BACHELOR OF SCIENCE IN PSYCHOLOGY FRESHMAN YEAR First Semester UNITS ___EngI 098 (Basic Grammar & Reading).

6 ___EngI 111 (Reading & Composition).. 3 ___Fill 111n (Komunikasyon sa Akad Filipino)....... 3 ___Math 101 (College Algebra).. 3 ___Bio 101 (Gen. Biology w/EnviEduc&Reforest, Educ. [for Med Track]). 5 ___Bio(CellBio/Envi.Educ&Reforestation [for Guidance & HRD Tracks]). 4 ___PE 101 (Self-Testing Activities).. 4 ___FFP/NSTP101 (FreshFormProg/NSTP) 4.5 ------TOTAL: 24.5 (26.5) Second Semester UNITS ___Eng 099 (Basic Grammar & Reading B).. 3 ___Eng 112 (Research & Academic Writing).. 3 ___Math 102 (Elementary Statistics) 3 ___Zool 101 (College Zoology). 5 ___IT 111 (Information Technology/WordProcesing Sprdsheet Other Applications) 3 ___Fil 112n (Pagbabasa at Pagsulat Tungo sa Pananaliksik).... 3 ___FFP/NSTP102 (FreshFormProg/NSTP).... 4.5 ___PE 102 (Fund of Rhythmic Activ & Dancing) 2 ------TOTAL: 24.5 (26.5)

SOPHOMORE YEAR First Semester UNITS ___Psyc 101 (General Psychology).. 3 ___Eng 211 (Public Speaking & Debate).... 3 ___Fil 113n (Masining na Pagpapahayag). 3 ___Hist 100 (Phil History w/Public Service).... 3 ___RS 111 (Jesus Christ: Center of our Faith). 3 ___Chem 100 (College Chemistry for Guidance And HRD tracks)... 3 ___Chem 101 (Gen & Inorganic Chemistry for Med Track).. 5 ___PE 103 (Individual & Dual Sports).. 2 ------TOTAL: 22 (25) Second Semester UNITS ___Psyc 201n ( Developmental Psychology).. 3 ___Psyc 203 (Psychological Statistics). 5 ___Econ 101 (Principles of Econ w/TLR) 3 ___Hist 102 (Cultura Zamboanga).. 3 ___Soan 101 (Sociology/Anthropology) 3 ___RS 112 (The Catholic Church: Established By Jesus Christ). 3 ___PE 104 (Group Sport).. 2 -------TOTAL: 19 (22)

JUNIOR YEAR First Semester UNITS ___Psyc 301 (Experimental Psyc-Lec/Lab)... 5 ___Psyc 302 (Personality Theories).. 3 ___Psyc 306 (Psychology of Learning). 3 ___Psyc 401n (Social Psychology).. 3 ___Philo 101 (Intro to Philosophy) 3 ___Elect1 (Track A/B/C) 3/4/5 ___RS 113 (Christian Vocation: Priestly, Religious, Marriage & Parenting). (3) -------TOTAL: (23)(24)(25)20/21/22 Second Semester UNITS ___Psyc 303 (Abnormal Psychology) 3 ___Psyc 305n (Psychology Testing) 5 ___Psyc 307 (Industrial Psychology).... 3 ___Res 101 (Research Methods). 3 ___Lit 102 (Literature of the World). 3 ___Philo 102 (Philosophy of Man). 3 ___Elect II (Track A/B/C).. 3/4/5 --------TOTAL: 23/24/25

SENIOR YEAR First Semeter UNITS ___Psyc 311 (Sem Psych I: Counseling Theories And Techniques) 5 ___Psyc 404 (Practicum). 3 ___Psyc 405 (Independent Research).. 3 ___Philo 103 ( Philo of Ethics /Popn Educ) 3 ___Hist 104 (Rizals Life, Works & Writings)... 3 ___Elect III (Track A/B/C).. 3/4/5 -------TOTAL: 18/19/20 Second Semester UNITS ___Psyc 304 (Physiological Psychology).. 3 ___Psyc 312 (Sem Psyc II: Ethics in the Prof. Practice of Psychology). 3 ___Psyc 407 (Career Counseling & Development) ___Hum 101 (Music & Arts Appreciation). 3 ___Philo 104 (Philosophy of Religion).. 3 ___ RS 114 (Christian Discipleship: Following Jesus Christ). 3

___Elect IV (Track A/B/C)..3/4/5 ---------TOTAL: (21)(22)(23)18/19/20

Master of Arts in Guidance and Counseling (Non Thesis Program) The MA in Guidance and Counseling program emphasizes competencies in psychological counseling and guidance services. In particular, the program is designed to be consistent with national requirements in terms of knowledge and skills expected of licensed guidance and counseling practitioners and is geared toward preparing the student for the national licensure examinations for guidance and counseling. Undergraduate Pre-requisites (11 units) Psych 101 3 General Psychology

This course surveys general topics in psychology such as sensory processes, perceptual processes, theories of motivation, statistical tests and design, learning theories and personality, and contemporary issues and problems in psychology. Psych 203 3 Fundamental Statistics

This is a course on the basic concepts and methods of descriptive and inferential statistics and their use in the design, analysis and interpretation in the context of psychological research. Psych 301 5 Experimental Psychology

This course aims to introduce the students to the theoretical and methodological bases of scientific research in general, and the psychological experiment in particular. Students are trained in designing, conducting, analyzing and evaluating experiments as well as in reporting the results through experimental reports. Psych 500 3 Quantitative Methods

This course is a continuation of the concepts and methods of statistics as discussed in Fundamental Statistics. More advanced concepts are added and effective use of statistical software (i.e. SPSS) is emphasized. Psych 501 3 Cognitive Psychology

This course introduces the theories and research on cognitive psychology. The discussions revolve around the history of cognitive psychology, models of cognitive psychology, an examination of the basic principles and theories of such cognitive psychological topics like perception, attention, memory, linguistics, neurocognition, thinking and intelligence, and information processing. Psych 502 3 Research Methods

This course is a study of the scientific methods of social and psychological investigation, focusing on the techniques of problem identification, hypothesis formulation, and the construction of a research design and data-gathering instruments. The preparation of a research proposal is integral to the course. Psych 504 Theories of Personality 3 This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the various theories of personality representing the different schools of thought. The emphasis is on grasping the basic principles, tools and research methods in observing, understanding and predicting human behavior. Psych 520 3 Abnormal Psychology

This course covers the different major categories of abnormal behavior, focusing on the three key concerns of diagnosis, causation and therapy. Current issues, existing research and the clinical aspects are also examined as each type of disorder is studied. Psych 521 3 Counseling Theories

This course explores the theories, issues, and problems of assessment, therapeutic contracting, and surveys the divergent techniques of counseling. Psych 522 3 Counseling Tools and Techniques

This course introduces to the student the fundamental counseling techniques and skills as well as tools common to multiple theoretical perspectives. Psych 523 Psychological Testing 3 This course reviews major issues in psychological and educational measurement with emphasis on test development and the evaluation of psychometric properties. The application of various psychological tests is also emphasized. Psych 524 3 Group Process

