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What Can You Do With a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology?

Many students use their bachelor’s degrees in fields such as human resources, business, marketing, community services, and education. Some students choose to pursue advanced degrees to become psychologists and mental health professionals.

Understand Humans and Develop Transferable Skills

Study how people think, feel, behave, and interact through research and evidence. As a psychology major, you’ll develop a deeper understanding of people while building skills that can be applied across industries and career paths. Use this foundation to pursue graduate study or careers that involve understanding and supporting people. Explore opportunities to address mental illness, support children and families, improve workplaces, understand consumers, and help people navigate challenges.

Two students in a psychology class chatting and reviewing data on their laptop

What Skills Do You Learn as a Psychology Major?

Psychology majors develop technical and transferable skills that can be applied across a wide range of industries. Through research, analysis, and the study of human behavior, you’ll strengthen skills such as critical thinking and communication. In fact, in NACE’s Job Outlook 2025 survey, 96.1% of responding employers rated communication and critical thinking as very or extremely important. Psychology majors can expect to develop skills such as:

  • Active listening
  • Conflict resolution
  • Critical thinking
  • Cultural awareness
  • Data analysis
  • Ethical decision-making
  • Interpersonal skills
  • Problem-solving
  • Research design and methods
  • Scientific reasoning
  • Time management
  • Written and verbal communication skills

What Jobs Can I Get With a Psychology Degree?

A psychology degree opens the door to careers that involve understanding, supporting, and working with people. Consider roles such as:

*Salary data is from the 2025 median pay reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Salary ranges shown are based on the example careers listed. Actual salaries vary by role, experience, location, and education. Some careers (especially in the psychology, mental health, and social work categories) may require additional degrees, education, or certifications, so talk with an advisor for specific career paths.

Is Psychology a Good Major?

Psychology may be a good major if you are curious about human behavior and enjoy using research to answer questions. Expect to read scientific studies, work with statistics, evaluate evidence, and communicate your findings. Consider whether you enjoy both the subject matter and the methods used to study it.

A student completing a psychology assignment in a classroom while wearing a coat

Is a Psychology Degree Worth It?

Whether a psychology degree is worth it depends on your career goals and the cost of your education. It also depends on the career you want to pursue. Some careers require graduate study, while others are open to students with a bachelor’s degree. If you plan to work after graduation, research potential careers and build relevant experience through internships, research, and coursework. If you want to pursue a licensed clinical career, plan for graduate education and supervised training.

Because an understanding of humans is important across industries, a BLS report from 2023 stated that majors were spread across occupations like management (15%), community and social service (13%), education (12%), healthcare (11%), and business and financial operations (10%).

Two students drawing on a white paper while working on an assignment

How Do I Become a Psychologist with a Psychology Degree?

Psychologists study the human mind and behavior and may diagnose and treat mental and emotional disorders. A bachelor’s degree in psychology provides a strong foundation, but becoming a psychologist typically requires a doctoral degree, clinical experience, and state licensure. Some doctoral programs accept students directly from a bachelor’s program, while others may require a master’s degree. Students pursuing a doctorate can choose between a Ph.D., which typically emphasizes research and scholarship, and a Psy.D., which typically emphasizes clinical practice.

A large classroom of students listening to a lecture at Willamette

How Do I Become a Therapist with a Psychology Degree?

A bachelor’s degree in psychology alone does not qualify you to practice independently as a licensed mental health counselor. That career typically requires a relevant master’s degree, supervised clinical experience, and licensure. Psychology graduates can also investigate support roles in mental health and social services while considering further education.

A student talking and holding a blue pen in a classroom

How Do I Become a Psychiatrist with a Psychology Degree?

A psychology degree can also be a starting point for becoming a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who diagnose and treat mental and behavioral health conditions. A psychology degree does not qualify you to practice medicine. If you want to become a psychiatrist, you’ll need to complete the courses required for medical school, take the MCAT, earn a medical degree, and complete a psychiatry residency. 

At Willamette, we offer on-campus pre-health advising. Students can review which courses they need or chat with advisors about how to earn clinical hours. Pursuing a doctoral degree can be intimidating, but we offer courses, events, and advising to help you pursue advanced degrees in medicine.

Two students studying on a couch at The Bistro

Where a Psychology Degree Can Take You

At Willamette, our students have pursued a variety of paths through their psychology degree. Some students pursue master's degrees and doctoral degrees while other students explore career opportunities right after they graduate. Here are some examples of how our psychology students have used their education:

  • Internships

    • Bridgeway Community Health
    • Center for Hope and Safety
    • Child Protective Services
    • Family Building Blocks
    • Oregon State Hospital
    • Planned Parenthood
    • Providence Nursing Center
    • Salem Keizer School District
    • The Dougy Center 
    • Volunteers of America

  • Employers

    • Accenture
    • Alaska Airlines
    • Center for Hope and Safety
    • Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline
    • Department of Health and Human Services
    • John Jay
    • Kaiser Permanente
    • Northwest Human Services
    • Salem Health
    • SAP
    • Starcom
    • Teach for America

  • Graduate Programs

    • California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo
    • Columbia University
    • Lewis & Clark Graduate School of Education and Counseling
    • Portland State University
    • University of Oregon
    • University of Washington
    • Willamette University
    • Yale University
“Be open to where your heart leads you, and be surprised. Smaller schools make it easier to get more direct, hands-on research experience.”
Gale Lucas BA’05

Why Choose Willamette for Psychology?

Situated in downtown Salem, Willamette students are within walking distance of a variety of government agencies, hospitals, and organizations. Build connections with Salem Health, the Oregon State Hospital, the Oregon Department of Human Services, and the State of Oregon. Students have the opportunity to build strong connections that can propel them forward in their careers.

Willamette provides students with a large alumni network that spans across the globe. Meet other graduates who can offer career support and guide you through your career.

Our Powerful Proximity
Alumni

Research projects aren't just reserved for graduate students. Instead, undergraduate students can collaborate with professors on research projects, conduct their own research, present at conferences, and publish in journals. We offer academic credit for internships, allowing students to complete research or fieldwork that applies to the real world. Some research projects from students include:

  • Comparing Personality Assessments from Archival “Self-Report” and “Informant-Report” Interviews
  • In Their Own Words: How Asian American College Students Define and are Influenced by the Model Minority Stereotype
  • How Do Informant-Report Archival Interviews Capture Personality Characteristics? Holistic and Atomistic Approaches
Psychology Courses

Consider challenging your perspective through a study abroad opportunity. We partner with locations across the globe to help you pursue your academic and personal interests. We also offer a variety of student clubs that are academic, social, and cultural. Consider joining clubs such as Psychology Club or Health Professions Club to meet like-minded peers.

Study Abroad
Clubs

When you choose to major in psychology at Willamette, you'll find yourself in a supportive academic community. Our small class sizes foster one-on-one connections with professors, offering help outside the classroom. You’ll gain hands-on experience through integrated experiences. Choose a senior internship where you work with a community-based agency or an advanced senior seminar that results in an advanced paper. You can even conduct research with a faculty member as an internship.

Career advising can help you explore graduate programs, identify career paths, and connect what you learn in psychology to your goals after graduation. In fact, students can take courses about career planning for psychology careers.

Professors
Career Center

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