Nature of Career
If I had to choose a career that had to do with science, I would choose to be a psychologist. A psychologist studys the behavior of people and how the mind reacts when doing that type of behavior. Psychologists, since they are like scientists, create hypotheses as to why a person behaves in a type of manner and how to treat the problem if there is one. There are different tpyes of psychologists. One type is a clinical psychologist. A clinical psychologist helps patients that are emotionally or mentally disabled lead a normal life and facilitate people who are very ill or need or have had surgery. Other clinical psychologists help people who have the daily stresses of a normal life, like divorce for example. Broken down into groups, here are some other psychology jobs having to do with clinical psychology. Cognitive psychologists study the memory and thinking of a person's brain. Health psychologists deal with helping individuals reach their goals. Neuropsychologists research the link between behavior and someone's mental capacity. Geropsychologists help senior citizens and their problems.There are many other types of psychologists, including school counselers and experimaental psychologists who study the way animals react.
Working Conditions
A psychologist usually works by themselves in a relaxing, spacious office. When many people think about a psychologist's office, they think of a long couch that a patient lies down on. Some psychologists have to work well into the evening so it will be convienent for patients who can't come at any other time. To go to meetings or any other important manner, a psychologist may sometimes have to travel out of town.
Career Outlook
In 1994, there were about 144,000 people who worked as psychologists. Many psychologists are not affiliated with any company, in fact, there were about 40% in 1994 who managed their own business. This career is expected to be one of the fastest growing careers in the world due to the growing amount of stress in one's own life. Many citizens do not know how to manage problems in our society today such as drug problems, crime, or even marital abuse. Psychology will always remain as a strong career because one of the most important things in life is health care. What's better than having a helpful doctor give advice to an individual who's currently going through a tough time?
Range of Salaries
The range of salaries in the year of 1993 was about $39,100 for a counsler psychologist (someone who helps people make everyday choices) to about $58,000 for an industrial-organized psychologist. (someone who helps solve stressful problems in a company environment. Someone who maintains their own business may have a higher salary however.
Career Comparison
Other careers similar to this one are:psychiatrists, clinical social workers, sociologists, clergy, special education teachers, and counslers. Special education teachers are very much like psychologists because they help children to have a normal life and help them with their problems. Psychologists do the same thing with clients, help solve their problems and ease their stress. The difference between these two jobs however, is that a special education teacher usually teaches in a large environment with many kids or on an individual basis. Most psychologists work alone with the patient and what a patient and psychologist talks about is mostly confidential. Usually a psychologist works with anyone, but a special education teacher only works with handicapped students, or students who can't go to a regular public school.
Education Required
In order to become a psychologist, you need the proper education. Usually, you need a doctoral degree to become a clinical or counseling psychologist. This will enable you to go into any kind of field from teaching to working in a hospital as a psychologist. If someone wanted to help psychologists and work in other places, a bachelor's degree would let you do that. Other degrees would enable you to do many other things having to do with psychology. A doctoral degree usually takes 5 to 7 years of graduate school to complete. Many schools will let you receive a bachelor's degree in the field of psychology. In addition, you need an approved internship and 1 to 2 years of experience before you can meet proper licensing requirements in the United States.
Other Information
For more information about the work of psychologists, you can contact:American Psychological Association, Research Office and Educationin Psychology and Accrediation Offices, 750 1st St. NE., Washington, DC 20002
Colleges
There are many colleges in the state of Florida that have majors in psychology. Some include:Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida Atlantic University, Florida International University, Florida State University, New College of the University of South Florida
University of Central Florida, University of Florida, University of North Florida, University
of South Florida, and the University of West Florida. Just like in part 1, I would like to either go to the University of Florida and/or the University of Central Florida. Currently at University of Florida, the cost for an in-state resident is:$1,830 not including room and board. The nearby city of Gainesville, Florida is home to about 90,000 people!!!! The University of Central Florida is also a great college to go to if you are interested in the major of psychology. Right now the University of Central Florida costs about $1,924.30 to go to school there if you are a Florida resident. (not including room and board)