Reasons to Pursue a Master’s Degree in Psychology
- Practice Therapy
- Teach College
- Additional Career Opportunities
- Specialize
- Online Programs
Many people find their dream job right out of college with bachelor’s degrees in psychology. Many others are not so lucky, and even some that are return to school later to earn master’s degrees. This article highlights the five best reasons to return to school and earn your master’s degree in psychology.
Practice Therapy
Many people who pursue undergraduate degrees in psychology do so because they dream of becoming therapists. While bachelor’s degree programs teach you what it means to be a therapist, they do not provide the training required to become a licensed therapist. For this training, you need to pursue a master’s degree. There are many types of master’s degrees that allow you to practice therapy once you complete them, but a master’s degree in psychology is more broad. This opens a wider range of doors and gives you more of an opportunity to explore which type of therapy you most want to practice.
Teach College
To teach community college psychology courses, all you need is a master’s degree in psychology. A master’s degree even qualifies you to teach as an associate instructor at some universities. Instructing is a great position to work part time in addition to another role within the field of psychology. With a master’s degree in psychology, you can also work up to to becoming a full-time instructor or even an administrator at the community college level. A master’s degree also may open up the door to academic counseling in higher education.
Additional Career Opportunities
A master’s degree in psychology opens up many additional career opportunities in a vast array of fields. Online Psychology Degrees has compiled this comprehensive list to give you an idea of the wide variety of career options available to someone with a master’s degree in psychology. They also list careers possible with an associate’s degree and a bachelor’s degree so that you can compare them and determine the benefits of pursuing the master’s degree.
Specialization
As an undergraduate, you gain a broad but basic understanding of the field of psychology. The great thing about attending graduate school is the chance to learn a great deal more about a specific area. When you pursue your master’s degree in psychology, you can choose an issue or topic of your interest to concentrate on throughout your studies. Many people say that because of this, graduate school feels easier even though it is a more advanced level of education. The area you specialize in often helps guide you towards the best career for you, as well.
Online Programs
One of the main reasons people used to put off returning for a master’s degree in psychology was lack of time and money. Now, there are a plethora of highly qualified online programs available. They are more affordable, since the institution does not have to pay for maintenance. They also eliminate travel time and allow for a great deal of flexibility. You can remain in your current job while pursuing an even better one or go to school while raising children.
If you have been thinking about returning to school to earn your master’s degree in psychology, you now have a lot more of the information you needed. A master’s degree will open up many doors for you to expand your career. Thanks to online education, this is now easier and more affordable.
Related resource:
Top 20 Online Master’s in Psychology Degree Programs