When introducing the science of psychology to students, we make sure that they understand the diversity of the field and the many different directions one can take when considering possible careers to pursue as a psychology major. Once students understand that therapeutic practice and health services is just one possibility, the next step is to provide specific examples of how majoring in psychology can lead to many different exciting career opportunities in which knowledge of psychological science is essential.
APA’s Office of Applied Psychology recently published a document, “Applied Psychology – Improving Lives with Science,”opens in new window which educators can use as a resource to broaden students’ understanding of the field. The concrete examples in this valuable resource can help students gain a clear understanding of what it really means to apply the science of psychology to our everyday lives, and in turn, open a world of possibilities as students consider their next steps on their educational/career journey. Below, we describe some highlights from the guide that showcase the practical applications of psychological and behavioral science.
First, examples illustrate how psychological science is used to enhance organizational effectiveness and employee well-being in the world of business and in the workplace. Next, the guide highlights the ways psychological science can be applied to the K–12 learning environment, answering questions about the benefits and costs of different school start times or how educators can boost student motivation. Students who value advocacy may be particularly interested in the examples of how psychological science can increase fairness, accuracy, and efficiency in the legal system. When questions about emerging technologies are discussed in the classroom, educators can use the guide to highlight how psychological science is connected to human-technology interaction, and issues concerning generative artificial intelligence. Psychology is connected to sustainability through the examples of climate change anxiety and behavioral strategies that can be promoted to minimize the impact of a warming climate. Next, the guide demonstrates how psychological science can be used to address the impact of mis- and disinformation. Finally, examples illustrate how the work of psychological scientists impact population health and well-being through applications to diet, exercise, and athletic performance.
This resource can be used in an introductory high school or college course as a way to show students the diversity of the field and the opportunities available to those majoring in psychology. At the college level, it may fit within a course on career development or wherever else in the curriculum your program cultivates student personal and professional development, one of the five undergraduate educational goals included in APA’s most recent revision to Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major (APA, 2023). Or, the guide may serve as a reference in specific psychology courses in areas such as human factors, legal, industrial-organizational, sports, or education that help connect the content and research findings to applications in the world around us, examples that students appreciate learning.
As Vespia (2020) points out, students hear from parents, educators, and counselors that they should consider career opportunities when choosing a major. As a psychology major, students are often asked, “What are you going to do with a psychology degree if you don’t want to be a therapist?” With this document in hand, students are better prepared to answer that question and share the many different options available and the variety of settings where they can land a great career. Use of this new resource provides instructors with concrete examples of the many ways that the application of psychological science can help develop solutions to local and global societal issues and how psychologists are involved in improving these societal issues as well as people’s lives.
Below is the list included in the earlier PTN article by Schwartz and Barnes (2024) that provides available resources focused on career opportunities for those who obtain an undergraduate degree or go on to a graduate program.
- This Center for Workforce Studies tool illustrates examples of different occupations based on obtaining a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree in psychology: CWS Data Tool: Careers in Psychology (apa.org)
- To read about career paths and options for students with psychology degrees, see Introduction To Career Development – The Australian Handbook for Careers in Psychological Science (pressbooks.pub)
- For videos and updated coverage on careers in applied psychology, check out the homepage of APA’s Office of Applied Psychology.
- Additional resources for educators include:
Dr. Beth Schwartz received her BA from Colby College (Maine) and her PhD in cognitive psychology from the State University of New York at Buffalo. She began her career in higher education, first as a faculty member at Randolph College (founded as Randolph-Macon Women’s College) in the Department of Psychology, where she was named the William E. and Catherine Ehrman Thoresen 2023 Professor of Psychology, and also served as assistant dean of the college. She then served as provost at Heidelberg University, and finally as provost at Endicott College, overseeing the Division of Academic Affairs. Schwartz is a long-standing member of APA and is a fellow of Division 2, where she served on the Executive Board. She has been recognized for her excellence in teaching both at Randolph, with the Gillie A. Larew Excellence in Teaching award, as well as through AP-LS, Division 41 of APA, with the Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award. Schwartz’s publications include articles in the
Journal of Higher Education
, and in
Ethics & Behavior
. Schwartz continues to author and edit works focused on the scholarship of teaching and learning, including an edited volume titled
Evidenced-Based Tools and Techniques for University Teaching
, and a co-authored book titled,
Optimizing Teaching and Learning: Practicing Pedagogical Research
. Her scholarship also includes a series of books published by Sage that serve as resources for students learning the intricacies of APA style, research design, statistics, and presentations. Her current research focuses on the influence of honor systems on academic integrity.
Dr. Mark Chan received his BA in psychology from Southwestern College (Winfield, Kansas) and his PhD in psychology from the University of Kansas. Before joining APA, he was on faculty at Shenandoah University, where he taught courses in cognitive psychology, sensation and perception, and human factors psychology. In addition, he was a member of the university’s institutional review board and served as faculty director for the university’s student research expo. As a Division 2 (STP) member, he co-authored an ebook chapter in
The Use of Technology in Teaching and Learning
that investigated the use of Twitter as a pedagogical tool. Prior to joining the Office of Applied Psychology, Chan served as a content manager for APA’s digital learning platform—PsycLearn—where he authored and designed content related to social psychology and the psychology of mental health. Chan’s research on sustained attention and driver safety has been published in
Human Factors
and has been presented to a wide-ranging audience. He has also conducted research on emotional processing in long-distance hikers, creativity and mind wandering, and social bias relating to names and races.
