levels of academic rigor. The following are the four primary types of psychology degrees:

• Associate Degree: Associate degrees typically take two years to complete. While primarily used as a jumping-off point for further academic study, an associate degree can also provide the skills and qualifications needed for basic psychology-related positions, such as research assistant or youth counselor.
• Bachelor’s Degree: A Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology typically takes four years to complete. By providing a more robust understanding of psychological principles, this degree can provide the skills needed for meaningful careers in advertising, data analysis, social services, career counseling, or human resources (HR), to name just a few fields.
• Master’s Degrees: Following the completion of a bachelor’s degree, students may choose to continue their education for another two or three years, completing a master’s degree and gaining further exposure to advanced concepts and skills. Advanced degrees can provide the skills required for clinical roles, including mental health or substance abuse counselor.
• Doctoral Degrees: Doctoral degrees build on other degrees and can take anywhere from four to seven years to complete. This terminal degree path can be well suited for those pursuing careers in research or academia.

Social Work vs. Psychology Degree

Those who are drawn toward psychology may wonder how this particular degree compares with other academic paths. One of the most common comparison points is the social work degree.

Social work education does involve learning about key concepts related to human psychology and behavior, but it tends to be more narrowly focused on field placement and career development. In other words, a degree in social work is recommended for those who are drawn to careers in social work specifically. A degree in psychology offers broader utility and can even be the basis for a meaningful career as a social worker. In that sense, it is a more flexible degree path.

Those considering a social work vs. psychology degree path should start by taking inventory of their career goals.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Psychology Degree? 

Aspiring psychology students may also wonder how long it takes to get a psychology degree. The typical duration for a bachelor’s degree program in psychology is four years. However, numerous factors can affect the total timeline, including the flexibility provided to students to work according to their own pace. Often, online learning programs offer the greatest level of flexibility. 

What Is Psychology Degree Curriculum Like?

By enrolling in a psychology degree program, students can immerse themselves in concepts that provide a greater understanding of the human mind, translating into personal and professional success. The curriculum can vary depending on the institution itself as well as the student’s career goals.

Specialties in the Field of Psychology 

Those who pursue careers in psychology may specialize in many different areas. Selecting a specialty can help clarify the most relevant coursework. Talking with an academic advisor within the psychology program can be very helpful in this regard.

The most common psychology career specialties include the following:

• Social psychology focuses on the cognitive processes that contribute to human social behaviors.
• Industrial-organizational psychology emphasizes both individual and group behaviors in the workplace.
• Developmental psychology relates to the way people change throughout their lives, from childhood through adulthood.
• Forensic psychology emphasizes the motivations and thought processes that influence criminal behavior.
• Research and data analysis uses scientific methods and processes to understand human thoughts and behavior. 

What Is a Psychology Degree Program’s Typical Coursework? 

While specific coursework will vary from degree to degree and from student to student, common courses include the following:

• General Psychology: This course, also known as Introduction to Psychology, provides a bird’s-eye view of the entire field of psychology.
• Experimental Psychology: This course, essential for virtually all psychology students, emphasizes research methods and experiment setups.
• Cognitive Psychology: This course provides a deep dive into the mental processes that influence human decision-making.
• Abnormal Psychology: This course explores some of the factors that determine mental health disorders, including depression, anxiety, and substance use.
• Psychological Statistics: This course teaches students the fundamental statistical and research methods used in psychological research.
• Developmental Psychology: This course focuses on human development throughout the lifespan, including behavioral, psychological, social, and cognitive development. 

What Are the Benefits of Earning a Psychology Degree?

There are many reasons one might want to study psychology . Students can expect numerous benefits from obtaining a degree in this field.

Various Career Options

One of the main attractions of a psychology degree is that it offers broad utility across a range of different careers. It is not a one-size-fits-all academic path but instead offers the skills needed to flourish in a range of vocations. For example, students who graduate with a degree in psychology can find meaningful work in counseling, sports psychology, criminal justice, marketing, and countless other fields.

Personal and Relational Growth 

Of course, education is not just about career preparedness. It can also provide intense personal fulfillment and opportunities for growth. Such is certainly the case with psychology.

Remember that this field is all about the roots of human behavior and decision-making. Learning more about these topics can provide a window for greater personal knowledge and understanding. Also, it can lead to greater empathy and compassion in interpersonal relationships. In short, a degree in psychology can yield benefits far beyond the workplace.

Exciting, Rewarding Work

Those who pursue careers using their psychology degree will likely find that the work they do is dynamic and engaging. As with anything involving human behavior, the field of psychology is fluid and unpredictable, providing ample opportunity for analytic thinking and creative problem-solving in equal measure. In short, this is a rewarding discipline for anyone who hopes for work that is stimulating, rewarding outside-the-box thinking.

The Chance to Make a Difference

Additionally, studying psychology can lead to opportunities to make a real difference in individual lives. Here are some examples:

• Working in the forensic psychology field means providing justice for victims and opportunities for rehabilitation for certain offenders.
• Those who pursue counseling may help individuals find meaningful vocations, make informed academic decisions, navigate tricky social dynamics, or cope with the effects of mental illness.
• A path teaching psychology provides the opportunity to share enriching, paradigm-shifting knowledge with students and aspiring psychologists.

Opportunities for Research and Analysis

While psychology is a very people-oriented field, it can provide opportunities to engage in disciplines such as data analysis. For example, studying psychology usually encompasses exposure to statistics and similar fields. Working psychologists can often become involved in research products, which appeal greatly to those with a more analytical mind or a gift for systematic thinking.

