Career Pathways in Psychological & Brain Sciences

Career Prospects

Psychology is among the most populated undergraduate majors in the country — because it's among the most relevant. Every human institution involves human behavior, and graduates who understand it analytically are in demand everywhere. What you can do with a psychology degree depends substantially on how far you take your education, but the bachelor's degree alone opens a wide range of doors.

Clinical and Counseling Psychology

Clinical and counseling psychology is the most common graduate pathway for psychology majors. Licensed clinical psychologists and therapists work in private practice, hospitals, community mental health centers, schools, and VA facilities. Mental health counselors — a related but distinct occupation requiring a master's degree — are projected to grow 17% through 2034, among the fastest in the economy.

• Clinical Psychologist*
• Counseling Psychologist*
• Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)*
• Marriage and Family Therapist*
• School Psychologist*
• Behavioral Therapist (ABA specialist)

Clinical psychology practice requires a doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) plus supervised hours and state licensure in most states. LPC and MFT require master's degrees plus licensure.

Mental Health and Behavioral Health Services

At the bachelor's level, psychology graduates enter the mental health workforce in paraprofessional and support roles — positions with strong growth driven by the national mental health crisis and expanding insurance parity coverage.

• Behavioral Health Technician (BHT)
• Psychiatric Technician
• Substance Abuse Counselor (with certification)*
• Case Manager (mental health or social services)
• Crisis Intervention Counselor
• Peer Support Specialist
• Community Mental Health Worker

Mental health counseling licensure requires a master's degree in counseling, social work, or a related field.

Research and Neuroscience

Psychology's scientific core — experimental methods, statistics, and brain-behavior relationships — prepares students for research careers in academia, pharmaceutical companies, government agencies, and technology firms. The department's research labs provide undergraduate research experience directly.

• Research Coordinator or Clinical Research Associate
• Neuroscience Researcher*
• Cognitive Scientist*
• Human Factors Researcher
• Behavioral Economist (with graduate training)*
• Data Analyst (behavioral/social research)
• Market Research Analyst (consumer behavior)

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology

I/O psychology applies psychological principles to workplace behavior, organizational design, talent management, and leadership development. It is one of the fastest-growing applied psychology specializations and is accessible with a master's degree. I/O psychologists earned a median wage of $134,400 in May 2024 (BLS).

• I/O Psychologist*
• Human Resources Specialist or Business Partner
• Training and Development Specialist
• Organizational Development Consultant
• Talent Acquisition Analyst
• People Analytics Specialist
• DEI Program Manager

Human Services and Social Work

Many psychology bachelor's graduates begin careers in human services, child welfare, and social work support — pathways that lead toward clinical social work credentials with an MSW.

• Child and Family Services Caseworker
• Foster Care or Adoption Case Manager
• Juvenile Justice Counselor
• Disability Services Coordinator
• Rehabilitation Specialist
• School Counselor (with MEd or MA)*
• Healthcare Social Worker (with MSW)*

Healthcare and Medicine

Psychology is among the strongest pre-health majors because of its emphasis on research methods, statistics, neuroscience, and human behavior — all directly tested by the MCAT and relevant to medical school and health professional programs.

• Physician / Medical Doctor (with pre-med coursework)*
• Physician Assistant*
• Occupational Therapist*
• Speech-Language Pathologist*
• Healthcare Administrator (with MHA or MBA)
• Patient Advocate or Navigator

Education

Psychology graduates understand how learning works — making them effective educators, advisors, and curriculum developers at every level.

• Secondary School Psychology or Social Studies Teacher*
• Special Education Teacher*
• Academic Advisor or Student Success Coach
• School Counselor*
• Educational Program Coordinator
• Instructional Designer

Career outcomes vary based on role, industry, experience, location and additional education. Career pathways listed reflect common directions pursued by graduates and are informed by national labor and education data, including the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook (bls.gov/ooh) and Employment Projections 2024–2034.