The general objective of the course is to develop an understanding and appreciation of the concepts, theories, and principles of group process and its applications as skills and strategies to the human resource development, training facilitators, and handling groups in general. Psych 605 3 Career Counseling and Development

This course is designed to introduce students to the history and relevance of career counseling, the different career counseling and development theories, assessment procedures used in career counseling, as well as techniques used in career counseling of clients across different learning and work settings. Emerging issues and current research will also be discussed, to allow students to gain insights on the implications of career counseling and development in lives of individuals. Psych 606 Organization and Administration of Guidance Services and Program Development 3 This is a foundation course for those planning to enter school counseling and covers organization, planning, management, and evaluation of guidance services in schools as well as the appropriate roles and responsibilities of counselors. The course also presents various strategies for appropriate interventions for student issues and explores the legal and ethical concerns faced by school counselors. Psych 607 Sociological, Philosophical and Psychological Foundations of Guidance and Counseling 3 This course intends to discuss the different disciplines from which guidance and counseling originated. Significant schools of thought in Philosophy, Psychology, and Sociology that serve as the fundamentals of guidance and counseling are explored, to facilitate a clearer and more established understanding of the state, role, and developments of guidance and counseling in todays times. Psych 608 3 Advanced Psychological Assessment

This course is a continuation of the course Psychological Testing. Research findings and current issues as well as the governing principles of psychological test construction (norms, reliability, validity, item analysis; ethical issues in psychological testing; survey of intelligence, aptitude, achievement, personality, interest, and clinical measures) are discussed. Psych 609 Marital and Family Counseling 3 This course is designed to introduce students to selected approaches and theories to counseling in the contexts of marriage, couple, and family systems. Current significant issues such as multicultural dimensions, especially the Filipino socio-cultural system are also discussed.

Psych 610 3

Psychotherapy

This course offers an overview of the principal theories used by psychotherapists in the field today. It aims at introducing and meeting the field, and giving some practical ideas and tools that can be used by various professionals like teachers, therapists, youth counselors as well as church counselors who work directly with clients. It also gives students an introductory understanding of Psychotherapy and provides them the basic skills to deal with counseling work, psychotherapy, and even coaching friends on their problems. Practicum 3 This practicum is designed to provide graduate students the opportunity to participate in all forms of counseling services in the school setting with the supervision of a certified school guidance counselor of Ateneo de Zamboanga University and the adviser. The 180 supervised hours builds on the students graduate studies in counseling and other field experience in the undergraduate education. Students are expected not only to professionally address the daily practicum requirements and expectations for school guidance counseling certification but also to be responsible in showing graduate level scholarship and application of research in the completion of this course. In addition to the practicum content and log, the graduate students must submit a 20-30 page scholarly paper that discusses their practical experience within the school guidance counseling in relation to counseling theories previously studied. Offices where they are assigned to work are also requested to submit their evaluation of the students. Comprehensive Examinations Culminating Project 3 TOTAL NO. OF UNITS: 45 units

Bachelor of Science (BS): Psychology Degree Overview

A Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology provides students with the first level of education required to pursue careers in more specialized fields. However, a BS in Psychology also provides a large base of knowledge and skills which are easily transferred and tailored to any number of careers.

Undergraduate psychology programs are designed to provide students with experience in professional and scientific psychology. Most careers in the psychology field require advanced graduate degrees. Nevertheless, according to the National Honor Society in Psychology,www.psichi.org, only about 25 percent of all undergraduate psychology majors go on to graduate school. Clearly, an undergraduate major in psychology qualifies a person for a number of careers. Bachelor's degree-holders may become research or administrative assistants for psychologists. Others may work in marketing research, or other related fields. A psychology degree provides students with a wide range of abilities and skills, which allow them to find employment in many other careers not directly related to the field of psychology. Courses and Specializations: Psychology is the study of human and animal behavior, which is of course a broad field of study. This is why there are many specialization areas within the field of psychology. Coursework in a Bachelor of Science in psychology degree program may include:

Elementary Psychology Intro to Child Development Social Cognition Environmental Stress Comparative Psychology Principles of Behavior Analysis Loss and Trauma

Psychopharmacology

Career Outlook: Students who complete a BS in psychology and go on to achieve advanced professional training are on the road to a rewarding and lucrative career. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov, the employment of psychologists is expected to grow at a faster than average rate through 2014. And among the specialties in the field, those concentrating in school psychology will enjoy the best career opportunities.

Careers for BS in Psychology

Psychology is the study of the cognitive, behavioral and emotional growth of human beings and how they interact with their environments. Bachelor of science (B.S.) and bachelor of arts (B.A.) graduates in this field have a wide depth of training that prepares them to work inbusiness, education, social services, sales, marketing and forensic sciences. Much of the course work for B.A and B.S degrees tends to overlap (for example, social science requirements and core courses), but B.S. degree graduates have a higher skill concentration in math, natural sciences and research methods and thus enjoy greater career flexibility. With only 25 percent of bachelor level graduates continuing to advanced degree study, there are a host of career avenues for ambitious B.S. psychology professionals.

Social Services

Social services provides a wide array of job choices for recent B.S. graduates. The field encompasses nonprofits and governmental entities that provide support in health care, housing, job training and mental health services. Jobs in this field include case work, grant writing, case coordination, case management, social work and administration. Case work and case management jobs provide opportunities for travel in the surrounding communities a professional serves. Administrative careers generally focus on quality management, billing, research, computer systems maintenance and budget management. Salaries for careers in this field generally range from $29,010 to $57,564, depending on experience and advanced degree certification.

Forensic Psychology

Forensic psychology is a fast-growing career field that provides opportunities in law enforcement and criminal justice. Career paths include adult/juvenile probation, incarceration rehabilitation programs and program consultation. Professionals in this field use their

expertise in understanding human behavior to assist mentally ill defendants and analyze criminal intent in legal cases. Salaries typically range from $35,000 to $50,000.

Teaching

Another popular field for B.S. graduates is teaching. Graduates learn a variety of disciplines within psychology, such as social psychology, child development, cognitive psychology and adolescent psychology. These skills are attractive to school districts that require teachers to have expertise in the developmental needs of children. Graduates with B.S. degrees can easily find teaching jobs in primary and secondary schools through alternative certification. In some cases, bachelor-level professionals can work as adjunct professors at community colleges or alternative schools. The typical salaries for kindergarten through grade 12 teachers are $40,056 to $42,715. Of course, the salary will be higher for a professional with an advanced degree, such as a master of arts or master of science.

Research

A graduate with a B.S. or B.A. degree can land jobs as research assistants for psychologists at hospitals, universities and psychiatric institutes. Research assistants help psychologists with duties such as clinical trials, in-person interviews, data management and data collection. If you are serious about pursuing a career in psychological research, the best option is to become a licensed psychologist, which requires earning a doctor of philosophy degree, or doctor of psychology degree if you are more interested in clinical practice. Salaries range from $30,760 to $40,000.

