As the butt of a few too many jokes, the psychology major may seem like a waste of a degree to many students, but the major is more beneficial than one may realize.    

Abbie Vanderhyden, sophomore psychology major, describes why she chose her major.

“For me, it matters because studying psychology will get me one step closer to my ultimate goal, helping others. I think psychology matters because it affects everyone, it’s relevant to everyone. We use psychology every day in the way we interact, in the choices we make, everything,” Vanderhyden said.

The major teaches students about the mind, but also develops skills within its students that can be useful in many fields.

“A major in psychology teaches you to understand people better, which in turns makes you a better communicator,” Vanderhyden explained.

“You develop critical thinking skills because people are unpredictable, and at times you’ll have to think outside of the box when working with them … If you focus on the counseling side of things it will teach you how to be more compassionate. If you decide to focus more on research, you’ll learn how to use statistics and analyze data,” she said.

If the study of mental functions seems appealing, but the job market doesn’t seem fit for it, students may be excited to learn that the program will open more than just one career door after university life.

Vivianne Velazquez / Daily Vidette Photographer: Sophomore psychology major Abbie Vanderhyden spends time in DeGarmo Hall looking through different research experiments taking place that she could sign up for in order to help out.

To become a licensed psychologist, as many students of the major desire, a student will need to acquire a Ph.D or Psy.D.

With that said, a general psychology degree can still be found useful in many fields.

If interested in remaining in the field, a bachelor’s degree holder could find jobs including, but not limited to, positions like psychiatric technicians, who will work directly under clinical psychologists and help patients with applied therapy sessions or case management tasks.

Social service specialists, who may provide counseling service to clients or help clients find additional psychological services, may also be a career option.

Outside of the field, a psychology degree will prove useful in other appealing fields.

Advertising and sales positions are both areas where workers often find a degree in psychology useful, as many of the skills taught in the major can be used to persuade audiences to buy products.
Considering the benefits of this degree in job areas, it could also be an appealing minor for students involved in business or marketing programs.

“I would definitely recommend trying some psychology courses,” Vanderhyden said.

“Even though it’s ultimately a lot of work if you factor in graduate school and other courses, working with and helping others is one of the most rewarding feelings you can have,” Vanderhyden added.