What Can You Do With a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology?

Psychology majors explore human behavior, group dynamics, and mental processes. Undergraduate psychology courses strengthen analytical, research, and communication skills. But what can you do with a bachelor’s degree in psychology?

The skills gained during a psychology degree prepare graduates for diverse career paths. With a bachelor’s in psychology, you can work in marketing, public relations, education, the justice system, or the public sector.

With a bachelor’s in psychology, graduates can pursue many in-demand roles without additional education.

The median annual wage for a person with a bachelor’s in psychology is $65,000, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Among psych majors, 61% work in management, community and social service, educational instruction and libraries, healthcare, and business operations positions.

Professionals with a bachelor’s in psychology can pursue careers in the following areas.

Psychology majors are well-suited for careers in marketing and sales. Undergraduate courses in social psychology, human behavior, research design, and statistics directly apply to many marketing roles.

Sales and marketing professionals benefit from understanding culture, including common attitudes or beliefs. Roles in market research require knowledge of how to conduct research and interpret findings. Roles in sales require a high level of empathy and good listening skills for success.

Psychology majors learn how to interpret case studies and conduct research, developing the analytical skills to report on complex topics. Similarly, courses on counseling methods can strengthen interview skills.

These skills also help psych majors work in public relations (PR). PR professionals benefit from communication and writing skills, which a bachelor’s degree in psychology strengthens.

A bachelor’s degree in psychology can provide a solid grounding in the understanding of human behavior, which is critical for a career in government or law enforcement.

Within law enforcement, psych majors may pursue work as a police officer, detective, sheriff, forensic psychologist, probation or parole officer, or a specialist in the corrections field.

UX designers make products and services more intuitive, enjoyable, and streamlined for users. Psych majors apply their research and psychology skills to evaluate data and design solutions that improve the user’s experience. Psychological concepts such as memory limitation, cognitive load, and the psychology of colors all make for a better designer.

Human resources specialists hire job applicants, write assessments for employees, and let employees go when necessary, among other tasks. Many students study psychology with the intention of pursuing a career in HR. Concepts learned during a psychology degree, like the reward system and motivational factors, contribute to forming more effective, empathetic HR professionals.

A graduate degree in psychology can provide greater earning power and career opportunities than a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

While some positions in areas such as counseling may require a bachelor’s degree, a master’s degree gives job-seekers a significant competitive edge and is required for many licensed counselor roles. Additionally, all states require a doctorate if you want to become a licensed psychologist.

Psychologists typically need a doctorate in psychology to meet the licensure requirements for clinical careers. Earning a bachelor’s degree in psychology strengthens the foundational skills needed for psychology graduate programs.

Careers as a counseling psychologist or clinical psychologist require doctoral-level training. Prospective psychologists can choose between a doctor of philosophy (Ph.D.) in psychology or a doctor of psychology (Psy.D.). A Ph.D. emphasizes research and prepares graduates for academic or research careers, including as a psychology professor. In contrast, a Psy.D. emphasizes clinical practice and prepares graduates to work with patients in a variety of settings.

Doctoral psychology students pursuing a psychologist license meet supervised clinical requirements. Clinical practicums and internships develop psychotherapy and patient care skills. State licensing boards also require clinical hours.

After meeting licensure requirements, counseling and clinical psychologists provide comprehensive mental and behavioral health care, including psychotherapy services. Although psychologists do not prescribe medications in most states, they can conduct client assessments, consult with other professionals, supervise trainees and students, and take part in clinical research.

Some psychology specializations do not require a doctorate. For example, industrial-organizational psychologists and school psychologists can practice with a master’s degree.

Counseling careers are a popular path for psychology majors who are willing to pursue a graduate degree. These counseling professionals conduct client assessments, provide individual and group therapy services, and specialize in diverse client populations. In most states, these careers require a master’s degree and a state-issued license.

Psychologists seek to understand human behavior, while the law aims to regulate it. A bachelor’s in psychology strengthens the analytical and research skills required for law school. In fact, nearly half of law school applicants in 2023 majored in social sciences fields like psychology, according to the Law School Admission Council.

With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, graduates can complete a teacher preparation program or a master’s in education to work in K-12 schools. Teachers specialize in a variety of subjects, and psychology provides excellent preparation for teaching social studies. Education career paths can also include administrative, policy, and curriculum design roles.

Audiologists and speech language pathologists (SLPs) specialize in hearing and speech problems. A psychology degree develops the understanding of human behavior, communication, and human development required in these fields, which can help psych majors get into graduate programs in these fields. While SLPs can practice with a master’s degree, audiologists require a doctorate.

Public administration careers require strong planning, policy analysis, and leadership skills. These professionals implement government and nonprofit programs, evaluate the impact of policy on diverse communities, and manage complex projects. A psychology degree develops the communication, research, and analytical abilities to pursue a master’s in public administration or public policy.