A Foundation for Further Study 

Those who pursue an undergraduate degree in psychology, including a BA in Psychology, will also gain the foundation required for further academic pursuits. For example, earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology may be a first step toward a graduate or even a doctoral degree in the field. Also, because an understanding of human behavior is so broadly applicable, psychology can be a good starting point for further studies in medical school, law school, or other programs.

What Are the Key Skills Learned in a Psychology Degree Program? 

Another way to capitalize on what a psychology degree has to offer is to build a skill portfolio . The short answer is that completing a degree in psychology involves cultivating several core competencies. 

Writing

The typical psychology degree program involves a lot of written work, from research summaries to standard reports. Throughout the course of their academic work, students will hone their written communication skills, learning to convey their thoughts with brevity and precision. This skill is invaluable and can translate to success in a range of fields.

Critical Thinking

Students who pursue a degree in psychology also master critical thinking skills. Part of earning a degree is learning to develop psychological profiles of different people; this requires observation, inference, and an analytic mindset. Additionally, students will need to compare and contrast different, often competing psychological paradigms, further honing their critical thinking abilities.

Research

Psychology students will also cultivate research skills, both by investigating different psychological conditions and by documenting patient behaviors. By the time their degree program is completed, psychology students will have the skills to scan and analyze existing research, feel comfortable working with trends and statistics, and more.

Time Management

Anyone pursuing an undergraduate degree needs to master the core skills of time management. These skills can be especially relevant for those who wish to enjoy a career in psychology. Those working in psychology may have to juggle many competing priorities, such as meeting with patients or clients, documenting findings, and putting in work toward a more advanced degree. An undergraduate psychology program is a great place to start honing these skills.

Problem-Solving 

Problem-solving skills are valuable in any professional field, and a psychology degree program is a prime place to develop them. Learning to identify symptoms or behaviors that a patient exhibits, arrive at a reasonable psychological diagnosis, and then consider possible avenues to address the underlying concerns all help foster a problem-solving mentality.

Empathy

Studying psychology helps students gain a better understanding of the different factors that inform a person’s behavior or decision-making. This can lead to greater empathy, understanding, and patience. These can be powerful tools professionally, personally, and relationally.

Cultural Competence 

Cultural competence refers to the ability to interact with individuals who maintain different cultural norms and beliefs, doing so in a way that is respectful and positive. This skill is important for anyone practicing as a psychologist or counselor, but it can also be a boon to those working in HR, marketing, advertising, and beyond.

Self-Awareness

Notably, gaining a clearer understanding of psychological principles can lead to greater self-awareness. To know what motivates you and to understand how others perceive you is an invaluable asset in any profession, to say nothing of social settings or relational contexts.

What Is a Psychology Degree Career Path?

It cannot be overemphasized how many career paths are open to psychology students. The skills developed in a psychology program can translate to a range of vocations. Below are just a few primary examples.

Business 

A psychology degree is sought-after in many business settings, especially when a heavy concentration on industrial-organizational psychology exists. A mastery of psychology can lead to effective people management, including the skills needed to motivate employees and optimize performance. 

Marketing

The field of marketing is primarily concerned with identifying key consumers and persuading them to purchase a product or service. Naturally, having an innate understanding of how human decision-making works is highly beneficial. As such, a psychology degree can provide some useful resources and toolsets for marketing and advertising.

Education

A degree in psychology can be the first step toward a role as a school counselor or career counselor. Additionally, psychology students have the perspective needed to help schools accommodate learners who have cognitive or developmental impairments, resulting in truly accessible educational environments.

Human Resources

Many HR professionals come from the field of psychology. Earning a degree in psychology can provide the skills needed to help manage and mediate employee conflict, to be more astute in recruitment and hiring decisions, and to help motivate employees.

Design

Designing a website or an application may seem highly technical, yet an important element of human psychology is also present. For example, different colors can trigger different emotional responses, while an understanding of human cognition may prove useful in charting the layout or navigation of a website. Psychology degrees are valuable in the design world.

Advocacy

Understanding human decision-making is useful not only in the field of marketing but also in the field of political activism and advocacy. Knowledge of psychology principles can be invaluable for exhorting action in environmental advocacy, anti-poverty advocacy, and more.

Pursue Your Studies in Psychology

Why do people do the things they do? What factors influence behavior and decision-making? Being able to thoughtfully and accurately answer these questions can lead to lasting success in a wide range of professional fields. This very reason is why so many students are attracted to the psychology degree.

In considering your educational options, think seriously about the online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree completion program at East Carolina University®️. The curriculum can help build essential competencies and includes coursework in:

• Behavioral science and research design
• Data interpretation and decision-making
• Organizational efficiency
• Stress management and conflict mediation
• Information processing and memory
• Human behavior and the social environment

This flexible online program makes it easy to develop the skills necessary for further studies in psychology or to find meaningful work in any number of professions. 

To start honing your psychology skills, take the first step with ECU today.

Recommended Readings

How Does Human Memory Work?

What Is Organizational Psychology?

Why Study Psychology? Benefits of a Psychology Degree

Sources:

Indeed, 11 Psychology Degree Skills (And How to Highlight Them)

Indeed, 19 Types of Psychology Major Specializations

Indeed, Psychology Degrees: Definition, Types and Specialties

National Association of Social Workers, Types of Social Work Degrees

Verywell Mind, “10 Reasons to Major in Psychology”