Requirements of a Psychology Degree

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=James_August_Smithe]James August Smithe
A psychology degree has one of the surest forms of job safety possible - one that is not influenced by economic depression, that cannot be sent offshore, and one that will be always in demand. However, it is not easy getting a psychology degree. The easiest degree in psychology, an undergraduate one, takes four years. And even that does not make one a psychologist. To become one, you have to study a graduate course for four to six more years. These doctoral programs have very stiff competition to get into - in some top universities, only 2-5% of students who apply get selected.
Graduate and Doctoral degrees in Psychology
After their undergraduate degree, those pursuing a career in clinical psychology have to study for 5-7 years of a graduate program. There are two types of graduate programs in psychology: most programs are PhD programs that focus on research, whereas PsyD ( doctor of psychology) are focused more on practical application. The result is the same, the candidate gets to become a clinical psychologist. After these programs, the student has to complete 1-2 years of supervised training before they can get a license. The total duration of supervised training depends on the state where one wants to take a license. Usually 3,000 hours of supervised training are required before one can apply for the license. At the end of the PhD program, one also has to complete an original dissertation, whereas at the end of a PsyD program, you have to work on more practical project such as examinations or clinical work.
Masters and Bachelors in Psychology
A master's degree in psychology can be had after about two years of study after a bachelors degree. Professionals with this degree are not clinical psychologists, rather they work under the supervision of clinical psychologists in clinical settings. They can also work as industrial and organizational psychologists, helping companies connect with their employees and consumers. To get a spot in a psychology graduate program you need to score pretty high in the GRE Psychology Subject Test. A bachelors degree in psychology also helps one get a spot. It has been observed that only about 25% of people with a bachelors in psychology get a job that is related to their main field of specialization, which is psychology. The rest work in completely unrelated domains, or in Human Resources etc where they indirectly apply their education in psychology.
Whether you take a bachelors, Masters or doctorate in psychology, this is a degree that will help you in life even if you do not become a professional psychologist. Students of psychology degree programs have a number of soft skills that help them interpret data, prepare reports, and present their results convincingly; and these skills are helpful in just about any modern job. The above information should prepare you to select the degree that is most suitable for you.
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