Benefits

Both B.S and B.A graduates in psychology have training that is easily transferable to many fields. Bachelor-level professionals have marketable skills that are in high demand, such as writing, research, knowledge of human behavior, analysis and interviewing. These skills are highly adaptable and can be parlayed into nontraditional jobs, such as contracting, consulting or life coaching.

Potential

The potential for growth is increasing within the field of psychology. The demand for people with psychology degrees will continue to rise through 2014, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and those who hold advanced degrees will benefit from a labor market in need of their diverse skills. Growth in the health care industry alone will create a greater need for clinical services. If you plan to pursue a career in psychology, an advanced degree will offer greater opportunities for specialization, prestige and a higher salary.

The Difference Between a BA & a BS Psychology Degree

By Genevieve Van Wyden, eHow Contributor

College students who are looking at majoring in psychology have two paths they can choose. Depending on what their eventual careerpaths are, they can choose to earn a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science; although the field is the same, the emphasis will be quite different.

BA/BS Degrees
o

The Bachelor of Arts degree provides opportunities for a wide area of study, such as modern scientific psychology--how we adapt to rapidly changing social and physical environments. The Bachelor of Science degree concentrates more heavily in neuroscience, clinical psychology, clinical social work, behavioral neuroscience, developmental or cognitive psychology or industrial business psychology.

Core Differences
o

Students graduating with a BA will be better equipped for fields such as social work and human resources/personnel. Students graduating with a BS will be more heavily sought in areas requiring more knowledge of clinical psychology, medicine and neuropsychology.

Career Choices: BA
o

Students who opt for the Bachelor of Arts in Psychology can choose to work in the human services field (crisis intervention or case management) or in business areas (human resources, personnel or management). Those who decide to pursue a graduate degree can select such areas as social work or counseling (vocational or marriage and family).

Career Choices: BS
o

Students majoring in Bachelor of Science in Psychology can find work as medical doctors, forensic psychologists, neuropsychologists, biologists

and lawyers. If they opt for graduate study, they can choose neuroscience, medical school or biology.

Science Courses for BS

o

Bachelor of Science Psychology majors will have to take courses in biology, behavioral statistics, research methods, a cognitive science, chemistry, college physics and math. Those focusing on criminal justice will have to take forensic science courses.

Using Your Psychology Degree Tips

Read these 25 Using Your Psychology Degree Tips tips to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Psychology Degree tips and hundreds of other topics. Become a Guru or Become an Advertiser.

Jobs You Can Find with a Psychology Degree

Psychology relates to the study of behavior, both human and animal. It seeks to understand why people or animals react in certain ways to specific situations or events in their lives. If you plan on earning a psychology degree, you may wonder what types of jobs are available to graduates with this particular type of degree. Before enrolling in a psychology program, you should research the types of opportunities that will be available to you.

Most people who graduate with a bachelors degree in psychology can find jobs in a variety of psychology-related fields. For example, psychology majors can land jobs in human resources, public relations or market research. People with an educational background in psychological studies can work as substance abuse counselors, youth workers or community outreach personnel.

Graduates who hold masters or doctoral degrees in psychology enjoy a wider array of opportunities. For example, they may work in the fields of clinical psychology, counseling, sports psychology, school psychology or research. Some graduates may choose to enter medical school so that they may become licensed psychiatrists.

As you can see, a psychology degree can provide you with many interesting career opportunities. Working in a psychology or psychology-related field permits you to use your understanding of human behavior in order to benefit people from all walks of life.

Career Choices Available for a Person with a Counseling Psychology Degree

Counseling psychology is a psychological specialty, which covers interpersonal and personal functioning and research in issues such as emotional, multi-cultural, educational, health-related, social, organizational concerns, developmental, vocational, the integration of theory and practice. This process helps people get rid of distress and maladjustment, enhance their well-being, resolve crises, and function better throughout their lives. Counseling psychology gives unique attention to normal developmental issues and problems connected with physical, mental, and emotional disorders.

What Does a Counseling Psychologist Do?

A counseling psychologist is involved in a number of agencies such as schools and private and government organizations. They also teach at an undergraduate and graduate college level, do research, are involved in family and individual therapy, and hold academic administrative positions such as a dean of a college. The following is a list of setting that a counseling psychologist may work with: In adolescent development In child development In vocational psychology In substance abuse With anxiety disorders In sport psychology

 In forensic psychology Health psychology such as aids, cancer and long-term care cases In adult development and aging In neuropsychology With aggression and anger control In rehabilitation In community psychology With eating disorders With developmental disabilities

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Psychological Tips For Testifying In Court

Maybe you thought it would never happen to you, but now you've been summoned to testify in court as a witness, plaintiff, defendant, or crime victim, and you need some advice on how to best present your case to the judge or jury. The following tips from the field of forensic psychology can help reduce the stress and enhance the credibility of your day in court. Preparation. Nothing eases anxiety more than knowing what to expect and how to handle it. Before the trial, carefully review the facts of your case. Discuss with your attorney what kinds of questions to expect. Both mentally and aloud, rehearse your testimony. Try to anticipate questions that may come out of left field and how to deal with them. There's no such thing as too much preparation. Attitude. In court, maintain composure and dignity at all times. Confidence, not cockiness, is the key. Treat the courtroom players judge, attorneys, jury with respect and expect to be so treated in return. Behavior. On the stand, sit up straight and avoid shifting in your chair. If you've brought papers or other materials with you, arrange them carefully in front of you. Look at the attorney who is questioning you and wait till he or she has finished the question before answering. When responding, switch your gaze to the jury, who tend to find witnesses more credible when they look straight at us. Speak and act in an open, friendly, and dignified way. Speech. Speak as clearly, slowly, and concisely as possible to be understood. Keep sentences short and to the point. Maintain a steady, conversational tone of voice. Listen carefully to each question

before you respond. If you don't fully understand the question, ask the attorney to repeat it or rephrase it. Take time to compose your thoughts. Answer the question completely, but try not to ramble. If you feel you cannot honestly answer a particular question by a simple yes-or-no answer, say so and let the attorney rephrase it. If you don't know the answer to a question, never try to fudge or wing it; just state, I don't know. Tricks and traps. The opposing attorney may try to seize on omissions and inconsistencies in your testimony to discredit you. Don't take the bait: avoid becoming defensive or hostile and continue to maintain your composure. Any time you're stuck, ask for clarification. If opposing counsel is giving you a really hard time, your attorney will most likely pop up and raise an objection. Remember: While court testimony is often challenging, with the proper mindset and preparation, it doesn't have to be overwhelming.

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Career in Psychology Options

The options for a career in psychology are virtually limitless; however, it is important to note that many of these career options require specific degrees. Students may opt to obtain a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters degree or a doctorate degree. Within each level of degree there are a variety of career options which range from business positions to owning a private practice as a clinical psychologist.

Graduates who only obtain an undergraduate degree in psychology still have a variety of career options available to them. They may wish to pursue careers in sales, marketing, personnel, criminal justice and education. Here graduates may work in careers which require them to use skills they obtained while pursing an undergraduate degree but do not require individuals to hold advanced degrees or professional licenses.

Psychology career options for masters degree graduates may include teaching at a two year college or any of the career options available to students with only an undergraduate degree. Additionally, masters degree graduates may be eligible to pursue careers in clinical or industrial and organizational psychology but will likely be required to work as an assistant in these fields.

A doctoral degree in psychology enables a graduate to pursue the widest variety of options for a career in psychology. Some of the available options include teaching and research, clinical psychology, counseling psychology, forensic psychology, health psychology, industrial and organization psychology and sports psychology. Graduates who wish to work in one of these specific areas will likely have taken a wide variety of courses pertinent to the career path.

Related Tip: A career in psychology is a worthwhile endeavor which may lead graduates to a variety of career options. However, the bulk of psychologist positions will require a doctorate. However, students with only an undergraduate degree or a masters degree may still find a variety of career options which enable them to utilize their education. This may include working in any field which requires participants to utilize a variety of interpersonal skills. Career options for these graduates may include case workers, counselor's aids, personnel directors or criminal justice workers just to name a few. However, those who have a doctorate degree may pursue other career options which require licensure such as clinical psychologist, sports psychologist and forensic psychologist.

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Working with a Psychology Associate's Degree

There are human service jobs where you can use an Associate's Degree in Psychology, depending on the job market where you will live and hope to work. Some of these might be; teacher's aide, case management aide, family support aide, residential case manager, government benefits case worker, teen mentor, childcare worker and other possibilities. These are usually entry-level positions, although with experience there might be opportunity to advance in some organizations. This will depend on the organization and the work.

Some people with Associate's Degrees work in resource referral positions, in human resources, in development (fund raising and grant writing, as examples) and in grass roots campaigning, political action and organizing capacities. Some people with Associate's Degrees work in hospital, human services and education reception and admissions positions. They may also work as testing assistants, training assistants, psychiatric hospital technicians and in any number of other capacities where psychology can be put to practical use.

Again, check with a college-based or other career counselor, do your own job market survey, as described under, "Degrees for Counseling and Therapy," and look at job market projections for health, education and human services sectors. You may want and need to work in one of these jobs while you continue your education towards another degree, perhaps a Bachelor's, a Master's and even a Doctorate in Psychology. Many professionals start out with an Associate's Degree in Psychology.

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Jobs in Research Psychology

Consider private and public organizations, such as government departments responsible for meeting human needs, hospitals, large human service agencies and policy-making entities to discover the kinds of positions that exist in Research Psychology. Also check with a college-based or other professional career counselors for this information. Professors who teach Research Psychology are a good source of this information too.

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How to Become a Psychologist

Figuring out how to become a psychologist is the simple part of the equation. The more difficult part is actually completing all of the requirements. Becoming a psychologist will require approximately 5-7 years of graduate work as well as the completion of a doctoral dissertation. Graduate school students are typically required to earn a bachelors degree as a prerequisite to graduate school but it is not always required for this undergraduate degree to be in psychology.

Once a student gains admission into graduate school they will need to earn a masters degree and a doctoral degree to become a psychologist. This will require approximately 5-7 years of fulltime coursework to achieve these degrees. Even after the student managers to earn a doctoral degree in psychology such as a PhD or a PsyD, he is not always eligible to practice as a psychologist just yet. This is because many states have additional licensing requirements which require applicants to pass

one or more standardized tests. These examinations are typically not easy and often have high failure rates. Once a graduate completes all of the educational and licensure requirements of a particular state, they are eligible to practice as a psychologist in that particular state.

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Battling Stress? Don't Relax -- Get Tough

Take a look at most books and courses on stress management and you might think that reducing stress is all about taking a few deep breaths, uttering a few calming chants, and blissfully floating on a cloud. Is that your real world? I didn't think so. Actually, a stress-free life can be as unhealthy as an over-stressed one because, for most of the important things we do in our lives, a certain amount of optimum stimulation is necessary for health and peak performance. Research at the University of Nebraska has identified a psychophysiological process called toughening to describe what happens when challenging situations are dealt with by active coping and problem solving. Overwhelming stress overtaxes the nervous system and leads to a variety of maladaptive mental and physical effects, including high blood pressure, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal problems, chronic anxiety, and depression. However, individuals who have developed effective coping and mastery skills show a more efficient and adaptive nervous system response that returns promptly to normal baseline when the crisis is over. Over time, a positive spiral develops: More effective coping leads to a smoother psychobiological stress response and, the more this happens, the more the person learns to have faith in his or her own coping abilities so the stress response becomes even more adaptive and less disruptive. The result is less stress, fewer illnesses, and better overall functioning and productivity. So how do you learn to toughen up? Unfortunately, by relying mainly on relaxation or other arousalreduction techniques, many so-called stress-management programs portray stress as something to be reduced or avoided at all costs, thus inhibiting the learning of adaptive coping skills to deal with life's challenges. Here in the real world, there are a number of practical psychological strategies that can help you become more stress-resilient: Arousal control. learning to both increase and decrease arousal as appropriate to the situation.

 Attentional focus. Utilizing the proper beam of attention to take account of the situation and its requirements. Imagery. Using mental imagery to internally rehearse adaptive coping strategies. Cognitive Restructuring. Learning to reinterpret situations in terms of mastery and control. Self-talk. Becoming your own instructor and mentor in challenging situations. The key is flexibility in both behavior and the nervous system's stress-response system that enables the stress-adaptive person to adapt to and master challenging situations. While some people do this naturally, with the right training, almost all of us can learn to be better stress-busters.

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The Versatility of a Psychology Degree

Wait, youre majoring in psychology? What are you going to do with that? Dont you have to continue on to your PhD to make it count? Are there really any psychology employment options out there? In this economy? Unfortunately, these questions and many others like them are very familiar to students who have chosen a major in psychology. More and more, specific trades or courses leading toward the business or medical field are favored over a liberal arts education. Contrary to popular belief, though, psychology degree careers are bursting with opportunity.

Indeed, one could continue on to graduate school, choosing a more focused plan of study such as clinical, counseling, forensic or industrial psychology. But there are available alternative career paths as well. Your degree, so centered in human development and communication, transitions smoothly into a career in business, politics, marketing, education or management. In fact, because more people today change careers a few times over the span of their lives, such a versatile degree may be more useful and fruitful in the long run than any other. So what can you do with a degree in psychology? Hold your head high and say, Anything.

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Preparing For a Career In Psychology

Psychology is the study of human behavior that uses scientific procedures to examine how society and the environment effects the functions of the brain. Students who would like to enter this field will need extensive training regarding normal, as well as abnormal brain functions, and how to evaluate mental and behavioral problems. They will also learn how to identify and treat mental illness and emotional disorders.

A strong academic background with studies in English, math, science, social studies, and history is the first step for young adults who would like to prepare for a career in psychology. To continue their studies, college students must enroll in an undergraduate program where they can earn a Bachelors Degree in Psychology. Students who would like to further their training can go on to earn a Masters Degree in Psychology, or a Doctoral Degree.

Successful students who earn their degree will find psychologist job openings all around the world. Psychology is made up of several sub-fields including clinical, counseling, evolutionary, and experimental psychology. An extensive list of psychologist job openings can be found in any of these high paying psychology careers.

Well trained graduates can pursue psychologist job openings with confidence while seeking careers in school, forensic, or health psychology. A career in psychology offers exciting opportunities to work in many different fields including research, development, and rehabilitation. A career in psychology is an ideal option for students who are intrigued by human behavior, how the brain works, and the causes of mental illness.

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Psychologists: The Helping Profession

Those seeking psychologist careers are often attracted to the idea of helping others. This can involve a clinical practice, working in a school or even as an industrial psychologist helping a business run smoothly and increase productivity.

Most psychologist careers require continued to education to get a Masters degree or PhD. These programs are extremely competitive and potentially difficult to get into. Licensure is dependent on the specific field, for example a school psychologist will require different credentials than a psychologist practicing in a private office. Some type of license is required for any position that involves advising or counseling patients.

According to the United States Bureau of Labor and Statistics, the job outlook for psychologist careers is growing at an average rate. Due to an increase in awareness of bad behaviors, importance of mental health in students and the need for companies to increase productivity, there is a definite increase in the need for psychologist careers. However, the majority of the growth will be in jobs that require higher degrees which will result in a lot of competition.

Because getting into a graduate or doctoral psychology program is competitive an individual might seek other jobs with a psychology degree. Some options might include human resources, case management, marketing and administration. Basically, a psychology degree can be beneficial to any career that involves working with people.

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Popular Jobs for Psychology Majors

After graduating college with a major in psychology most people think that they are only limited to being a psychologist but that is untrue. There are hundreds of jobs that pertain to having a major in psychology.

Some of the most popular jobs in psychology are Social Worker, Mental Health Manager and Applied Behavior Therapist. They all make between $30,000 to $42,000 a year in their respective areas. Even with those being the most popular jobs in psychology there are still many other fields which you can pursue. With a major in psychology you can also deal with criminals in Criminal Psychology or help needy children as a Childrens Psychiatric Technician. Majoring in psychology opens the door to almost any other field that you want to explore. For people who also have an interest in science you could work as a Clinical Research Coordinator whose yearly income averages around $60,000. You can work in a wide range of social service and crisis positions. For people who enjoy helping others there are

jobs in Mental Health or Home Health Aide. You can also help work as a Placement Specialist with an average yearly salary of $54,800. There are hundreds of other positions in nearly whatever else you want to do with your degree.

Majoring in Psychology does not limit you to one thing; it opens the door to hundreds of other positions that do make a difference in society.

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Licensed Therapist Job Outlook

In a time of economic uncertainty, it is a good idea to choose a field that has a positive outlook for the coming years. Becoming a licensed therapist or having psychology licensure securely in place is a great way to protect your income in the near future at least. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook, this field is expected to grow at a faster pace than the average for all occupations. This of course will depend on what field you are in and how much education you have received.

In most areas, you are required to achieve a masters degree to be considered a licensed therapist or counselor. This can vary from state to state and the area you are interested in, even though job openings are expected to exceed the number of graduates from psychology licensure programs in the near future. For example, counselors in educational, vocational and school based counseling are expected to grow at a rapid 14%. If you are interested in helping others, a secure job outlook and decent wages, becoming a licensed therapist is the way to go today.

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An Undergraduate Psychology Degree Offers Flexibility

Many people who pursue undergraduate psychology degrees plan to move on to further education to receive Master's or Doctorate degrees, in order to become a professional psychologist. However, an

undergraduate psychology program without an advanced degree does prepare one well for a number of career opportunities. Undergraduate psychology coursework helps students develop critical thinking and solid people skills. Many graduates of an accredited psychology program move on to pursue careers in human services, public relations, advertising or market research. An undergraduate psychology background helps one develop solid research and analysis skills that can be invaluable in many business settings. Research also indicates that many undergraduate psychology students move on not to an advanced degree in psychology, but to graduate programs in business school or law school. Receiving an undergraduate psychology degree provides a great amount of flexibility and versatility to pursue either advanced psychology education or transition into other governmental, educational or business fields where a solid understanding of people, critical thinking and analysis skills are crucial. The job outlook for those with a background in undergraduate psychology is both excellent and full of a variety of opportunities.

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Careers With a B.A. in Psychology

Students that receive a Bachelor of Psychology can find careers in three different general areas. They are business, research and human services. In business the company often hires sales people with psychology degrees. This is because a psychology major knows how to understand customer motivation. Often sales positions lead to management if someone has a talent for this type of career. Psychology majors have a good understanding of human behavior as it applies to why people buy products. This often creates success in the business sector. These businesses include consumer products, government, insurance, finance and banking. Here the student with a Bachelor in Psychology finds success.

Research jobs often apply to advertising and marketing in companies. The skills the psychology major learned in collecting data from consumers is important. The job titles are market research assistant or research assistant. Knowing how to find data and analyze is a skill many companies pay well for. A Bachelor in Psychology teaches you these skills.

In the area of Human Services a psychology major can find employment with children's social service agencies, elderly services, psychiatric hospitals, drug and alcohol treatment centers and nursing homes often as a counselor or technician. Psychology majors should do volunteer work or perform an internship when attending classes. This is the best way to gain experience in their field. If they can try different setting this is a way to find the job that is best suited for their personality. A Bachelor in Psychology is a way to get many interesting jobs.

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Psychological Principals of Effective Leadership

In the field of leadership, the perennial question has been, Are great leaders born or made? And the answer from clinical and organizational psychology is that it's a little of both: innate talent, bolstered and refined by hard work, proper training, and practical experience. Whether dealing with the day-today running of a complex organization or handling an emergency that requires you to make critical command decisions, the following represent the basic psychological skill-set of effective, dynamic leaders in any organization. Communication. This involves both input and output. The effective leader quickly and accurately assimilates what others tell him/her from a morass of often rushed, confused, and conflicting information, and is able to translate complex plans and strategies into specific, focused directives. Team management. The effective leader coordinates the efforts of individual team members into a united force. He/she is able to delegate responsibilities as needed, but can quickly jump in and take personal control where necessary. Decision making under stress. In a crisis situation, the effective command leader must be able to think clearly and make critical split decisions under fire. This requires the ability to tune out the noise, take in and sort through the relevant environmental data, and come up with a useful plan of action. Planning, implementing, and evaluating. These are the cognitive skills required to quickly and efficiently size up a situation, weigh the options for effective action, implement those actions, and then accurately assess their effects on the overall situation. For superior command leaders, this process seems to operate in a seamless, coordinated flow they make it look easy. It isn't easy, but skill, practice, and experience build the expertise that makes the leader's decisions the right ones. Emotional stability: Underlying the thought and action of superior leaders is a basic emotional ballast

and stability of character. This is a calm, purposeful, self-assured interpersonal style that inspires the troops with confidence and commands respect without having to fish for it. Team members will go out on a limb for this leader because they trust his/her judgment and commitment to the job and to themselves. So, where do leaders come from, and can you learn to be one? If you think you have leadership potential, then you can start right now to take the leap, make the effort, and avail yourself of the training and experience that will give you the best opportunities to lead with confidence.

