What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s in Psychology?
The study of psychology involves exploring human behavior and thought patterns. Psychology pursues an understanding of how the brain operates and factors that may influence it, such as environmental, biological and social factors.1
Many students who choose to pursue a bachelor’s degree in psychology are passionate about the science of psychology and desire a career in which they can apply the knowledge they obtain during their undergraduate program. But before enrolling at a university, it is important to answer one question: What can you do with a bachelor’s in psychology? Continue reading to see the various psychology degree jobs you might pursue, as this field is quite versatile.
In This Article:
- What Jobs Can You Get With a Bachelor’s in Psychology?
- Get a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Psychology
What Jobs Can You Get With a Bachelor’s in Psychology?
So, are you wondering what to do with a psychology degree? Some of the jobs below may be available to students who have a bachelor’s degree, although some might require additional education and others might require professional requirements. It’s important to carefully research the requirements of each job (including state licensing requirements) before choosing a career pathway.
Psychology Degree Jobs in Counseling
There are many forms of counseling, including family and substance use counseling, as well as school and career counseling. The requirements to become a counselor vary by state and often depend on the type of counseling. In general, however, it’s possible to get started in this career with a bachelor’s degree, although some counselors in certain states may need a license to practice.2 Some counseling careers, such as a mental health counselor, may also require a master’s degree.
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports a median annual wage of $53,710 for substance abuse, behavioral disorder and mental health counselors as of May 2023.3
No matter what area you choose to specialize in, counselors are generally passionate about helping others overcome their challenges. Daily tasks can vary considerably depending on the type of counseling.
However, a counselor may expect to have some of the following day-to-day responsibilities:
- Assessing mental disorders
- Listening to and evaluating clients
- Creating treatment plans and tracking clients’ progress
- Educating clients on coping with trauma and stress
Social and Community Service Manager
While it may be more common for a social and community service manager to hold a bachelor’s degree in social work, it may also be possible to pursue this career with a related degree, such as a psychology degree.4 Social and community service managers support the public’s well-being by supervising programs and organizations.
As a social and community service manager, you may:
- Identify programs and services needed in the community
- Direct workers and handle other administrative tasks, such as recruiting and training new workers
- Analyze the effects of social programs and suggest improvements
- Increase awareness surrounding programs and secure funding
You may work for a variety of organizations, some of which may focus on a specific demographic or community problem. Your duties will differ depending on the organization.
For large organizations, you may run a single program and report to your administrators or implement other programs. In a small organization, you might participate in public speaking events, implement and oversee programs, manage the budget and secure funding.
As a social and community service manager, you may work for nonprofit organizations, social service companies, government agencies, hospitals or shelters.5 This role requires a master’s degree, with the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), reporting that the median annual wage for these professionals was $77,030 as of May 2023.6
A bachelor's degree in fields like human services, gerontology, social or behavioral science, social science, psychology or public policy is becoming increasingly common among workers entering this occupation, although it is not required.7 This bachelor’s degree may also help you prepare to pursue a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree later on.2
Social Workers
Social workers help individuals, groups and families cope with problems in their lives. Clinical social workers can diagnose and treat mental, behavioral and emotional problems. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in social work from a program accredited by the Council on Social Work Education is typically needed. However, it’s important to research the requirements of social work in the state in which you plan to work. Licensure may be required depending on the state.
Social workers may:
- Respond to crisis situations such as child abuse and mental health emergencies
- Monitor clients’ situations and follow up to ensure that they have improved
- Maintain case files and records
- Provide psychotherapy services
- Help clients adjust to changes and challenges in their lives, such as illness, divorce or unemployment
- Identify people and communities in need of help
According to the BLS, social workers made a median annual salary of $58,380 as of May 2023.8
Get a Master’s or Doctoral Degree in Psychology
After earning your undergraduate psychology-focused degree, you may decide to enhance your career qualifications by pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree. Most graduate programs teach critical thinking, leadership and communication skills, which can all serve as a steppingstone to pursuing more advanced credentials or certifications in the psychology field of your choice.
Why earn a graduate degree? Although there are psychology degree jobs available to individuals with a bachelor’s degree, others may require a graduate degree. For example, becoming a clinical counselor or psychologist usually requires you to earn a doctoral degree and obtain specific licensure.2,9
Some topics that may be covered in advanced programs include:
- Human cognition and behavior
- Human development
- Social and cultural psychology
- Psychopathology
- Ethics in research and leadership
- Qualitative, quantitative and mixed types of research studies
If you choose to pursue a master’s degree in psychology, you may be able to specialize in a specific field, such as geropsychology, life coaching or health psychology.
You can also pursue a doctoral degree in psychology, where you can specialize in areas such as performance psychology, education and technology. In these degree programs, you will be encouraged to reflect upon human cognition and behavior, as well as the application of research in different careers.
If you're eager to carve your path into psychology-related careers, starting with a bachelor's degree is a great first step. You can work toward pursuing your career in psychology by enrolling at Grand Canyon University, where the College of Humanities and Social Sciences offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree, along with related options for undergraduates and graduates.
1 Cherry, K., MSEd. (2022, Nov. 8). What is Psychology? VeryWellMind. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2024.
2 Coursera Staff. (2024, Jan. 8). What Can You Do With a Psychology Degree? Jobs and More. Coursera. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2024.
3 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Substance Abuse, Behavioral Disorder, and Mental Health Counselors as of May 2023, retrieved on Sept. 17, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as substance abuse, behavioral disorder, and mental health counselors, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
4 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How To Become a Social And Community Service Manager. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2024.
5 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). Social and Community Service Managers: Work Environment. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Sept. 17, 2024.
6 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social and Community Service Managers as of May 2023, retrieved on Sept. 17, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as social and community service managers, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
7 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug., 29). How to Become a Social and Human Services Assistant. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 21, 2024.
8 The earnings referenced were reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Social Workers as of May 2023, retrieved on Sept. 17, 2024. Due to COVID-19, data from 2020 to 2023 may be atypical compared to prior years. BLS calculates the median using salaries of workers nationwide with varying levels of education and experience. It does not reflect the earnings of GCU graduates as social and human service assistants, nor does it reflect the earnings of workers in one city or region of the country or a typical entry-level salary. Median income is the statistical midpoint for the range of salaries in a specific occupation. It represents what you would earn if you were paid more money than half the workers in an occupation, and less than half the workers in an occupation. It may give you a basis to estimate what you might earn at some point if you enter this career. Grand Canyon University can make no guarantees on individual graduates’ salaries. Your employability will be determined by numerous factors over which GCU has no control, such as the employer the graduate chooses to apply to, the graduate’s experience level, individual characteristics, skills, etc. against a pool of candidates.
9 U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2024, Aug. 29). How to Become a Psychologist. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Retrieved Oct. 21, 2024.
Approved and verified accurate by the instructor of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences on Nov. 14, 2024.
The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of Grand Canyon University. Any sources cited were accurate as of the publish date.
