What You Can Do with a General Psychology Degree

If you are a psychology major, you might be wondering, "What exactly can I do with this degree?" The short answer is almost anything that involves understanding human behavior, and that's a lot of things!

Psychology is far more than just clinical therapy––it's a foundational science that teaches skills sought after in every industry [INSERT LINK TO PSYCHOLOGY DEGREE PAGE]. Your 4 years of studying the human brain will prepare you for diverse roles in business, healthcare, social services, law, education, and beyond. This article outlines the education and career paths for you as a psychology major!

Highlighted Career Paths

A Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Psychology from BYU-Idaho prepares you for a variety of careers listed by The American Psychological Association. Some of these careers include:

• Clinical Psychology: Help clients/patients by assessing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Also conduct psychological testing, develop treatment plans, and provide individual, family, or group therapy.
  
• Counseling Psychology: Focus on helping individuals cope with life-adjustment issues, emotional problems, and personal growth. Also focus on preventative care, career development, educational planning, and relationship dynamics.
  
• School Psychology: Apply psychological principles within educational settings by working with students, teachers, and parents to address academic, behavioral, and social-emotional challenges. Also promote a healthy learning environment by conducting assessments, providing interventions, and implementing prevention programs.
  
• Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology: Study human behavior in the workplace by applying psychological principles to optimize productivity, morale, and organizational structure. This also includes employee recruitment and selection, performance management, training and development, and analyzing consumer behavior to improve product design.
  
• Neuropsychology and Biopsychology: Explore the relationship between brain function and behavior by assessing and treating patients with brain injuries or neurological illnesses (like stroke or dementia). Also conduct research on the biological underpinnings of behavior, emotion, and cognition.
  
• Forensic Psychology: Apply psychological science to the legal and criminal justice system by conducting evaluations for courts, assessing the mental competency of defendants, testifying as expert witnesses, or consulting on criminal behavior and victim services.
  
• Developmental Psychology: Study how people change and evolve across the lifespan, from infancy through old age. Also focus on physical, cognitive, social, and emotional development.
  
• Social Psychology: Focus on how people's thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by others and the social environment. Also study topics like group behavior, social perception, leadership, prejudice, and non-verbal communication, often working in research, marketing, or political consulting.

Getting Licensed: Becoming a Counselor or Psychologist

To become a licensed counselor or psychologist, advanced education is required. Below is the information for receiving a master’s or doctoral degree to get a counseling or psychology licenseCounselor: To become a Licensed Counselor, you need to get a master’s degree (M.A., M.S., or M.Ed.) after finishing your bachelor’s. Getting a master’s degree typically takes 2-3 years and is usually required for independent practice and licensure in Idaho.

Psychologist: To become a Licensed Psychologist, you need to get a doctoral degree (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) after your bachelor’s degree. Doctoral programs are highly intensive and typically take 4–7 years to complete. Beyond the coursework and dissertation/scholarly project, this path includes a mandatory 1-year internship and often requires an additional 2,000 hours of supervised postdoctoral experience before you can apply for licensure and practice independently in Idaho.
Below is a table to show you what degree and license are required for a few main careers. Are you ready to decide which career is right for you?

Sources
“Careers in Psychology,” American Psychological Association, (2025).
“Psychology: General (B.S.),” BYU-Idaho, (2025).