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Typical Clinical Psychology Careers

Clinical psychology is one of the most popular fields in psychology. Therefore, it should come as no surprise there are a wide variety of options available in terms of clinical psychology careers. Students who choose this career path will find themselves able to work in a wide variety of fields and fulfill a number of different goals.

Clinical psychology typically deals with the causes, prevention, treatment and diagnosis of individuals with severe psychological disorders such as phobias, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. Clinical psychology career options include working in a private practice, schools, hospitals and mental facilities. In these facilities clinical psychologists meet with and evaluate patients before prescribing a treatment program to deal with the individual's specific disorders.

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Psychology Career Changes

Psychology career changes can be more difficult to navigate than career changes within other fields. As en example consider a newspaper editor who wishes to break into the magazine industry as an editor. While they are two different working environments many of the skills required such as proofreading documents, meeting deadlines and overseeing layout designs are very similar. This

individual may find it trying but not impossible to make this career change. Conversely consider an individual with only a bachelors degree in psychology who is working in a career as a probations officer. This individual will not find it easy to switch to a career in clinical psychology. This is because practicing as a clinical psychologist requires completion of a doctoral degree as well as passing licensing examinations and requirements. Therefore, this type of career change would be much more difficult to make.

Even graduates who already have a doctoral degree may find they are not able to easily make career changes within the psychology field. This is because during the course of obtaining their doctorate they likely chose a very specific course of study. This may qualify the individual for his current career but may not necessarily qualify him for other psychology careers.

Related Tip: Psychology career changes are certainly possible but they may require a great deal of time and effort. Career changes within the psychology field which have similar degree and licensing requirements may be easy but making changes which require higher level degrees are often much more complicated. In these cases it is still possible to make a career change but the individual will likely be required to take additional courses and obtain additional degrees to change careers successfully.

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More about the Psychology Job Market

You can talk to a career counselor at a college or another location, look up information on the Internet or check in a library. One place to look is in the Occupational Outlook Handbook. This is considered an essential resource for job market projections. If you look at the Handbook or elsewhere, you can use the keywords; psychology, social work, human services, psychotherapists, counselors and other related occupations. Many of those are listed in the Handbook under, "Related Occupations" (2006). The Handbook can also tell you what generally required qualifications you would need. If using the Internet, you can pair your keywords with other keywords too, such as; careers, career projections, job market projections and so forth. The Handbook also lists projections by state.

In addition, you can see your state's Dept. of Labor, Employment Security and Workforce web sites for job market projections. They aren't listed on all state's web sites, but you'll find the projections for most states. Many colleges and universities list job market projections on their web sites too.

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Job Opportunities with a Doctorate in Psychology

Private psychology practitioners can be licensed as Psychologists with a Doctorate in Psychology. This allows the professional to work in private psychology practice. Some states require a passing score on a test, a fee for the license and proof of the degree. Doctoral level psychologists are also frequently employed in schools, government programs, hospitals and other health care, in disability settings and other education, justice, human service and health care organizations.

They may work as counselors, psychotherapists, college-level instructors, researchers, consultants, trainers and several other capacities. They are often called on to supervise other employees, serve on committees, direct programs, conduct research, perform psychological assessments, serve as expert witnesses, write reports and academic articles and do other administrative and highly responsible therapy, counseling and training work.

For more information, you can ask professors who teach doctoral level Psychology courses and a career counselor knowledgeable in doctoral level psychology who may be based at a college or university; survey the job market in your intended locale; see the employment and recruitment ads; and check certain education and career web sites.

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Working With a Psychology Master's Degree

The Master's Degree in Psychology, or Social Work, is often considered the backbone of human services and is necessary for school school counseling, community college teaching, college student

counseling and many other responsible, interesting, professional and middle income earning positions. you may also be eligible, with your Master's, for private practice as a therapist or counselor, depending on licensing certification and perhaps, registration laws in your state. However, you probably cannot be licensed as a Psychologist without a Doctorate in Psychology.

You can ask instructors who teach Master's level Psychology courses and a career counselor; survey the job market in your intended locale; see the employment ads; and check certain education and career web sites for more, and local, job market information. Although a Master's in Psychology is usually a very marketable degree, job markets vary from area to area.

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Psychology Degrees for Counseling and Therapy

Most therapy and counseling positions require a Master's Degree in Psychology or a related field, such as Social Work. They usually don't distinguish between a Master's in Arts or Master's in Science. Before you decide, though, you should be sure to check with a few places where you can see yourself working to ask what the qualifications are for the kind of work you want to do. Ask for the human resources department or a person responsible for hiring therapists or counselors.

You may also find some relevant information from people you know who work in the field and from certain psychology career web sites pertaining to the location in which you hope to be employed. Once you have solid information written down, look at the range of qualifications. What are the qualifications in common between the sites you contacted? Did you contact at least four or five employment sources? Don't limit your investigation to less and try not to hear only what you want to hear. Apply some objectivity to the task. Later, you can combine this information with your more subjective inclinations. At first, though, you need to get the facts so that you don't go too far down an unrealistic or uninformed path.

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Service Populations
Think about the populations you would like to serve as you consider possible job settings. You may be interested in serving seniors and elderly people, children, people with disabilities, adolescents, people of a certain ethnic or religious background, couples, employees, job-seekers, families, people with mental illnesses (or psychiatric disorders), immigrants, probationers, prisoners, or other people with certain specific issues, goals or challenges. There is a very wide range of possibility. Thinking about the issues you are interested in can help you decide what population you want to work with too.

Some of the issues of people who are served by paraprofessionals and professionals are; drug abuse and addiction, infertility, adoption issues, disability challenges, death and dying, academic issues, childhood abuse issues, anger and aggression and many others. Whether you choose to work with people who have mental illnesses, also called psychiatric disorders; people who have life issues, but not necessarily serious psychiatric diagnoses; or people who are seeking help with self-improvement, there are many different challenges they face. You may be able to help them with these if you have a Psychology Degree with the training appropriate to those issue(s).

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Jobs in Psychology
The Psychology job market appears to be good through 2014, according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook for 2006-2007 (2006). Where you can find a job using your Psychology Degree depends on:

1) the degree level;

2) whether you have experience working, or perhaps volunteering, in any area of psychology;

3) whether you have a degree or experience in another area;

4) the job market where you'll live and can commute from to work; and

5) what you want to do in the field and with what population.

