Bachelor's Degree in Psychology

Timeline for students who plan to seek employment
with a bachelor's degree in Psychology

FRESHMAN YEAR

1. Schedule a meeting with your academic advisor to discuss your career interests and options. This meeting should not simply focus on what courses to take during the next semester.
2. Begin to consider various careers; investigate employment opportunities with a bachelors degree in psychology using resources available from your advisor and the Career Center. Review that some careers require graduate training either at the entry level or for eventual advancement.
3. Begin a self-assessment process focusing on your interests, strengths, skills, and values. How well do they match your preliminary career goals?

1. Complete your self-assessment process. Compile a list of your strengths (academic and personal); skills, and knowledge. Use this list to help focus your career choice.
2. Continue the process of narrowing down your specific interests in the field of psychology and consider the type of employment you wish. Use the results of your self-assessment and on-campus resources (e.g., academic advisor and Career Center) to identify career options, You should focus your career choice by the end of your sophomore year so that you have time to take the appropriate preparatory course work.
3. Finish up the majority of your general education requirements, and begin to work your way through more of your Psychology requirements (e.g., Quantitative Methods and Research Methods).
4. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your progress toward degree completion and your career plans and options. You should discuss upper level course offerings in psychology that will best prepare you for your career.
5. Based on your professional and career interests, choose a minor and take the prerequisite(s) for upper level courses.
6. Meet with the psychology faculty member in charge of Undergraduate Internships or Undergraduate Research and discuss options in this area that are of interest to you.
7. Prepare a resume (with your advisor's help) if you have not already done so. You can also keep a copy on file in the University Career Center. Continue to update the resume you build in Psychological Careers (PSYC 3190).

1. Re-evaluate your career choice. Are you still on the right track?
2. Make plans to obtain relevant experience outside the classroom before the end of your senior year (e.g., volunteer work, internship, or research).
3. Meet with your academic advisor to discuss your progress toward degree completion and your career plans and options. Review your course selections for the major field in psychology and your minor.
4. Contact people in the profession you are seeking to enter, and conduct some "information interviews" to learn more about career options.
5. Attend campus career fairs. Visit the Career Center to determine skills you need for your career options.

1. Use the summer months to build your job information network, polish your resume, and continue to refine your career aspirations. Use online sources to help you do so. Do not assume "I don't know what I want to do" is an acceptable option at this point! Explore!
2. Study for the GRE if planning on graduate school and take practice GRE tests.
3. Look for graduate programs that fit your needs and desires for professional preparation, location, cost, and duration. Discuss programs with faculty who may be familiar with the schools you are interested in.
   

1. Meet with your academic advisor during fall semester to discuss your progress toward degree completion and your career plans and options. Review your course selections for the major field in psychology and your minor.
2. Obtain a copy of your transcript from your advisor and review it carefully for any errors.
3. Identify three individuals (e.g., faculty members and past employers) who are willing and able to write STRONG letters of recommendations for you.
4. Review your resume. Assistance in developing an effective resume is available in the Career Center. Place your completed resume on file in the Career Center.
5. Practice for interviews with the psychology faculty or at the Career Center. The initial interview can be one of the most critical hurdles in getting a job, so be as prepared as possible. Make sure you check with the Career Center early in the semester you plan to be interviewing. The Career Center brings a number of prospective employers to campus. However, in order to participate in on-campus recruiting interviews, you must sign up!
6. If applying to graduate school programs: take the GRE test, write personal statements and have a faculty member give suggestions for improvement.
7. Get involved in research with a faculty mentor and present research if possible.