Online Degree in Psychology

Friday, July 31, 2009

Make Online Psychology Master Degree Work for You

by Christina Williams

Are you considering going for your psychology master’s degree online? In the US, masters degrees consist of the Master of Arts or M.A.; The Master of Science Degree or M.S. and the Master of Business Administration or M.B.A and other masters degree programs such as the Master of Social Work, M.S.W. or a Master Degree in Psychology, M.S.

If you decide to go into one of the popular career professional tracks (nursing, MBA/Business, computer science or of course psychology), make sure to roll up your sleeves and put the time into to investigate which schools’ degree programs online are praised and recommended by students, employers and other important parties.

But first, let’s give some history here. As technology becomes a greater part of our lives, it’s obvious why online degrees would be seen as a more valid option for advancing in one’s career.

When it comes to the right online psychology masters degrees, it’s vital to search for the right accredited educational institution. This means that you have diligently done your part to earn the coveted degree. Employers correlate this to the ability of the person to look at things in a more mature perspective that implies that they would be a great asset to the company. Low-standard are rampant everywhere, even in the internet. more likely to be frauds. They will bombard you with empty promises and give you a worthless piece of paper that they will call a “diploma” in exchange for you hard earned money.

Online learning schools that swear they will grant you a top not degree in a matter of a few weeks are probably the kind you would want to stay away from. They’ll hammer you with big promises and say they’ll grant you the sky but at the end of the day, it’ll probably be a waste of your time.

A school that is accredited has been assessed by experts in order to judge the strength and soundness of its educational standard. To gain accreditation, online schools must demonstrate as much quality and effectiveness at training students as campus, off line colleges and universities.

The certification that you will get from the hoax online education providers are worth nil as employers will not recognize them. You might even have legal impediments when you try using them when applying for jobs.Colleges and universities are kept on their toes in terms of the quality of the training they give you.

Make certain you opt to attend a school that is absolutely an officially recognized academic institution. As the formal board that decides if a school is accredited or not maintains a regular evaluation schedule of thousands of schools, you should feel comforted. When you finally go for your ideal online psychology master degree program, you’ll end up far ahead of the curve by having done your research.

About the Author:
Excel in Life. Discover online psychology degrees and online psychology master degree information now.

Master Degree in Psychology

So, what are you going to do with that psychology degree? With your college-educated insight into the human mind, you could do just about anything. Psychology is fundamental to nearly everything we do, and the degree is among the most versatile in the job market.

The qualities that make a good psychologist are also the qualities that make good business managers, health care workers, educators, or researchers. Psychology students need strong communications skills, compassion, research and analytical abilities, and last but not least, an understanding of what makes people tick. 
Five Careers for Psychology Majors

Most psychology graduates do not go on to careers as psychologists. Business and healthcare are the top employers of psychology majors, and the top three careers are manager, sales representative, and social worker. Here's a look at five different ways to put your psychology degree to work.

1. School Counselor

With the quality of education under increasing scrutiny, school counseling is more important than ever. And psychology graduates are in a position to do the job well. Psychology-educated school counselors have the background to troubleshoot student performance and help them develop effective learning strategies. In addition, they can guide students in the introspection necessary to answer that crucial question: "What do I want to be when I grow up?"

School counseling typically requires specialized training in addition to a bachelor's degree. State certification requirements range from a teaching certificate to a master's degree in the field. The good news: an online Master of Education in School Counseling can be completed in as little as a year.

School counseling promises to be the fastest-growing counseling specialty, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

2. Social Worker

Social workers draw on their interpersonal and organizational skills to guide clients through psychological, social, or financial problems. Psychology graduates have the training to work effectively in what can be an emotionally draining role. Their counseling background enables them to maintain an appropriate level of empathy and support without taking on their client's problems. 

A bachelor's degree in Psychology is sufficient qualification for many entry-level positions in social work, but most social workers go on to a two-year master's degree. An advanced degree is a requirement for supervisory, policy, and clinical positions. 

Social workers can look forward to plentiful job opportunities: the field is projected to grow 36% through 2014. <

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3. Occupational Therapist

Occupational therapists help patients adapt to mental or physical challenges and achieve an independent lifestyle. The job takes practical ingenuity--occupational therapists develop tools to improve mobility, exercises to improve mental acuity, etc. But most of all, it takes psychological insight. Gadgets and strategies aren't worth much unless the therapist can inspire a patient to use them. That's where your psychology degree comes in.

