Career Information for a Degree in General Psychology

Career Information for a Degree in General Psychology

Research general psychology career information. Learn about job options, duties, education and training requirements, and career prospects to make an informed decision about a career in general psychology.

Career Information for Students with a General Psychology Degree

General psychology programs typically are found at the undergraduate level, although some are available at the master's level as well. These programs might include coursework in cognitive and behavioral development, normal and abnormal psychology, child and adolescent psychology, research methods and statistics. In general, associate's programs prepare students for transfer to bachelor's degree programs. Bachelor's programs can prepare students for employment in fields like business or public service - in careers such as survey researcher or probation officer - or for continued study at the graduate level.

Master's programs in general psychology often prepare students for more specialized study in a doctoral program. A Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) is required to meet state licensing or certification requirements to practice as a clinical or counseling psychologist.

Job Options for General Psychology Graduates

Survey Researcher

Entry-level survey researcher jobs often require a bachelor's degree, while a master's degree in psychology or a similar field may be required for advanced positions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that prospective survey researchers with statistical and analytical skills and experience might have better job prospects than those without. Survey researchers with sufficient work experience can apply for voluntary Professional Researcher Certification (PRC) through the Marketing Research Association.

Survey researchers conduct scientific, marketing and public opinion surveys that cover subjects like health, government, social issues or education. Responsibilities generally include collecting data, determining appropriate survey methods (such as focus groups, questionnaires or interviews), designing and creating surveys, conducting surveys, analyzing results and preparing survey findings. Prospective employers might include nonprofit organizations, businesses, colleges or universities, research firms or polling companies.

Career Outlook and Salary

In 2011, the BLS reported that survey researchers earned a median salary of about $40,000. The bureau predicted that employment of survey researchers would increase 24% between 2010 and 2020, with most jobs in the areas of public opinion research and market research.