BASIC STEPS TO A CAREER IN PSYCHOLOGY

Psychology is a field that demands a lot of care, love, patience and understanding of individuals. It is a career that requires a strong inclination for asking the right questions and ability to make patients look deep within them to find the right answers. Psychologists sometimes can make or break lives. In order to compete in today's market, it pays to carefully consider your career options and select a field that is in high demand. A psychologist is a friend, confidante and a secret diary for her patients all at the same time.

Many career paths are available to professionals in the psychology field. The amount of education you receive will depend on which direction you want to take your career. You can earn a bachelor's degree, master's degree, Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.), Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.), but before you start your education, you need to take time to research your options and choose the educational path that's best suited for your future career.

1. Enroll in a bachelor's degree program in psychology. Try to choose a college that offers a few options for students studying psychology, such as a traditional psychology degree, a degree in applied psychology and internship programs that include field work, ofcourse!

2. Add a minor to your bachelor's degree program if you plan to find employment in the psychology field once you graduate. Your minor should relate to the field you plan to enter, such as nonprofits, marketing, business or public relations. Also, consider completing an internship in one of these fields. Many industries will be open to hiring you because a degree in psychology helps develop your interpersonal skills, ability to handle conflict, and understanding of how people think and interact with one another. Adding a minor to your degree and completing an internship will make you even more attractive to prospective employers.

An internship will also make you more attractive to graduate programs if you plan to receive a higher degree. You can find psychology internships by visiting your college's Career Center or by talking with your psychology professors. The Career Center will know of companies and organizations that are looking for student interns. Professors may have research of their own that student interns are able to assist them with. Some psychology degree programs include an internship as a requirement for graduation. If this is the case, check with your academic adviser about when to complete your internship and where you should go to find one that's appropriate for your career path.

3. Apply to the college of education at your university if you want to teach psychology at the high school level. You will need to have a concentration in education, or you may be required to double major in education and psychology. Be prepared to complete student teaching during your last semester of college. Student teaching is very demanding. You'll be working full-time observing and teaching a psychology high school class under the guidance of its current teacher. You'll be required to plan lessons, give and/ or take tests, grade assignments and lecture the class. At the same time, you may be working part-time or completing college coursework.

4. Plan to receive a master's degree in psychology if you want to teach at a vocational school or community college. You can also teach part-time at most universities; however, you'll mostly likely only teach introductory college coursework. For applying to graduate school programs in psychology, you need to take the Graduate Record Exam, or GRE. This test should be taken during the second semester of your junior year of undergraduate study. Your academic adviser can help you find study materials and make arrangements to take the exam.

5. Prepare to earn a doctorate degree if you want to teach psychology at a four-year college or university. You will need to earn a Ph.D., an Ed.D. or a Psy.D., before you are qualified to teach at the college level. Your academic adviser can help you determine if your scores are too low to be competitive. In this case, you may need to retake one or more of the exams. The score you need may vary depending on the graduate program you're applying for.

6. Add pre-med courses to your curriculum if you plan to attend medical school and become a psychiatrist. Most colleges no longer offer a major in pre-medical studies because so many students are never accepted by medical schools. However, you can minor or receive a concentration in pre-medical studies, or your adviser can tell you which courses are required for medical school and when you should take them. Psychology majors often do very well in medical school because they receive so much training in the humanities while earning their undergraduate degree.

7. Talk with your academic and career counselor about your career options if you plan to work as a clinical or counseling psychologist. These types of psychologists work directly with patients, evaluating, counseling and treating emotional, cognitive and behavioral problems. Your options include receiving a MSW (masters of social work) degree, in clinical or psychiatric social work, a Ph.D. or Psy.D. in clinical psychology, or a Ph.D., Ed.D or Psy.D. in counseling psychology. A master's degree in clinical or counseling psychology may also be appropriate for your career. Different states have different regulations for the type of degree you need to perform counseling, treat disorders or prescribe medication. Talk with your academic and career advisers before making any final decisions.

8. Gain more experience in the field. The type of experience you choose will depend on the specific aspect of psychology you plan to devote your career to. If you plan to enter research psychology, you should gain relevant experience by assisting a professor with research or by interning at a research lab. If you plan to work in clinical or counseling psychology, you should complete volunteer work or an internship in this field. You can usually find excellent experience through nonprofit organizations that are dedicated to disadvantaged populations, such as the homeless, the mentally ill, or those with addictions to drugs or alcohol. If you plan to enter medical school, you'll need to have experience in the medical field. Complete an internship at a local hospital. Volunteer at a rescue mission or health center, and join clubs on campus that are devoted to the health field.

9. Apply to graduate degree programs that fit with the psychology field you plan to enter. Scientific and research psychologists, who are known as experimental psychologists, typically receive a Ph.D. in a specific area, such as development, cognition, learning or motivation. Educational psychologists work in school systems typically with the population of students who have developmental or learning disabilities. If this career field interests you, plan to earn a Ed.D. or a Ph.D. in educational psychology. A Psy.D. can also be earned if you plan to work directly with the students who have learning disabilities. Industrial and organizational psychologists work in the field of applied psychology. If you want to enter this field, you'll need to earn a Ph.D. in industrial/organizational psychology.

The various diploma courses that are available are:

§ Diploma in Applied Psychology

§ PG Diploma in Psychotherapy

§ Diploma in child psychology

§ Diploma in clinical Psychology

§ PG Diploma course in Applied Psychology

§ PG Diploma course in Criminal Psychology

§ PG Diploma course in Intellectual (learning) Disability Management

§ PG Diploma course in Sports Psychology

§ PG Diploma course in Counselling Psychology

§ Diploma in Special Education or Mental Retardation

§ Diploma in Psychosocial Care and Support in Disaster Management

§ Psychological Counselling Course

§ Post Graduate Diploma in Psychological Counselling

Famous Indian Institutes that offer Diploma courses in psychology:

§ Central Institute of Psychiatry (CIP)

§ National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS)

§ Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences (IHBAS)

§ Jamia Millia Islamia

§ National Council of Educational Research and Training

§ Amity Institute of Psychology and Allied Sciences

§ Institute for Psychotherapy and Management Sciences

§ Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS)