Graduate School
If you are considering attending graduate school to earn an advanced degree in psychology or neuroscience, then you should thoroughly explore this website using the links above and talk frequently with Psychology & Neuroscience advisors and professors. Below are answers to frequently asked questions about the psychology major and graduate school.
Do psychology majors have to go to graduate school to have a good career? No. Nationwide, a majority of psychology majors -- about 6 out of 10 -- will complete their education with a Bachelor's degree and enter careers in business, human services, psychology, education, criminal justice, medicine & allied health or other career fields. Psychology and neuroscience majors who intend not to go on to graduate school should engage in career development activities throughout their college years. (Click on the "career development" link the menu on the left to learn more.)
Do you have to go to graduate school to become a psychologist? Yes. No matter whether your goal is to become a psychological scientist, a clinical or counseling psychologist, a forensic psychology or sport psychologist you will have to go to graduate school. An undergraduate degree in psychology provides you with broad knowledge of the field. A graduate degree will provide you with training for a career in a specialized area of psychology.
Are psychology majors limited to graduate degrees in psychology? No. Your undergraduate degree in psychology can help you acquire cutting edge skills through courses on the most profound of all questions: the why and how of human behavior and thought. Psychology and neuroscience majors can enter a wide variety of graduate programs. Psychology majors who go on to earn a Master’s degree (2-year program) are most likely to enter programs in counseling psychology, school psychology, education, business, or health but some will go on to other fields. Of those psychology majors who later earn a Doctorate degree (4-year program), about 75% will earn a degree in psychology, but others will earn degrees in medicine, law, business or another field. If you want to major in psychology or neuroscience and then go to graduate school in a different discipline, you should begin researching graduate programs in that discipline and find out which courses and co-curricular experiences they recommend.
The IU Health Professions and Pre-Law Center (HPPLC) supports students preparing for for medical school, law school, or for a variety of health professions including occupational therapy, physical therapy, dentistry, nursing, and more.
Students considering graduate study in any discipline should explore the IU Career Development Center's graduate school page and Drew University's very helpful site.
