what can you do with a degree in psychology? the relevance of a liberal education, focused on the...
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What can you do with a degree in Psychology?
The relevance of a liberal education, focused on the social sciences,
to the workplace
The 1995 APA Survey of 1992 Psychology Baccalaureate
Recipients:
Grocer and Kohout (1997)
What Psychology Majors Actually Do After Graduation
.
Working full timeEmployed, in graduate schoolGraduate School full timeUmemployed50 25 14 6
Three Years After Graduation
53%
26%
15%6%
Working full time
Employed, ingraduate school
Graduate Schoolfull time
Umemployed
What Psychology Majors Do
Mangmnt/Research 22Health 17Teaching 13Admin. Assistant 9Sales 7Pro. Services 7Consulting 3Other 22
22
17
13
97 7
3
22
0
5
10
15
20
25
%
Mangmnt/Research
Health
Teaching
Admin. Assistant
Sales
Pro. Services
Consulting
Other
How well do social science majors do in the marketplace?
Horn, Zahn & Carroll (2001):
Major and Employment Outcomesof 1992–93 Bachelor’s Recipients WhoDid Not Enroll in Graduate EducationBy 1997.
NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS
Show me the money!
1994 1997Business 29,017 37,448Social sciences 23,166 33,463
29,017
23,166
37,448
33,463
20,000
22,000
24,000
26,000
28,000
30,000
32,000
34,000
36,000
38,000
40,000
Business Social sciences
1994
1997
Social science majors compared to math/physical science majors
1994 1997Math/physical sciences 25,958 31,565Social sciences 23,166 33,463
25,958
23,166
31,565
33,463
20,000
22,000
24,000
26,000
28,000
30,000
32,000
34,000
36,000
Math/physical sciences Social sciences
1994
1997
Compared to social work majors
1994 1997Social work/protective services 21,328 27,350Social sciences 23,166 33,463
21,328
23,166
27,350
33,463
20,000
22,000
24,000
26,000
28,000
30,000
32,000
34,000
36,000
Socialwork/protective
services
Social sciences
1994
1997
Compared to engineering majors1994 1997
Engineering/architecture 32,217 42,931Social sciences 23,166 33,463
32,217
23,166
42,931
33,463
20,000
25,000
30,000
35,000
40,000
45,000
En
gin
ee
rin
g/a
rch
itect
ure
So
cia
l sci
en
ces
1994
1997
GPA Does Matter!
< 3.0 32,0653.10–3.49 34,041> 3.49 35,777
GPA and Income
32,065
35,777
34,041
30,000
31,000
32,000
33,000
34,000
35,000
36,000
37,000
< 3.0
3.10–3.49
> 3.49
Summary of data on major and income:
Most psychology majors end up working in business, education and health.
After a slow start, psychology majors do well in the marketplace.
The advantages of being a business major wear off over time.
What skills do you need after university?
THE SECRETARY'S COMMISSION ON ACHIEVING NECESSARY SKILLS,U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
WHAT WORK REQUIRES OF SCHOOLS (2000)
Determining the skills
A panel of government, educational and industry leaders, representing:
IBM, Motorola, GTE, General Electric Company, Aetna Life and Casualty, Gregory Forest Products, UAW/Chrysler National Training Center, RJR Nabisco, MCI
The Skills
Basic skills (ERIC Identifier: ED339749)
ReadingWritingMathematicsSpeakingListening
The Skills
Thinking Skills
Creative ThinkingProblem-Solving SkillsDecision Making SkillsVisualization Skills
The Skills
People Skills
SocialNegotiation LeadershipTeamworkCultural Diversity
The Skills
Basic skills
Reading: Identify relevant details, facts, and specification; locate information in books/manuals, from graphs; find meaning of unknown words; judge accuracy of reports; use computer to find information.
The Skills
Basic skills:
Writing: Write ideas completely and accurately in letters and reports with proper grammar, spelling, and punctuation; check, edit, and revise for accuracy and emphasis, use computer to communicate information.
The Skills
Basic skills:
Mathematics: Use numbers, fractions, and percentages to solve problems; use tables, graphs, diagrams, and charts; use computer to enter, retrieve, change, and communicate numerical information.
The Skills
Basic skills:
Speaking: Organize and communicate ideas clearly; speak clearly; select language, tone of voice, and gestures appropriate to audience
The Skills
Basic skills:
Listening: Listen carefully to what person says, noting tone of voice, and other body language; respond in a way that shows understanding of what is said.
The Skills
Thinking skills:
Creative Thinking: Use imagination freely, combining ideas or information in new ways; make connections between ideas that seem unrelated.
The Skills
Thinking skills:
Problem-Solving Skills: Recognize problem; identify why it is a problem; create and implement a solution; watch to see how well solution works; revise as needed.
The Skills
Thinking skills:
Decision Making Skills: Identify goal; generate alternatives and gather information about them; weigh pros and cons; choose best alternative; plan how to carry out choice .
The Skills
Thinking skills:
Visualization: See a building or object by looking at a blueprint, drawing, or sketch; imagine how a system works by looking at a schematic drawing.
The Skills
People skills:
Social: Show understanding, friendliness, and respect for feelings; assert oneself when appropriate; take an interest in what people say and why they think and act as they do .
The Skills
People skills:
Negotiation: Identify common goals among different parties in conflict; clearly present the facts and arguments of your position; listen to and understand other party's position; create possible ways to resolve conflict; make reasonable compromises.
The Skills
People skills:
Leadership: Communicate thoughts and feelings to justify a position; encourage or convince others; make positive use of rules or values; demonstrate ability to have others believe in and trust you because of your competence and honesty.
The Skills
People skills:
Teamwork: Work cooperatively with others; contribute to group with ideas and effort; do own share of work; encourage team members; resolve differences for the benefit of the team; responsibly challenge existing procedures, policies, or authorities.
The Skills
People skills:
Cultural Diversity: Work well with people having different ethnic, social, or educational backgrounds; understand the concerns of members of other ethnic and gender groups; base impressions on behavior, not stereotypes; understand one's own culture, others’ and how they differ; respectfully help people make cultural adjustments when necessary.
How can you get these skills?
Liberal education specializing in the quantitative social sciences!
Especially by taking this course!