Benefits of an Undergraduate Psychology Degree

The instinctive answer to the question of what to do with a psychology degree is, “Be a psychologist!” But in order to become a professional psychologist, you need a master’s or even a doctoral degree. So, if you only have a bachelor's degree, what are your options in psychology? What are the psychology career professions? How about the job outlook in psychology?

The wonderful thing about a psychology degree is that it is much more flexible and adaptable than any other degree--in other words, you have options in psychology!  After all, no matter what career path you are on, other people are sure to be involved—as customers, co-workers, employees, and bosses. A quality undergraduate education in psychology prepares you to be a good citizen and a critical thinker, and the skills and abilities that psychology majors acquire through their coursework and out-of-class experiences make them marketable for a wide variety of employment options.  

The qualities that make a good psychologist are also the qualities that make good business managers, health care workers, educators, or researchers. Psychology students need strong communications skills, compassion, research and analytical abilities, and last but not least, an understanding of what makes people tick.  Even though the bachelor's degree in psychology is not a professional degree, it is still a great way to become a well rounded, well-educated citizen and person—and who doesn’t want to hire a person like that? With a degree in psychology, career options abound.

Careers for Psychology Majors

Most psychology graduates do not go on to careers as psychologists.  Some of the top career choices for psychology graduates are in business, especially in sales and marketing.

The Psychologist as the Marketing Executive

Psychology graduates excel at altruistic roles, but can they take on the business world? Yes, say employers of managers, sales representatives, business strategists, and marketers. A bachelor's in psychology is a valued qualification in all these careers.

Marketing executives, for example, rely on their understanding of human behavior to communicate effectively. Marketing initiatives play to mass audiences, and they need to be carefully calibrated to drive specific responses. Psychology majors understand what motivates consumers, and are therefore able to develop effective promotions, merchandising strategies, and advertising campaigns.

Psychology undergraduates can proceed directly into a marketing career without additional training, but many will find professional education an asset. MBA programs and Marketing certificates are readily available online.