Besides satisfying your Social and Behavioral Sciences requirement, and of course being endlessly fascinating, here are some others reasons to think about taking classes in psychology and even pursuing a rewarding degree.
Video: Why Study Psychology? | Study Hall
10 Ways Psychology Can Improve Your Life
- Get motivated
- Improve your leadership skills
- Become a better communicator
- Understand others better
- Make wiser decisions
- Improve your memory
- Get better grades
- Become more productive
- Be healthier
- Reduce stress and negative feelings
Literally meaning “the study of the mind,” psychology focuses on mental processes and behavior in humans. It’s the science of how people think, feel, act, and interact with their world. There are a number of specialized fields within psychological science, including child psychology, educational psychology, sports psychology, social psychology, comparative psychology, and more. Clinical psychology is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders.
The Psychological Science program at MCC offers students a wide range of courses, educational resources, student activities, and continued education opportunities. Our courses emphasize the scientific study of behavior and mental processes and are designed to help students understand more about themselves and others. We challenge our students to enhance their appreciation of the human condition through open and impartial inquiry. Our diverse faculty also provides students with a variety of approaches and experiences which will help them flourish in a global society.
What Psychology Career Is Right For Me?
There are so many career pathways in psychology. Chances are good that one could work for you. Respond to a quick, 1-minute questionnaire that will give you more insight into the field of psychology and which of three general careers might be right for you. After responding to the questionnaire, read brief descriptions about that career emphasis, as well as others.
Take the Quiz
Keep track of your answers.
- Do you enjoy working directly with people to help them overcome problems?
- Sometimes
- Yes
- Not really
- Do you enjoy solving theoretical problems? (Problems about theories, i.e. nature vs nurture)
- Sometimes
- Yes
- No
- Do you enjoy classes that focus on experimental design?
- Yes
- Somewhat
- Not really
- Are you good at math and statistics?
- No. I do not like math or statistics.
- Somewhat. Math is not my favorite subject, but I am okay with numbers.
- Yes, I enjoy working with numbers.
- Do you enjoy working to solve practical, real-world problems?
- No, I prefer to focus on theoretical problems and debates. (i.e. nature vs. nurture)
- Somewhat, I like to see my work being put to practical use.
- Yes, I enjoy solving real-world problems a great deal.
- Would you enjoy working with clients in a doctor's office, hospital or mental health clinic?
- Maybe, but it depends on the nature of the job.
- Yes, this type of work setting would be ideal.
- No. I would prefer not to work directly with clients in this type of environment.
- Is earning a high salary important to you?
- No, the rewards of my job go beyond monetary reimbursement.
- Somewhat, but work satisfaction is also important
- Yes, a high salary is essential.
- How long are you willing to spend in school in order to work in a psychology profession?
- 2-5 years
- 7-9 years
- 4-7 years
- Are you able to deal with high stress situations with people who may be psychologically or emotionally unstable?
- Possibly
- Yes
- No
- Do you enjoy working with children?
- I do not mind, but I prefer to work with adults
- Sometimes
- Yes, absolutely.
Scoring
Which letter is most frequent?
- If you answered mostly A's you might belong in Industrial, Sports, Forensic, Developmental Psychology.
- If you answered mostly B's you might belong in Counseling, Social Work, Clinical or School Psychology.
- If you answered mostly C's you might belong in Social Psychology, Cognitive Psychology, Biopsychology, or Experimental Psychology.
For mostly A answers
Based on your quiz results, you might want to consider a career in applied psychology. Applied psychologists utilize their knowledge of psychological theories and principles to solve real-world problems. Fortunately, there are a number of different applied psychology careers to choose from. The following are just a few of the top choices you should consider.
Industrial Organizational Psychologist
Industrial-organizational psychologists often work in government offices, business settings or private offices. I-O psychologists generally hold at least a master's degree in industrial-organizational psychology. These professionals perform a variety of functions, including hiring qualified employees, conducting tests, designing products, creating training courses, and performing research on different aspects of the workplace.
Sports Psychologist
Sports psychologists typically perform a range of tasks related to sports performance and education. Some opt to teach at the university level, while others work directly with athletes to increase motivation and enhance performance. Other options include client counseling, scientific research, and athletic consulting.
Developmental Psychologist
Developmental psychologists often work in research or university settings and explore theoretical issues related to human development. If you are interested in a career as a developmental psychologist, you should consider pursuing a doctorate degree in developmental psychology.
Forensic Psychologist
Forensic psychology involves applying psychology to the field of criminal investigation and the law. Forensic psychologists are often involved in custody disputes, insurance claims, and lawsuits. Some professionals work in family courts and offer psychotherapy services, perform child custody evaluations, investigate reports of child abuse, and conduct visitation risk assessments.
Social Psychologist
Social psychologists study social influence, social perception, and social interaction. Some opt to teach at the university level, while others might work in consulting positions to help businesses better understand their customers or employees.
For mostly B answers
Based on your quiz results, you might want to consider some type of therapeutic career in psychology. Fortunately, there are a number of different therapy-related careers to choose from. The following are just a few of the top choices you should consider.
Clinical Psychologist
Clinical psychologists often work in hospitals, private practice or academic settings. Clinicians are trained in a range of techniques and theoretical approaches. Some specialize in treating certain psychological disorders, while others work with clients suffering from a wide variety of problems. Clinicians must have a doctorate degree in clinical psychology.
School Psychologist
School psychologists work with individual students and groups of students to deal with behavioral problems, academic difficulties, disabilities, and other issues. They also work with teachers and parents to develop techniques to deal with home and classroom behavior. Two to three years of graduate education in school psychology is usually necessary, but specific requirements can vary by state.
Counselor
Counselors work in a variety of settings, including private practice, hospitals and school. Many counselor choose to specialize in a certain area, such as youth counseling or marriage and family counseling. While requirements can vary from state to state, most require at least three years of graduate education in counseling.
Social Worker
Social work is a diverse career choice that offers a lot of flexibility. Social worker work in job areas such as child welfare protection, psychosocial rehabilitation, drug and alcohol cessation and government assistance. A minimum of a bachelor's degree is required, but many choose to earn a master's in social work in order to enjoy the increased job opportunities and higher salary scale.
For mostly C answers
Based on your quiz results, you might want to consider a career in experimental psychology. Fortunately, there are a number of different experimental careers to choose from. The following are just a few of the top choices you should consider.
Experimental Psychologist
Experimental psychologists work in a wide variety of settings including colleges, universities, research centers, government and private businesses. Some of these professionals may focus on teaching experimental methods to students, while others conduct research on cognitive processes, animal behavior, neuroscience, personality and many other subject areas.
Developmental Psychologist
Developmental psychologists often work in research or university settings and explore theoretical issues related to human development. If you are interested in a career as a developmental psychologist, you should consider pursuing a doctorate degree in developmental psychology.
Cognitive Psychologist
Cognitive psychologists work in a number of areas. Many cognitive psychologists conduct applied research or basic research on the human thought process. Cognitive psychologists often work at colleges and universities, government agencies, corporate businesses, and in private consulting. A doctorate degree in cognitive psychology is recommended.
Social Psychologist
Social psychologists study social influence, social perception, and social interaction. Some opt to teach at the university level, while others might work in consulting positions to help businesses better understand their customers or employees.