Individuals who have graduated with a major in psychology are suited for psychology graduate programs. Graduate schools offer master's degree programs leading to licensure as professional counselors and social workers. Doctoral psychology programs prepare students for careers as clinical psychology practitioners or for research and academic careers. Most master's degree programs require three to four years of schooling while doctorate students spend around five to seven years, on average, completing coursework, research and supervised training. The American Psychological Association publishes its annual "Graduate Study in Psychology," which lists all APA-accredited graduate programs in the United States and Canada.
Psychology majors can work in the social services industry and find jobs mainly as assistants to social workers and other professionals in the field. With a bachelor's degree in psychology, individuals can obtain an entry-level job and progress upwards as they gain experience in the profession helping clients providing services. Entry-level jobs for psychology majors in social services include the assistant case manager, counselor aide, family service worker and residential youth worker.
A psychology major can help get a job in business or human resources, especially if a college "minor" was chosen in business or a related area. Undergraduate courses in psychology give students a foundational understanding of human behavior, cognitive processes, social interactions and group dynamics, all of which can help psychology majors get a job in business or human resources. Some corporations--such as 84 Lumber, The Kroger Company and Enterprise Rent-a-Car--hire students directly out of college as management trainees, which provides the opportunity to progress as a manager of a store. Other jobs in business and human resources can found found working as hiring assistants, employment counselors and staff training coordinators.
An individual who holds a bachelor's degree in psychology can start a business providing advice to individuals as a consultant or independent life coach, personal coach or self-help coach. No regulations exist for individuals in the consulting or coaching industry, which means you can legally offer this type of service--but should provide disclosures--with only a bachelor's degree in psychology. As a consultant, you can teach life skills, relationship and interpersonal skills, or some other type of advice based on your interests, education and passions, and give advice on where to seek professional resources if the situation warrants it. With your own consulting business, you can set your own fees and even your own working hours.