Psychology is an intriguing field that delves into the complexities of the human mind, and if you have a bachelor’s degree in psychology, there’s no shortage of fascinating roles to explore. The job market for psychology graduates is incredibly diverse, offering a wide range of possibilities. With a solid understanding of human behavior and critical thinking skills, you’ll find opportunities in countless industries, including healthcare, education and corporate settings.
Learning Outcomes for Psychology Majors
Regardless of your career goals, earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology is as essential step in understanding human behavior and mental health. As a student, you will build a deep understanding of human development, cognition, behavior and emotions. In addition, you will learn to research, analyze and apply information using scientific principles and methods.
You’ll also develop “soft” and “hard” skills that employers highly value. Soft skills are non-technical, interpersonal skills related to working and interacting with others. Hard skills are abilities or aptitudes that are easy to quantify.
Psychology students develop “resilient skills” which are in demand regardless of the job market or economy. Examples of resilient skills are communication, leadership, problem-solving, teamwork and critical thinking. According to the American Psychological Association, psychology students develop other transferable cognitive, social and technological skills, including creativity, information management, adaptability, integrity, collaboration and computer competency.
Career Outlook for Psychology Majors
A Psychology curriculum covers a wide range of subjects such as statistics, psychological research, academic writing, interpersonal communication, ethics and data analysis. The diversity of the skills and knowledge a psychology education delivers means that psychology degree holders often find meaningful work in numerous fields like human resources, public affairs, marketing, education, business, communications and health care.
“People with Bachelor’s degrees in Psychology often possess good research and writing skills, are good problem solvers, and have well developed, higher-level thinking abilities when it comes to analyzing, synthesizing and evaluating information.”
—American Psychological Association, “Careers in Psychology“
Earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology will enable you to make a positive impact on individual lives, organizations and communities in many different ways. For all these reasons and more, psychology is an excellent choice when selecting a college major as an undergrad — especially if you have a natural curiosity about human behavior and an innate desire to help others.
Psychology degree jobs and career opportunities for those with a bachelor’s degree are plentiful and exist in numerous fields, as outlined below.
ADVERTISING JOBS
Advertising is about understanding human behavior and persuading people to perform an action or buy a product. The creative, analytical, writing and research skills psychology students gain all come into play in this field. There are numerous options for psychology degree jobs in advertising, such as copywriter, sales representative, advertising manager, production coordinator, media planner and account manager.
BUSINESS MANAGEMENT JOBS
In addition to studying individual behavior, psychology degree students also learn about industrial or organizational psychology, which gives them the tools to understand and manage workplace dynamics. A psychology student’s problem-solving and information management abilities also benefit the strategy and planning of operational processes in a business environment. Business management- psychology degree careers include project manager, business analyst, general manager, administrative coordinator and operations manager.
BUYING JOBS
Buyers focus on purchasing products or services for an organization. They must predict consumer behavior and possess data analysis, and mathematical and negotiation skills. Psychology degree students develop capabilities relevant to these tasks. Psychology graduates are strong contenders for buying positions such as purchasing agent, associate buyer, purchasing manager, merchandise coordinator and merchant.
FUNDRAISING JOBS
By studying how human beings think and behave, psychology students develop the ability to read people and understand their motivations. Along with their well-developed communication skills, this understanding makes psychology majors an ideal fit for the fundraising field. Positions such as donor engagement manager, development coordinator, major gifts officer and global corporate giving manager are potential career options.
HUMAN RESOURCES JOBS
Psychology students learn about many human traits and behaviors, including motivation, personality and interpersonal communication. Understanding human behavior makes them ideal candidates for human resources jobs. Training, recruiting, mediation, and performance evaluation are a few responsibilities psychology students are primed to take on. Psychology degree jobs in human resources include employee relations manager, benefits specialist, training manager, HR associate and talent management coordinator.
MARKETING JOBS
Students studying psychology learn how to conduct scientific research. Research skills help prepare them for advanced academic pursuits and many potential career avenues in marketing. Psychology majors use their understanding of research design, data analysis, technology, communication and human behavior to succeed professionally. Jobs psychology students are positioned for include research analyst, marketing associate, social media manager, digital marketing specialist and brand manager.
PUBLIC RELATIONS JOBS
Psychology students explore many nuances of the human experience, some of which relate to practices and concepts in public relations. Specifically, relationship building, communication and image perception skills, and the ability to connect with others. Psychology degree jobs in public relations include communications manager, public relations representative, account manager, publicist and community relations representative.
SALES JOBS
Earning a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology will qualify for numerous entry-level sales positions right out of college. Many psychology degree majors can gauge consumer preferences. The requisite skills to communicate effectively and deliver messaging that will convince people to buy a product or service. Some jobs psychology graduates pursue include sales representative, support specialist, advisor, sales and marketing associate, development representative and sales manager.
University of Massachusetts Lowell has offered undergraduate and graduate degree programs online to students since 1996. Our Bachelor of Arts in Psychology degree is available online or as a mix of online and on-campus courses. UMass Lowell’s B.A. in Psychology fosters critical and creative thinking by covering theoretical foundations in various subfields; including experimental, developmental, social, community, personality and clinical psychology. We also offer psychology certificates and degree programs at the graduate level.
Learn more about the online Bachelor’s in Psychology available at UMass Lowell.
UMass Lowell has one of the largest selections of online programs available through a traditional university. Our online programs have earned national recognition and awards for innovation, faculty development, inclusive education and online teaching
