Simply defined, psychology is an academic and applied field involving the study of the mind, brain, and behavior, both human and nonhuman. Psychology also refers to the application of such knowledge to various spheres of human activity, including problems of individuals' daily lives and the treatment of mental illness" ( www.en.wikipedia.org ). There are many different specializations within the field of psychology, and we will address as many of them as we can here

Find Psychology Programs

For additional information on online graduate degrees please visit eLearners.com for details.

• Applied psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Community psychology
• Counseling/Mental Health Therapy psychology
• Counseling
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Experimental psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Industrial/Organizational psychology
• Quantitative psychology
• School psychology
• Social/Personality psychology
• Sports psychology ( www.gradschools.com )

Types Of Associate, Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Available
Because of the nature of the work of a psychologist, an Associate's degree in the field will not necessarily lead to a job as a psychologist . It will, however, serve as an excellent stepping-stone for either a Bachelor's or graduate degree, and those are the ones that will prepare you for the rigors of working in the field itself. And while a Bachelor's degree is a very good starting-point for a career in the field, a graduate degree will afford you the opportunity to not only earn more money in the field, but also to teach at a college or university.

Typical Admissions Requirements
Getting into a psychology program may not be as difficult as it initially seems. In fact, with a solid academic background, you stand a very good chance of being admitted to a psychology program. Just make sure you're realistic, and success will surely follow. In other words, if you don't have any real background in the field, start off with an Associate's degree. If that goes well, and if you find yourself fascinated with the work, then pursue higher degrees. If you enjoy the field, and if you're good at the work, then the sky truly is the limit. Careers In This Field
The range of careers pursued by graduates of psychology programs include both the clinical and the non-clinical. Indeed, a background in psychology may very well prove useful for a career in a field like human resources. Psychology is also useful, as we all know, in politics. The point is that the options are limited only by your ability to think both inside and outside the box. Of the many career options available, some of the most popular include:

• Teaching and Research
• Clinical Psychology
• Counseling Psychology
• Forensic Psychology
• Health Psychology
• Industrial/Organizational Psychology
• Sports Psychology
• Agency/Community Counseling
• Educational Psychology
• School Counseling
• School Psychology
• Social Work
• Art Therapy
• Music Therapy ( www.psywww.com )

Salary Ranges In This Field
The amount of money you can potentially earn with a degree in psychology depends to a great extent on the aspect of the field in which you ultimately choose to work. That having been noted, however, it is possible to generalize. According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Median annual earnings of wage and salary clinical, counseling, and school psychologists in May 2004 were $54,950. The middle 50 percent earned between $41,850 and $71,880. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $32,280, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $ 92,250· Median annual earnings of wage and salary industrial-organizational psychologists in May 2004 were $71,400. The middle 50 percent earned between $56,880 and $93,210. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $45,620, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $125,560" ( www.bls.com). But again, it is important to remember that these numbers are variable, depending on the specific area in which you work and the organization with which you are employed.

Future Outlook
The outlook for careers in the field of psychology is that they are "expected to grow faster than average for all occupations through 2014, because of increased demand for psychological services in schools, hospitals, social service agencies, mental health centers, substance abuse treatment clinics, consulting firms, and private companies.

Among the specialties in this field, school psychologists-especially those with a specialist degree or higher-may enjoy the best job opportunities. Growing awareness of how students' mental health and behavioral problems, such as bullying, affect learning is increasing demand for school psychologists to offer student counseling and mental health services. Clinical and counseling psychologists will be needed to help people deal with depression and other mental disorders, marriage and family problems, job stress, and addiction. The rise in health care costs associated with unhealthy lifestyles, such as smoking, alcoholism, and obesity, has made prevention and treatment more critical. An increase in the number of employee assistance programs, which help workers deal with personal problems, also should spur job growth in clinical and counseling specialties. Industrial-organizational psychologists will be in demand to help boost worker productivity and retention rates in a wide range of businesses. Industrial-organizational psychologists will help companies deal with issues such as workplace diversity and antidiscrimination policies. Companies also will use psychologists' expertise in survey design, analysis, and research to develop tools for marketing evaluation and statistical analysis.

Demand should be particularly strong for persons holding doctorates from leading universities in applied specialties-such as counseling, health, and school psychology. Psychologists with extensive training in quantitative research methods and computer science may have a competitive edge over applicants without background. Master's degree holders in fields other than industrial-organizational psychology will face keen competition for jobs, because of the limited number of positions that require only a Master's degree. Master's degree holders may find jobs as psychological assistants or counselors, providing mental health services under the direct supervision of a licensed psychologist. Still others may find jobs involving research and data collection and analysis in universities, government, or private companies.

Resources

1. http://psychcentral.com (An excellent listing of associations in the field)
2. www.apa.org (The American Psychological Association)
3. www.psychologicalscience.org (The Association for Psychological Science)