There are many jobs requiring a degree in Psychology. Some require an Associate's Degree, some a Bachelor's Degree, some a Master's Degree and others, a Doctorate's Degree. If you have any experience in a certain setting, performing certain work or working with a particular population, this may also be included in consideration of your qualifications for a job in the field.

If you have another degree, it may be applicable towards your specific area of interest in Psychology. You should explore the job market in the area where you want to live, or seek job projections in the work for the area in which you want to live. You may want to think about whether you would be willing to move for a specific job in the field too.

Perhaps most critically to your success in the field, you should think carefully about it is you want to do in the field; in what setting; if you want to work in direct service, consultation, teaching, community education, research, administration or some other position; and what population you hope to serve directly or indirectly. Direct service positions can include counseling, psychotherapy, patient or client education, case management, residential case work, aide work, family assistance, assessment, intake, referral, crisis intervention and other positions, depending on your degree, experience, interests and the job market in the locale you choose. Indirect service can include many types of administrative positions; research; research assistance; teaching within or for an organization, agency or higher education setting; grass roots or more formal political organizing; and other indirect service positions.

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Psychology Job Settings

The settings in which you plan to, and initially, use your Psychology Degree can be important to deciding your academic and career path. Although you will likely work in more than one setting during your career, where you apply your education at first can be critical to your longer term career goals; later admission for a higher degree; advancement opportunity; and even if you'll remain in the field. Job setting may also, of course, be one determinant of your pay and job satisfaction. Deciding on the general types of work settings you'd like before you begin study towards your first, or even a second or third, degree may help you to choose your educational program too.

Can you picture yourself working in a school or higher education setting? Do you like or dislike the thought of working in a hospital? Does the autonomy of private practice and business acumen you'd need for private practice appeal to you or might that feel too isolated to you? Do you like the ideas of supervising others, planning, policy-making, writing, public speaking, or managing budgets and programs? In other words, would you rather work in a research, administrative or direct service environment?

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Types of Psychology.
There are many different jobs and kinds of psychology. Psychology is a wide field and has a type to suit almost any interest. The most popular type is the one that most people are aware of which is Clinical Psychology. It's the most well known and it focuses on treating people with mental or emotional disorders. Community Psychology focuses on how humans interact with their community such as school or in their neighborhoods. It's similar to Environmental Psychology which studies how human interact with their environment. Experimental Psychology is in the category of abnormal psychology. It studies human interaction and biology, involving mostly people and animals. Family and Counseling Psychologist can be somewhat related. Family Psychology doesnt only deal with families but the individual within the family. Social Psychology is becoming more popular types of psychology; it evaluates how we interact in the world with all the media surrounding us. Another type of abnormal psychology is Sports Psychology. It helps deal with the emotional and mental burden felt by both amateur and professional athletes. A newer type of psychology is Positive Psychology which focuses solely on mental wellness. Forensic Psychology is also a very popular type; they study criminal behavior and work beside law enforcement.

There are many different types of psychology but whatever field you go into needs to suit your interest and your abilities. There is a type of psychology for everyone and whatever you want to achieve.

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Types of Psychology
Psychology scientifically studies mental behavior and reactions. The study in psychology makes interpretations based on a person's social conduct. This study is made on the conscious and unconscious mind. Every aspect of a person's life is taken into account and includes such areas as: Personality Relationships Mental faculty Behavior Cognition Reactions Emotion Perceptions There are many types of psychology. In psychology, exploration is made through the neurological process of human behavior. Below is a list of some branches in psychology and the characteristics of each. Clinical Psychology- the aim of this type of psychology is to relieve stress brought about by psychological reasons. Abnormal Psychology- This aims at understanding the abnormal behavior of an individual. Cognitive Psychology-also called experimental psychology, in the study of mental process that causes behavioral traits.

Neuropsychology- this is academic work and usually takes place in clinical setting. In neuropsychiatric work assessments of a person's state of mind for things such as, court cases, expert witnessing, appearing in court or working with offenders. In addition, a Neuropsychologist may work in industry such as research of drugs in a pharmaceutical setting. Developmental Psychology- this branch is the study of the development of the mind. Comparative Psychology-is the study comparing animal and humans. Biological Psychology- In type of Psychology explores the behavior that comes from reaction within the nervous system There are a lot more branches of Psychology that range from global studies to evolution and health. Every aspect in the life of a person is studied in Psychology.

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Personality Psychology
Personality Psychology is the study of individual personalities. It considers the uniquely characteristic thinking, emotions and behaviors of the person. There are several concepts and theories that fall under the heading of Personality Psychology. These include humanistic, developmental and biological explanations.

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Comparative Psychology
According to The American Psychological Association, the "focus of [Comparative Psychology] is on behavior and its relation to perception, learning, memory, cognition,

motivation, and emotion (2006). They refer to Comparative Psychologists as, behavioral neuroscientists. If this seems confusing, especially after reading the Neuropsychology and Biological Psychology descriptions in this book, it is. Like those psychologies, Comparative Psychologists also study the brain and other physiological organs, systems and their functions. However, the difference is that Comparative Psychologists compare animal and human behaviors with particular attention to development and evolution.

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Biological Psychology
Biological Psychology is based on quantifiable research of the brain and other physiological phenomena, including genetics, that affect behavior, emotions and cognition. It's otherwise referred to as neuropsychology, behavioral neuroscience, biopsychology, psychobiology and physiological psychology. Biological Psychology uses fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging) and EEG (electroencephalography), among other tools, to diagnose physiological causes for psychopathology and other cognitive, behavioral and/or emotional states. It also draws from animal experimentation.

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Social Psychology
Social psychology examines the effects of social interaction, including beliefs, attitudes and behaviors, on the individual. People trained in Social Psychology work in a wide variety of settings, including psychotherapy and other human services, education, business, government and more. Their work may be, as just a few examples, in assisting group or team success, community organizing, changing dysfunctional group

attitudes, marketing/public relations, therapy or planning. Closely allied fields are Social Work and Sociology.

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Health Psychology
Health Psychology is the study of how the biological, psychological and social (biopsycho-social) aspects of being human affect health. Practitioners of Health Psychology may work, as examples, in public or private health care, public policy, research and education settings. Students of Health Psychology learn how our attitudes, beliefs and other viewpoints, social circumstances and physiological states affect health maintenance, illness, pain management and recovery from illness or physical injury.

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Combing Psychology Degrees

As mentioned, there are many kinds of Psychology too, including; Sports, Abnormal, Biological, Forensic, School, Human Factors, Physiological, Art, Educational Psychology and more. Luckily, students don't have to choose a discipline until they've become familiar with what each kind entails. At the Associate's, Bachelor's and even somewhat at the Master's level in many programs, a cross-section of courses are required and offered. These provide students with an orientation to the kinds of Psychology from which they can choose and the chance to explore the kinds of Psychology they're interested in before making a commitment to one or two. As students progress to the Master's and Doctorate's levels in Psychology and choose the kind they'll major in, the focus narrows to provide more in-depth study. Only a person with a doctorate in Psychology is called a Psychologist.

