5 Psychology Jobs in Higher Education
- Student Wellness Director
- Activities Coordinator
- Admissions Counselor
- Academic Advisor
- Mental Health Counselor
The world of higher education is turning its attention more and more to the mental well-being, behavior, and learning styles of students, staff, and professors alike. Previously, psychology majors were employed largely in medical and clinical settings, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Now, degree holders in psychology not only teach, but they are becoming more and more commonly found in administrative and support positions outside the arena of therapy and counseling. Here are five psychology jobs in higher education.
1. Student Wellness Director
Increasingly, colleges and universities are developing entire wellness departments that cater to the physical, mental, social and even spiritual health of its students. Becoming a student wellness director involves hiring appropriate staff to handle the various health and wellness needs of students, coordinating activities for the campus put on by its wellness department, and conducting campus-wide research to determine what the needs of its population are and how best to serve those needs. This position requires a minimum of a master’s degree in psychology and more typically will require a doctorate.
2. Activities Coordinator
An ideal job for a social psychology or cognitive psychology major, activities coordinators are frequently social sciences majors and work with students, staff, and faculty alike to coordinate activities of all kinds for the campus’ population. The keen insight into social dynamics and how people learn that psychology majors develop lends itself exceptionally well to this position, particularly if the activities coordinator is well-connected to the campus and pays close attention to the varied interests and intellectual curiosities they hear during the course of their job. Social psychology majors will especially thrive in this position, as they can directly apply their degree studies to the overall development and connectedness of the campus population.
3. Admissions Counselor
Admissions is often a time of great stress for students entering college and university, and psychology majors serving as admissions counselors can utilize their knowledge to help put students at ease and soothe their worries. In addition, they can utilize their knowledge of behavioral and personality precepts in psychology to better advise students in their choice of program, extracurricular activities, and even in recommending departmental instructors.
4. Academic Advisor
Much like psychology majors working in admissions, academic advisors who hold degrees in psychology can utilize their knowledge to assist students in determining the best course of action during their degree studies in order to maximize success. Psychology majors in this post can also readily identify any unique challenges the students they advise may be facing, and not only refer them to the appropriate support stuff but assist them in working through those issues as they progress towards graduation.
5. Mental Health Counselor
Mental health counselors on college campuses often work closely with academic advisors and admissions counselors to identify students who may be most in need of their services – especially if the student comes from a background of psychological or emotional problems upon entrance to the school. Mental health counselors are becoming more and more common on college campuses, and frequently they play a direct role in students being able to complete their degrees and on time.
Related Resource: Top 20 Most Affordable Doctoral Programs in Psychology
No matter what the degree holder’s focus was in the arena of psychology, there are a wide variety of positions in higher education – in addition to teaching – that can directly benefit from the knowledge and skills that psychology majors develop. Psychology majors in these positions will not only enjoy good pay and benefits but will have a lasting impact on the campuses and students they serve for years to come.