You have probably watched shows on TV that focus on the forensic element of police work. A few shows even highlight the role of the forensic psychologist to try to "get inside the head of the killer." The truth is, forensic psychology is much more than a story line on a hit show on TV. Real people doing important work use forensic psychology every day. If you think you have what it takes to succeed in this field, this might just be the perfect major for you! As a forensic psychology major, you will cover a variety of topics, including the understanding and treatment of various offenders, trauma and crisis intervention, substance abuse, and group therapy. In addition, curriculum covers legal issues that affect forensic psychology practice; how to asses legal questions asked to forensic psychologists; and ethics. Many programs conclude with fieldwork and clinical exams. Those interested in becoming forensic psychologists might earn a Bachelor's degree, Master's degree, or Doctoral degree in forensic psychology. College courses are delivered in a variety of settings. Some utilize a typical classroom setting, while others may use field trips, internships, and fieldwork in environments such as courts, jails/prisons, law firms, or community mental health agencies. Career opportunities exist in a number of the previously mentioned fieldwork areas for individuals holding a degree in forensic psychology.

Psychology internships give students the chance to work with real patients in the field—invaluable experience for those aspiring to become psychology professionals. Interns benefit from the didactic and experiential learning that arises from working onsite at a Veterans Affairs Office, a school, or a private clinic. While on the job, psychology interns develop entry-level skills such as performing comprehensive assessments and providing treatment based on evidence and context. Because psychology professionals operate under a code of conduct to ensure safety and ethicality, internships also train students to act as part of a professional community. Interns learn to become advocates for their patients when working with other mental health professionals, for example. They also provide consultation and incorporate professional resources into their practice. Having practical experience directs psychology interns into a variety of careers. This entails becoming a resident counselor at universities, mental health clinics, and hospitals, or working in criminal law as a forensic psychologist, or promoting holistic health as a sports psychologist. Psychology internships are also extremely valuable for students entering or working through a graduate program.

What do President Obama, Lady Gaga, and Cristiano Ronaldo have in common? They are all on the list of the top 20 most followed on Twitter. Twitter and Facebook are two of the fastest social networking platforms, providing real-time updates of what is trending around the world—Jack Bauer would be proud. Social media has played a key role in such newsworthy events as the Arab Spring and Occupy Wall Street movements, as well as the media frenzies over Charlie Sheen’s “Winning” season and Anthony Weiner’s… well you know. Businesses can incorporate relevant ideas found in social psychology to improve the effectiveness of their online marketing and social media strategies. Social psychology explores the ways in which people are influenced by their perceptions of the thoughts, feelings, attitudes, and behaviors of others. Here are five of these principles that provide greater insight into consumers’ thoughts and behaviors. Applying these concepts will enable your business to maximize the effectiveness of the content in your social media initiatives. Let’s take a closer look at why they work and how your business can implement these successful strategies. Why is Everyone Singing “Call Me Maybe?” We often compare ourselves to others in order to assess our own abilities, strengths, thoughts, and feelings. In psychology, this is known as the . We socially compare ourselves to others when there is no precedent as to how to behave in a particular situation. For instance, individuals may be inspired to post a Facebook status that refers to events they are attending if they observe that their friends have posted about the event. It’s always easier to admit you’re listening to Carly Rae Jepsen’s “Call Me Maybe” when you know you’re in good company. Socially comparing ourselves to others is an automatic process that occurs quickly, without much thought; therefore, we tend to compare ourselves to anyone who may be around, rather than to people with whom we share similar backgrounds and comparable experiences. However, once we’ve made this initial judgment, we take a step back and determine if this comparison is helpful. Businesses use social comparison to benchmark and surpass the competition, as well as social media endorsements, some of which incorporate celebrities, to provide sincere testimonials about the product. It’s common practice to examine the competition; however, those that are cognizant of the benefits of social comparison go beyond noting similarities and differences. In order to become the paradigm user of social media, these companies need to establish themselves as early adopters and trend-setters. For example, if a website designer is deciding whether a Facebook format should be switched to a timeline format, he or she might examine a competitor’s website to review its profile layout. After comparing the formats, the web master might elect to switch designs to highlight the company’s history and provide easier access to past events for its fan base. However, the true trend-setters are forward- thinking and drive innovation, rather than react to what their competition is doing. Social comparison can be used not only to keep up with the competition, but more importantly, to stay one step ahead of them. Users of social media pride themselves on staying current by being aware of what is trending at any given time. Want to know who to thank for the whole world singing “Call Me Maybe?” One viral video from the Biebs and quite a few Disney stars, followed by reposts from their friends and followers, started this trend and jumpstarted Carly’s career. The listening and viewing habits of people are greatly influenced by what they perceive everyone else as doing. Celebrities with a huge fan base are often the most influential, as was the case with this song. Users often adopt the preferences of their “friends” as their own. Integrating fresh and relevant content will attract consumers interested in boosting their social media influence. These consumers are applying the principles of social comparison when they advance the trending content of businesses to increase their social media presence… a win/win situation. People who share common views are drawn to one another, so content should be updated to reflect the interests of the target market. Do some research! Check out the profiles of those who are following and friending the company’s social media profile and tweak the content to create a profile that appeals to and personifies typical followers and customers. This process may prove time-consuming; however, the results will reflect the additional effort. More people will be drawn to the profile and view it more frequently. This additional viewership should ultimately translate into more conversions.

NLPA does not restrict membership to anyone, everyone is welcome to join (you do not need to be of Latino/a heritage to join).We encourage professionals to invite fellow colleagues, students, undergraduates and graduates to join NLPA. Memberships are offered on a yearly basis so it is pertinent to renew your membership for your organization or a personal membership to continue receiving the many benefits offered by NLPA. Membership Benefits: Receive the NLPA Newsletter Access to NLPA Electronic Communication List Special member prices for biennial conference and job postings Voting privileges Networking opportunities Opportunity for advocacy and mentorship in Latino psychology Journal of Latina/o Psychology (Published Quarterly) And much more! To join, click on the membership type you are interested in below. Institution Any corporation, organization, institution, foundation, and/or membership groups at the local, state, national, or international level may apply. Early Career Professionals/ Professionals Individuals just starting their professional life within ten years of graduating from a graduate or undergraduate program may apply for the Early Career Professional NLPA membership. Ten years after graduating from an undergraduate/graduate institution, the individual must apply for the Professional NLPA membership. Professional: $95 Early Career Professionals: $75 Student Individuals currently enrolled in an undergraduate institution may apply for the NLPA student membership and any enrolled in a graduate program may apply for the NLPA Graduate student membership. Lifetime Member Members have the potential benefit of paying one standard price for a lifetime of NLPA’s many benefits. Allied Professional Members Individuals with a graduate degree in the areas of mental health or related field and/or a demonstrated commitment to strengthen the mental health and/or wellbeing of Latina/o communities. International Member Professional, Student, or Community members who are from a country other than the United States and/or reside outside the US. Community Member Individuals whose education and training are from a discipline other than psychology but whose professional interest and efforts demonstrate a commitment to Latina/o Psychology, Hispanic/Latina/o populations.

Are you looking for a less traditional internship with a diverse set of clients? If so, try taking your psychology training to prison. Students say the setting offers experience with an underserved population ranging in age, ethnicity and social class. However, interns also face work with clients who are qualitatively different from nonoffenders. "It can be a very challenging environment, but it can also be very rewarding, " says Michael Hagan, PhD, chief psychologist and training director at the Ethan Allen School, a juvenile corrections facility. "I see no more effective way of helping victims of crime than to treat the perpetrator of the crime and make it so they don't victimize people in the future." Indeed, students are often drawn to the chance to make a positive difference in inmates' lives, Hagan says. Not to mention, internships in corrections tend to offer students stipends as high as $40, 000 at most federal facilities-considerably more than what they'd earn in traditional clinical settings. As such, more students seem to be looking for corrections internships-and job opportunities-in the growing specialty area of forensics, says Maureen Burris, PhD, a forensic psychologist and training director at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. But, what is it like to be a psychology intern in a correctional facility? gradPSYCH highlights three APA-accredited programs to find out. ETHAN ALLEN SCHOOL WALES, WISCONSIN When fifth-year doctoral student Adam Zagelbaum first began graduate school at Ball State University, he never imagined he'd complete his internship at a juvenile detention center. However, his interest in working with troubled children and adolescents outweighed his doubts, and he helped such youth at the Ethan Allen School Clinical Services Unit of the Wisconsin Division of Juvenile Corrections. Zagelbaum, who finished his internship in August, was one of five interns who work with the facility's 320 male offenders, who are between the ages of 10 and 25 and have perpetrated a violent crime or failed a treatment program. While the core of the internship is at Ethan Allen School, interns also do rotations one day a week for six months at Southern Oaks Girls School, another juvenile center. Interns screen and treat youth at the facilities for psychological disturbances, such as conduct and anxiety disorders. They also work with new arrivals who experience adjustment issues, like stress or homesickness. "The rewards of seeing [the youth] mature right before your eyes are huge, " says Zagelbaum about his work there. The measure of success might be as small as a teen completing a homework assignment, Zagelbaum says, but "around here, many of these are kids not accustomed to that type of success." Providing such psychological services to the children and teenagers requires interns to be both savvy and confident, Hagan says. "Interns have to balance a healthy skepticism toward individuals with significant deficits while at the same time believe they are treatable, " he says. While Zagelbaum admits that he at first doubted whether the youth would be receptive to treatment, he found the teens were open to working with psychologists to make changes in their lives. "They are in an unfamiliar setting where they feel pressure, " he explains. "They find relief that there is someone out there who cares about their adjustment and cares about them as a person." Working with children and adolescents who are in need of such counseling is what drew fellow intern Melissa Caldwell, PhD, who completed her doctoral degree in May 2003 at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Even though Caldwell had already completed a non-APA accredited internship during her final two years of her graduate program, she still wanted to do an internship with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections. "I come from a very research-oriented program where most students go into academe, " Caldwell says. "I love research and teaching, but I'm really passionate about this work [in corrections] and being able to work with an underserved population." Although not all interns choose to work in corrections after they graduate, Hagan says the experience is valuable either way. The internship helps to build interns' confidence in their abilities to work with different populations, he adds. "If you can work with a kid who has conduct problems and is depressed, you can also work with a kid who is just depressed, " he says. METROPOLITAN DETENTION CENTER LOS ANGELES Doctoral student Lynette Small wanted an internship that allowed her to work with a diverse range of adults, such as inmates from different cultures and social classes. At the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles, she does exactly that, treating inmates at a federal jail for such issues as anxiety and adjustment disorders as well as conducting court-ordered psychological evaluations for inmates awaiting trial. At the detention center, Small is one of three psychology interns who conduct psychological screenings and assessments for 1, 000 male and female inmates awaiting sentencing or already serving a sentence. "Working with this population is so fascinating to me because inmates have such a varied background and history and a wide variety of mental health issues, " says Small, a clinical psychology student at the Illinois School of Professional Psychology who completes her doctoral program and internship this month. For example, while she mostly provides short-term therapy to inmates, Small has one long-term case for the entire year: She provides cognitive-behavioral therapy to a client to address anger management issues. Small also is undergoing the internship program's three rotations: Forensics-interns complete federal court-ordered mental health evaluations, such as determining whether an inmate is competent to stand trial. General population-interns address such issues as adjustment, substance abuse and suicide prevention by conducting group therapy sessions and crisis management. Mental health-interns assess and treat inmates with serious mental illnesses, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. To add to the diversity of the training experience, interns also spend one day a week working off-site at a noncorrectional setting, such as a community mental health center or a psychiatric inpatient facility, says Burris, the training director for psychology interns at the facility. "[Interns] learn to negotiate in a multilevel system, and they develop skills in working with people from different cultures, religious backgrounds and develop more tolerance for looking at the world, " Burris says. For example, Small says interns have to learn how to negotiate working with other professionals whose perspectives on addressing inmate needs may be different. But, Small says, psychologists can counter this by helping inmates turn around their lives for the better so when they are released, they don't repeat past mistakes. FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL COMPLEX BUTNER, NC Being able to shift gears quickly is important for Susan Knight, PhD, a recent graduate of the University of Louisville who completed her internship in August. As one of seven psychology interns at the Federal Correctional Complex (FCC) in Butner, NC, she faced a variety of clinical situations each day in her work at the complex, which offers services to more than 3, 000 adult inmates in a medical center and medium-, low- and minimum-security prisons.

Clinical psychologists help clients deal with problems. Creatas Images/Creatas/Getty Images Psychology is broadly defined as the study of the human mind and its functions, and over time, the field has become divided into three sub-disciplines: clinical, counseling and research psychology. Clinical and counseling psychology are similar in that both involve diagnostic and therapeutic interaction between the psychologist and the client, but clinical psychologists focus on helping clients deal with mental or emotional problems and disabilities, while counseling psychologists help people adjust to changing family, career and personal situations. Research psychologists conduct a wide range of studies on the relationship between mind and behavior. Undergraduate Degree An undergraduate degree is the first step toward becoming a clinical psychologist. Practicing clinical psychologists have undergraduate degrees in many fields. While a bachelor's in psychology is the most common undergrad degree, many clinical psychologists earned a bachelor's in sociology, anthropology, education or even premed. Master's Degree Most, but not all, clinical psychologists also have master's degrees. All will have taken similar coursework, but some graduate schools offer straight-to-P.hD. programs that don't involve a master's. Completing a master's level program is the minimum qualification for clinical psychologists, and most go on to earn a P.hD. or Psy.D. terminal degree. Most school psychologists have a master's degree or specialist (Ed.S.) degree. Related Reading: Social Work Vs. Clinical Psychology Doctorate Most clinical psychologists have earned a doctoral degree. A Ph.D. in psychology is considered a research degree, and requires an original dissertation. Clinical and counseling grad students are usually required to undertake a one-year internship at the end of their doctoral program. A Psy.D. is considered a clinical degree, and typically requires practical research as well as written and/or oral examinations. Clinical Psychologist Salaries Clinical psychologists earned an annual median salary of $66, 810 as of May 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is just slightly less than the annual median salary of $68, 640 for all types of psychologists. Employment prospects for psychologists are good, with job positions expected to grow by 22 percent through 2020.

