Career Paths
With Arcadia’s study tracks, you can define your goals and focus on your future. Psychology students go on to pursue a wide range of careers. Since only two courses per year are required for the major in Psychology, the major is sufficiently open in requirements, allowing you to easily integrate it with other programs. Add relevant coursework in other disciplines to create one of three future paths towards your success. With your interests and career goals in mind, you may select one of the following options:
Study Tracks
Core Liberal Arts
The liberal arts direction may be selected by students who want a basic foundation in psychology and a broad preparation in the liberal arts. The Psychology major is designed to be flexible, therefore it can be easily combined with other majors or minors. This direction fulfills the requirements for graduate study in psychology, as well as for careers open to liberal arts graduates without specific pre-professional preparation. Students might have careers in marketing, healthcare, communications, or business.
Pre-Professional
Designed for students who want to pursue a specialized profession in fields such as school psychology, art therapy, psychiatric social work, and school counseling or guidance. You can major in Psychology, supplement with courses in a pre-professional specialization, and graduate prepared to pursue a master’s degree at a post-graduate professional school. There are many pre-professional options students can pursue. Some of the most common are:
Pre-Health Professions
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The B.A. in Psychology is a useful foundation for post-graduate study in physical therapy, medicine, health education, nursing, public health, health administration, occupational therapy, or veterinary medicine. Coursework in Biology, Chemistry, or Computer Science combine with the major to provide an appropriate background for further study. (See separate listings for these pre-health programs.)
- Secondary Education
If you are seeking certification for secondary teaching in Social Studies in addition to your BA in Psychology, you must notify your adviser and the Director of Secondary Education. State certification requirements are very specific, so the earlier you plan for this option, the easier it is to develop the appropriate program for you.
- Psychology and Business
If you are interested in human resources management, you can combine the major in Psychology with a minor in Business. This track will prepare you for graduate study in psychology or business administration.
- Pre-Art Therapy
Combine Psychology and Art Therapy courses in preparation for your graduate study. (See Art Therapy Emphasis.) Choose from the following program options:
- BA in Psychology with an Art Therapy emphasis
- BA in Art and Design with an Art Therapy Emphasis, plus coursework in Psychology
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Earn both a BA in Art and Design and a BA in Psychology with an Art Therapy Emphasis as a double major
- Individualized Options
If you are interested in school psychology, psychiatric social work, working with children, counseling and guidance in schools, or psychometrics, you must plan to continue their education at the master’s level. Prepare for your intended path by selecting appropriate undergraduate-level courses in consultation with the Department adviser.
PhD
The PhD track is specifically geared to prepare you for entrance into PhD programs for post-secondary teaching, clinical or counseling psychology, research, or other specialized areas of psychology. Your undergraduate psychology coursework will be supplemented with cognate courses relevant to your particular interests, selected in consultation with the Department Chair or adviser. You should also consider courses aimed at increasing the following related skills:
- Quantitative Methods
- MA201
- MA242
- PY275
- Public Speaking
- CM110
- TH101
- TH140
- TH141
- TH150
- US248
- Visual Presentation
- CM268
- CS107
PhD programs do not require any specific set of such courses but may give weight to students who have such training.
Minor in Psychology
This minor provides a basic background in psychology for non-majors as part of their liberal arts education. It is especially valuable for
- Students with career or graduate school plans that are related to thought or emotional processes, human behavior, or social dynamics
- Business, Mathematics, or Computer Science students whose work involves communication
- Students in Public Policy, Law, or Criminal Justice interested in decision-making, mental illness, or forensics
- Sociology students interested in social work
Students who want to complete a minor in Psychology should consult with the Department Chair.
Arcadia’s flexible Psychology program offers multiple ways to tailor the program to suit your professional and educational goals. In addition to the study tracks and accelerated degree, you may also consider the Art Therapy Emphasis, a Secondary Education Certification, and preferential admission into Arcadia’s Master of Arts in Counseling Program.
