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Psychology Career Programs and AdvisingExploring Psychology Careers

The Psychology Advising office offers a variety of programs geared toward helping students prepare for careers in and outside of Psychology, as well as advising to help you choose your courses.

Co-Curricular Record (CCR) Certification in Career Development in Psychology

The Psychology Department is thrilled to announce the brand new Co-Curricular Record (CCR) Certification in Career Development in Psychology! This special notation appears on a student's Co-Curricular Record (CCR), an official document tied to a student's transcript, which certifies a student's work in one of 12 competencies.

Our new certification requirements include participation in Psychology career-related workshops, the Careers in Mind symposium, an informational interview, and a 2 page reflection paper. For more information, see our Psychology CCR Certification page.

Careers in Mind

Our annual Careers in Mind symposium allows students to hear first-hand from alumni and community members about how their Psychology undergraduate education helped prepare them for careers in and outside of Psychology. This free event takes place on a Saturday afternoon during the Spring quarter and includes the opportunity to hear a keynote address, attend panels on various Psychology career categories, discuss careers with panelists in a small group setting, and network during an informal mixer.  Alumni and community members volunteer their time to help support students' career exploration.

Please visit our Careers in Mind page for more information about this year's event.

Alumni 101

In partnership with the UC San Diego Alumni Association, the Psychology Department is proud to present Alumni 101: a series of workshops designed to give students insight into the professional world.  Participating alums will discuss real-world issues such as interviewing and networking tips, failure in the workplace, and more!  After the presentation, stay to chat and eat with the alumni!

For additional information, dates, and registration, see our Alumni 101 page.

Suggested Preparation for Selected Careers

Need some ideas for Psychology-related careers to consider? Want to know suggested coursework for some of the most popular career paths our students take? You may want to explore the following:

Additional Career Resources

Psychology and Related Careers

Psychology degrees aren’t just for Psychologists! While it’s true that many students go on to earn graduate degrees in Counseling or Clinical Psychology, some enter the fields of Forensic Psychology, Sports Psychology, Experimental Psychology, or Public Health. Others become neuroscientists, brain surgeons, psychiatrists, and other medical doctors. Still, others enter careers in law, public policy, or politics. Many become entrepreneurs. In short, most students who study Psychology enter the workforce in fields that require the use of “people skills,” critical thinking, and decision-making - a valuable set of skills indeed!

All students are encouraged to contact the Career Center for further career advising. The Career Center is your best resource to help with exploring career interests, career assessment tools, resumes and cover letters, mock interviews, graduate school advice, and more. Do you prefer to speak with someone in the field you wish to pursue? The Career Center's Tritons Connect (alumni network) allows you to search a database of UCSD alumni professionals, to leverage their experience for an informational interview, mock interview, resume review, shadowing, and other educational path and career-related discussions.

Psychology Related Careers to Consider with a Bachelor's Degree

Psychology Related Careers for Bachelor of Arts/Science Graduates in Psychology:

  • Advertising Coordinator
  • Animal Trainer
  • Applied Behavior Analyst
  • Business Intelligence Analyst
  • College Advisor
  • Community Relations Rep
  • Copywriter
  • Corporate Merchandiser
  • Corrections Officer
  • Correctional Caseworker
  • Crisis Intervention Counselor
  • Customs/Immigration Officer
  • Data Analysis Technologist
  • Data Scientist
  • Employment Recruiter
  • Event Manager
  • Hospice Coordinator
  • Human Resources Coordinator
  • Market Analyst
  • Marketing/Sales Assistant
  • Media Buyer
  • Program Developer
  • Recreation Specialist
  • Research Analyst
  • Research/Lab Coordinator
  • Social Service Worker
  • Special Education Teacher
  • Statistician
  • Technical Writer
  • Television/Media Researcher

Psychology Related Careers Requiring Advanced Degrees

Careers for Psychology Students Requiring Advanced Degrees:

  • Clinical Psychologist
  • Cognitive Psychologist
  • Counseling Psychologist
  • Developmental Psychologist
  • Educational Psychologist
  • Evolutionary Psychologist
  • Experimental Psychologist
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Health Psychologist
  • Industrial/Organizational Psychologist
  • Neuropsychologist/Neuroscientist
  • Psychiatrist
  • Psychometrician
  • Quantitative and Measurement Psychologist
  • Rehabilitation Psychologist/Occupational Therapist
  • School Psychologist
  • Sports Psychologist
  • Therapist

Additional Careers for which Psychology Students may be Well-Suited

Additional Careers Requiring Advanced Degrees for which Psychology Students may be Well-Suited:

  • Medicine                               
  • Law
  • Nursing
  • Physical Therapy
  • Public Health
  • Teaching/School Administration

For more jobs for recent graduates, a concise list of careers as a Psychologist, and graduate school preparation advice, read The Insider's Guide to the Psychology Major: Everything You Need to Know About the Degree and Profession, by UC San Diego graduate and tenured Saddleback College professor Amira Wegenek.  Copies of this book are available for review in the Psychology Advising Office and in the Geisel Library. 

Our Social Science librarian at UC San Diego Library has also recommended Career Paths in Psychology, by Robert Sternberg, available in an eBook version via the Library.