Psychology has been considered as one of the most fascinating fields which fundamentally examines the way people think, feel and act. Psychologists observe every aspect of human consciousness, memory as well as the basic functions of the brain. Psychology is undoubtedly a challenging major however, it is also one of the most sought-after majors around the world. After receiving a bachelor’s degree in psychology, it is possible to be employed in various fields. Students can study BA (Bachelor of Arts) in psychology or BS (Bachelor of Science) in psychology depending on the related university’s program. While BA programs open up career options in fields like criminal justice, law, business and journalism, BS graduates are generally qualified as psychiatric technicians, lab assistants, career counselors, and case workers.
You can choose from any of the top American colleges or universities that offer the best psychology programs to acquire your degree or certificate as an international student. Every state in the US has a number of reputable universities offering top-notch psychology degrees with a range of specializations. In American universities, the department of psychology is the part of Humanities and Sciences. Therefore, psychology programs are offered as Bachelor/ Master of Arts.
The prior advantage of studying psychology in the USA is the wide variety of career opportunities. Since psychology is in high demand, there are also several fields in you can pursue a career which is also offerring attractive salaries. Furthermore, it is possible to apply for jobs in other countries since the diploma you get from many American universities is recognized internationally.
Psychology students can choose a variety of career paths. The most common ones are clinical psychologist, educational psychologist, guidance counselor, child and family psychologist, drug and alcohol counselor, career counselor, and community projects leader.
The most significant skills you need to have can be listed as:
There are some specifications if you would like to understand whether psychology is right for you or not. These specifications are being an empathetic and open-minded person, enjoying solving problems, being a good listener and paying attention to the smallest details. Moreover since psychology is among the competitive majors, patience and hard work will be needed. If you have these qualities, a psychology major is likely to be right for you.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology generally takes four to five years while a master’s degree in psychology can be completed in two or three years in the United States of America.
The best universities to study psychology in the USA are Stanford University, University of California (Berkeley), Harvard University, and University of California (Los Angeles).
In the USA, BA in psychology admission requirements include high school diploma, personal statement, taking the ACT or SAT along with a minimum score of 6.5 from the IELTS. On the other hand, psychology programs for master’s degree require a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field of study, a score of around 310 on GRE, minimum 3.5 GPA out of 4.0 as well as minimum score of 7-7.5 from IELTS. However, it is important to note that the requirements depend on the university.