Career options for graduates who hold a bachelor's degree in psychology sometimes do not directly correlate with the field of psychology. For example, people who are advertising agents often possess a bachelor's in psychology. Earning this type of degree usually takes about four years if a student goes to school full-time. In some instances, if a student takes summer classes, the degree program can be finished in as little as three years.

There are numerous colleges and universities all across the world that offer bachelor's degree programs in psychology. The programs prepare students for a variety of careers as well as advanced studies in psychology, medicine and law. The exact requirements that have to be met to graduate with a bachelor's degree in psychology vary from school to school; however, for the most part, courses focus on the following topics:

- Personality psychology
- General psychology
- Experimental psychology
- Human resources
- Statistics
- College algebra
- English
- Ethics
- Social psychology
- Developmental psychology
- Life science
- Abnormal psychology
- Psychological testing
- Psychology of learning
- Sensation and perception
- Cognitive psychology

It is important to note that there are two main types of psychology bachelor's degrees: Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and Bachelor of Arts (B.A.). The main difference between these two types of degrees is the type of courses taken during the first year of studies. A student earning a B.A. will take courses that directly relate to liberal arts; however, a B.S. student will complete classes comprised of much science coursework.


Five Career Choices for People with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

1) Child Care Workers People who work with children can greatly benefit from earning a bachelor's degree in psychology, especially for those who are wanting to work with children in a mental health setting. Other ways to use this type of degree include opening up one's own daycare as well as working with children in a school setting.

2) Probation and Parole Officer For people who have a desire to work in the field of criminal justice, using their degree to become a probation or parole officer is an excellent decision. These types of officers are often hired by government organizations. For the most part, the officers work directly with people who have been charged and/or convicted of a criminal offense. Not only do the officers make home visits to the offenders' homes, but they also track their behaviors and make recommendations to judges. Such recommendations could include admitting an offender into a substance abuse program or having them take part in some type of therapy.

3) Advertising Agents Since the art and science of persuasion is most times covered in a psychology bachelor's degree program, this helps in preparing students for a career in advertising. After obtaining such a career, a person usually takes his or her learned knowledge and carries out research projects, followed then by implementing the findings in a way that it helps to improve a company's marketing efforts. Before graduating from a bachelor's degree program, it can be extremely valuable to take part in an internship; this helps advertising agents gain practical hands-on experience in the field of marketing before actually graduating.

4) Psychiatric Technicians Becoming a psychiatric tech is a great way to work directly in the field of psychology. Other job titles often included for people who enter this line of work include mental health techs and social work assistants. For the most part, people who enter this career field work directly under the supervision of a licensed clinical psychologist.

5) Career Counselors For people who enjoy helping other people discover what they want to do in life, it can be very advantageous to become a career counselor. Many times, these types of professionals are referred to as vocational counselors. Duties in this type of job include sitting down with clients, assessing their wants and needs, followed then by helping them obtain the appropriate training to achieve the type of career they want. Many people who become career counselors work with individuals who are disabled.

Sources

http://psychology.about.com/od/careersinpsychology/tp/bachelors-psychology-careers.htm
http://psychology.about.com/od/education/tp/bachelors-degree-in-psychology