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Abnormal Psychology
Abnormal Psychology is the study of psychopathology, or behaviors and emotions that deviate from the norm. It looks at the disorders described in the DSM-IV TR, short for the Diagnostician's Statistical Manual that is widely used for diagnosis inNorth America. The DSM includes bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder and many other disorders.

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Counseling Psychology
Counseling Psychology includes theory, science and practice focused on the emotions, psychology, social, cognitive and behavioral features of human beings. At times it appears that there isn't much difference between Clinical and Counseling Psychology, although Counseling Psychologists tend to work with people who are mentally stable, but have issues amenable to counseling or therapy while Clinical Psychologists study psychopathology and often work with people who have psychiatric disorders; also known as mental illnesses. Both Clinical and Counseling Psychologists who've earned degrees at the doctoral level can be licensed to practice as Psychologists and both are trained in psychotherapy. In many states, there is also licensing or certification with a Master's level degree in Psychology too, but the designation may be called something different, such as mental health specialist or therapist, and other people trained in other related disciplines may also qualify.

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Clinical Psychology
Clinical Psychology includes theory, science and practice focused on the emotional states, psychological processes, interpersonal relations, cognitive functions and behaviors of human beings. Clinical Psychologists may work with any age in direct practice, or may work in research or administrative capacities.

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Kinds of Psychology Degrees

There are choices of Clinical, Counseling and Research Psychology disciplines, but within these disciplines there are many kinds of Psychology. The kind you choose should depend on your interests, aspirations, capabilities and values. Your personal circumstances will ultimately determine whether you can afford the cost of the college or university program and want, or can, live where the institution is located. If you hope to work in the field, you should also consider the demand in the job market for the skills you'd gain. Once you've tentatively determined these, apply to a few programs in case you are turned down for your first choice.

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Experimental Psychology
Experimental Psychology refers to the scientific means of ascertaining reasons for our thoughts, feelings, behaviors, learning and more. It may be applied to any scientifically verifiable psychology. A strict interpretation might define it as behaviorism in which observable behaviors are clearly learned as a result of rewards and punishments,

although more broadly, it usually means any kind of psychology with empirical evidence.

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Neuropsychology
Neuropsychology examines the associations between brain functions and behavior. It's a science that uses positron emission tomography (PET), single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) as some of its tools. It is concerned with, as examples, the changes in brain chemistry after psychological trauma and brain states of people with certain psychiatric disorders or brain damage, and how this affects cognitive, emotional and behavioral functioning. The work of Neuropsychologists often includes assessment, treatment and consultation within health care settings.

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Research Psychology
Research Psychology focuses on conducting qualitative and/or quantitative studies and writing reports and articles on results to further knowledge in the field. Although quantitative research is sometimes described as objective and qualitative research is often referred to as subjective, both are considered important in the study of Psychology and usually both are part of Psychology Research training. Courses generally include, at least, Psychology concepts, theories, research design, methods, statistics, data analysis, ethics and often some therapy coursework too. Sometimes, research is one part of a job that includes counseling/therapy, or psychotherapy, and/or administrative, consulting, testing, and/or advising.

Quantitative psychological research involves an emphasis on objectively measurable research methods and empirical research design. Qualitative psychological research relies on more subjective research methods, such as the use of focus groups, case studies and surveys for data.

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Educational Psychology
Educational Psychology focuses on how we learn and the factors that influence it . Educational Psychology influences many aspects of education, including how schools are organized, how teachers teach, how educational policy is developed and how learning materials are written, organized and/or presented in education settings. It has applicability in counseling/therapy, public education, the workplace and other sectors besides schools. Educational Psychologists tend to identify themselves as researchers and consultants, rather than as School Psychologists who work in schools.

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Innate Versus Environmental Factors in Personality Development

The concept of nature versus nurture has been studied for decades, dating back to the writings of Charles Darwin. The debate can be particularly interesting in cases of adoption, where innate qualities (nature) versus personal experiences (nurture) of a person varies compared to a more traditional beginning and upbringing. Studying which category has a greater impact on personality development generally brings no clear answer. A number of adoption studies have focused on the development of innate qualities versus nurtured qualities. Adopted children bring a unique combination of these factors

into their personality, with the separation of genetic or innate factors from the developmental influences of parenting and environment. Adoption studies in this area of research are particularly useful in the ongoing debate of personality development, as these studies permit the dissociation of environment and genes. Adoption studies allow a greater ability to examine the heritability of a trait and better determine which traits have been influenced by genes and innate factors versus environmental ones. Current thinking generally believes that neither innate qualities nor environmental traits are necessarily dominant. However, it is becoming more apparent that environment is able to influence the extent to which innate traits may manifest themselves. Ultimately it is difficult to convincingly determine the exact role innate traits and environmental factors play in the development of personality. What appears to be most likely is that the two factors work together in concert to develop an individuals personality.

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PhD Psychology Degrees: Career Flexability to Last a Lifetime

Earning a PhD psychology degree is by no means easy. A doctoral program in psychology will normally require five to seven years of graduate coursework beyond a bachelor's degree, including a year-long professional internship. But if you have an interest in the social sciences and an aptitude for working with people, becoming a psychologist will provide you with a lifetime of job security, as well as an almost endless variety of career choices. When most people think of psychologists, they think of the therapist you go to in order to talk through problems. This type of psychologist has a doctoral degree in clinical or counseling psychology and works in a hospital, clinic or in private practice. But a forensic psychologist, for example, might spend most of their time working with local law enforcement agencies or with the courts, testifying on behalf of children in divorce

proceedings, or giving expert testimony on the likelihood of an accused criminal becoming a repeat offender. Another type of psychologist is a school psychologist who works with children and young adults in their learning communities. Industrial psychologists are employed by the corporate world make work environments more productive. Research psychologists study how and why people behave the way they do. You can also become a professor of psychology with a PhD psychology degree. Your career possibilities as a psychologist are only limited by your imagination.

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Career Driving You Toward a Breakdown?

So you feel like your current job is causing you to head toward a nervous breakdown. Your discontentment is making you consider seeking out psychological help. Your only concern with this situation is that you tend to be a do it yourself type of person. Maybe it's time for you to consider a career change. A viable option is to seek out an online psychology masters program. Not only will you escape the stresses of your current vocation, but you will be able to gain better understanding of your emotional needs. You can then in turn share your experience and expertise by helping others. There are a number of online psychology college courses available. Universities such as Capella and Phoenix are gaining a solid reputation as quality schools. In addition, traditional colleges and universities have expanded their program offerings to include many online options. With the growing demand of professionals seeking advanced career training while maintaining flexibility, these types of programs are excellent alternatives to feeling stuck in a dead end job. While a career change doesn't happen overnight, and the stress of balancing job responsibilities while taking college coursework can be challenging, it is possible. Many adults have opted for the online education alternative and have experienced greater

satisfaction in their careers. Obtaining your online psychology masters degree might be your ticket away from the loony bin.