Tips, Tools, and Resources to Make the Most of Your Psych Degree
Choosing a Minor
One of the ways to increase the value of your degree in psychology is to choose a useful minor to complement it. Nearly any minor can be useful – it just depends on your interests and goals. If you want to use your degree to help women, for example, you may want to consider minoring in women's studies. Similarly, if you want to focus your future career on disadvantaged and at-risk youth, perhaps you should minor in sociology. If you live and work in an area with a high concentration of Spanish-speaking residents, you might think about minoring in Spanish or Hispanic studies. It is up to you to determine what minor is going to be the best fit, but here are some questions to help get you started:
- Where do your interests lie outside of psychology?
- Can they be combined with psychology?
- What do you want to do with your psychology degree?
- Is there any practical knowledge that you should develop in order to aid your career?
Remember, these questions are just the beginning. Look at the options that your school offers, and talk with an advisor about possible minors right away.
Getting Experience
Internships and volunteering are two more important aspects of a psychology degree. You may think that you know how you want to use your degree, but until you actually get out and experience what psychology can offer, you cannot know for sure. Check with your school about possible opportunities. Most schools have separate offices devoted to internships and volunteering, and department faculty frequently have tips on even more opportunities. Use your resources!
These experiences are your chance to test-drive your future career without serious consequences. If you end up hating what you do, you will have time to consider a different career choice. And if you enjoy what you do, employers will appreciate the fact that you already have some real experience under your belt.
Some Websites You Should Know About
If you are going to major in psychology, or even if you are still on the fence, you should get to know some of the major associations and journals in the discipline, as well as some websites that psychology majors frequent. This is a great way to get in on the conversation in your field before you start studying.
Associations
American Psychological Association – The largest association of psychologists in the world.
Association for Psychological Science – A large general psychological association with a focus on research.
Association of Black Psychologists – An organization devoted to improving the mental health of the Black community.
International Association of Applied Psychology – The oldest international association of psychologists.
Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues – A large organization interested in the application of research to societal concerns.
Asian Association of Social Psychology – A group focused on the development of social psychology in Asia and the Pacific.
Journals
American Psychologist
British Journal of Psychology
Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science
Canadian Psychology
Current Directions in Psychological Science
Journal of Applied Psychology
Perspectives on Psychological Science
News/Entertainment Sites
Science Daily
PsycPort
Psych Central
Positive Psychology News Daily
Clinically Psyched
PhysOrg.com