As of 2007, board certification requirements include graduate-level training and an exam. Psychology majors will need to supplement their undergraduate training with a master's degree in Occupational Therapy.

Earning that additional degree should pay off: Occupational Therapy ranks among the Department of Labor's Fastest-Growing Careers.

4. Marketing Executive

Psychology graduates excel at Good Samaritan roles, but can they take on the business world? Yes, say employers of managers, sales representatives, business strategists, and marketers. A bachelor's in psychology is a valued qualification in all these careers. 

Marketing executives, for example, rely on their understanding of human behavior to communicate effectively. Marketing initiatives play to mass audiences, and they need to be carefully calibrated to drive specific responses. Psychology majors understand what motivates consumers, and are therefore able to develop effective promotions, merchandising strategies, and advertising campaigns.

Psychology undergraduates can proceed directly into a marketing career without additional training, but many will find professional education an asset. MBA programs and Marketing certificates are readily available online.

Consumer spending is alive and well, and so is the job market for marketing specialists; the BLS predicts faster than average growth through 2014.

5. Criminologist

Criminologists draw on their insight into the human psyche--plus their research skills--to catch criminals and improve law enforcement. Psychological profiling is a major asset in criminal investigations. Criminologists review patterns of behavior and present their research in reports. Some assume a more active role, inspecting crime scenes for evidence and questioning suspects.

Criminology is "exciting," "interesting," and "unpredictable," according to its practitioners, but it is also competitive. A psychology bachelor's degree is the standard qualification, but many boost their career profile with graduate work in behavioral sciences.
Criminal justice occupations are booming, but criminologists face a competitive market; demand is higher for those with investigative skills.

Understanding the human mind, it turns out, is a critical asset no matter where you turn. Psychology majors graduate to a world of career opportunities. What are you going to be when you grow up?

Source; Clare Kaufman

Forensic Psychology Degree

Forensic Psychologists apply psychological theory and principles in a number of legal areas, including child abuse, sexual abuse, criminal responsibility, and personal capacity to manage one's affairs and stand trial. They work in a variety of legal settings but are most often recognized for their involvement in the processing of a crime scene.

Forensic Psychology involves the application of psychology to legal issues through administering psychological tests, gathering hospital records, police reports, and witness statements. Forensic psychologists are expected to synthesize psychological analysis with legal relevance of cases involving child custody disputes, child abuse, competency, criminal responsibility, and advising judges on sentencing. Most forensic psychologists possess an advanced psychology degree at the Master or PhD level or a specialized Forensic Psychology M.A. degree. Obtaining a forensic psychology degree online has never been more readily available. The colleges listed below all offer forensic psychology degrees.

Careers in Forensic Psychology

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY is the application of psychology to the criminal justice system. Many people confuse Forensic Psychology with forensic science. Although the two are closely related, there are many differences. The primary difference is that forensic psychologists delve into the vast psychological perspectives and apply them to criminal justice system. On the other hand, forensic psychologists frequently deal with legal issues, such as public policies, new laws, competency, and also whether a defendant was insane at the time a crime occurred. All of these issues weave together psychology and law topics and are essential to the discipline of Forensic Psychology. Forensic Psychology knowledge is used in various forms, such as in treating mentally ill offenders, consulting with attorneys (e.g., on picking a jury), analyzing a criminal's mind and intent, and practicing within the civil arena. 

Individuals interested in pursuing a Forensic Psychology career would have take psychology and criminal justice courses at the core of their academic studies. There is a very limited number of academic institutions that specifically offer a Forensic Psychology degree. Clinical, social, cognitive, criminal investigative, and developmental psychology also help to prepare one for this speciality. 

A forensic psychologist may chose to solely focus his/her career on research, ranging anywhere from examination of eyewitness testimony to learning how to improve interrogation methods. Another form of Forensic Psychology work is public policy, in which researchers can help in the design of correctional facilities and prisons. More generally, Forensic Psychology covers territory between the traditional options of criminal justice (i.e., academic training, law enforcement, and corrections).