Become a Licensed Psychologist

Are you fascinated by the human mind and how humans interact with each other and go about their daily lives? Do you have the desire to help people deal with things like mental illness or substance abuse? Or maybe you just have a gift that allows people to freely speak to you and you would like to turn that into a career. If any of these sounds like you, than a masters degree in psychology could be the educational path for you.

A master’s degree in psychology is the minimum requirement to become a licensed psychologist in some states, although many states require a doctorate in psychology to get a license. However, many people who have a master’s degree in psychology perform counseling services or research under the supervision of a licensed psychologist. Or they pursue other occupations, such as social work, school counseling, or occupational therapy. People with this degree have even found themselves in marketing or public relations careers.

It is hard to pin down the exact salary information for people who have earned a master’s degree because of the many career options there are available. However, according to the Department of Labor, psychologists earn an average annual salary of between $45,300 and $77,750 and counselors earn an average annual salary of between $32,950 and $54,150.

Different Psychology Concentrations

Most colleges offer specializations within the psychology degree, such as child psychology focusing on child development issues and clinical psychology which is for people who want to work in a clinic atmosphere. There are other emphasis areas too:

Organizational Psychology: This is for people who want to enter the corporate world and help employees to better communicate with each other.
Forensic Psychology: Where criminal justice and psychology meet, this concentration focuses on the legal system and criminal behavior.
Marriage and Family Therapy: If you want to go into marriage counseling, this would be a great specialization to choose.

What to Expect

Most masters in psychology programs are two to three years in length, depending on if you are full time or part time. You will probably encounter many lecture classes, such as Psychological Disorder Diagnosis and Treatment and Adolescent Psychology. Some degree programs might require you to write a thesis that is related to your concentration area.

There are also many accredited online colleges that offer masters in psychology degrees with a variety of concentration areas including the ones listed above. Often times this is the best choice for people who have busy lives or are already on a career path. Online learning is a wonderful option because it lets you go to school on your own schedule, that way you do not have to quit your job or ignore your family in order to earn your degree. For more information, visit Psychology College Online, Online Universities Psychology or Online Ph.D. Psychology.