Now that you have a better understanding of what social psychology is, we are going to look at some of the major topics that social psychologists investigate in their research. Many of these topics are related to social influence, social perception and social interaction. The following are just a few of the areas of interest within social psychology. 1. Social Cognition Social cognition is concerned with the processing, storage and application of social information. This research area is closely related to the field of cognitive psychology, this research area focuses largely on the concept of schemas. Schemas are our general ideas about the world, how things are and how things work. These mental shortcuts allow us to function without constantly stopping to interpret everything around us. We also develop associations between related schemas, which plays an important role in the thought process and social behavior. 2. Attitudes and Attitude Change Another major research area in social psychology involves the study of attitudes. Social psychologists are interested in the components of attitudes, how attitudes develop and how attitudes change. Researchers have described three core components of attitude: an affective component, a behavioral component and a cognitive component. Often referred to as the "ABC's of attitude, " these elements describe how we feel, behave and understand. 3. Violence and Aggression What causes violence and aggression? Social psychologists are interested in how and why people engage in violence or act aggressively. Research in this area looks at numerous factors that may cause aggression including social variables and media influences. Researchers often look at the role social learning plays in producing aggressive behaviors and actions. 4. Prosocial Behavior Prosocial behavior is another major research area in social psychology. What is prosocial behavior? Prosocial behaviors are those that involve helping and cooperating. Researchers often look at why people help others, as well as why they sometimes refuse to help or cooperate. The bystander effect is an example of a social phenomenon in the subject area. Much of the research in this area was prompted by the murder of a young woman named Kitty Genovese. This case captured national attention when reports revealed that neighbors had witnessed her attack and murder, but failed to call the police for help. Research inspired by the case produced a great deal of information on prosocial behavior and how and why people choose - or sometimes refuse - to help others. 5. Prejudice and Discrimination Prejudice, discrimination and stereotypes exist in any social group. Social psychologists are interested in the origins, causes and effects of these types of attitudes and social categorizations. How does prejudice develop? Why are stereotypes maintained in the face of contrary evidence? These are just a few of the questions social psychologists seek to answer. 6. Self and Social Identity Our perceptions of social identities and ourselves are another important research area in social psychology. How do people come to know and understand themselves? How do these self-perceptions affect our social interactions? Social psychologists are interested in learning more about how this inner life influences our outer lives and social world. Self-awareness, self-esteem, self-concept, and self-expression are just a few of the factors that influence our social experience. 7. Group Behavior The behavior of groups is one of the largest research areas in social psychology. Most people realize that groups tend to behave differently than individuals. These group behaviors are sometimes beneficial and positive, but they can also be detrimental and negative. Social psychologists often look at topics such as group dynamics, leadership, group decision-making, conflicts, cooperation and group influence. 8. Social Influence Social psychologists are also interested in the role that social influence has on behavior and decision-making. Topics such as the psychology of persuasion, peer pressure, conformity and obedience are just a few of those studied in this area of social psychology. Research has helped reveal the power of social influence and has uncovered ways to help people resist influence. 9. Interpersonal Relationships Social relationships play a major role in shaping behavior, attitudes, feelings and thoughts. Social psychologists study how these interpersonal relationships affect people by looking at attachment, liking, love and attraction. How do close relationships affect individuals? How important are these interpersonal relationships? These are just a few of the questions social psychologists seek to explain.

A wide range of research methods are used in psychology. These methods vary by the sources of information that are drawn on, how that information is sampled, and the types of instruments that are used in data collection. Methods also vary by whether they collect qualitative data, quantitative data or both. Qualitative psychological research is where the research findings are not arrived at by statistical or other quantitative procedures. Quantitative psychological research is where the research findings result from mathematical modeling and statistical estimation or statistical inference. Since qualitative information can be handled as such statistically, the distinction relates to method, rather than the topic studied. There are three main types of psychological research: The following are common research designs and data collection methods: Research designs vary according to the period(s) of time over which data are collected: Research in psychology has been conducted with both animals and human subjects: References [edit] Stangor, Charles. (2007). Research Methods for the Behavioral Sciences . 3rd ed. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Company. Weathington, B.L., Cunningham, C.J.L., & Pittenger, D.P. (2010). Research Methods for the Behavioral and Social Sciences . Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

APAGS grants and awards are available to graduate student members of APAGS who are enrolled at least half time as a student in good standing at a regionally accredited university. Students who join as a graduate student affiliate are members of APAGS; students who are members of APA as undergraduate student affiliates, associate member or other member status, must change their status to graduate student affiliate prior to applying for this grant. Undergraduates are not eligible to apply for these grants, nor are current or former APAGS committee members, subcommittee chairs and task force chairs. In addition, former APAGS subcommittee members or ad hoc reviewers who have previously reviewed this grant are not eligible. Previous recipients of each grant are not eligible to apply again for a period of five years. Each application must include all of the following materials: An abbreviated curriculum vitae (not to exceed two pages single-spaced) highlighting research experience and accomplishments. An abbreviated research proposal (not to exceed three pages single-spaced) that includes specific aims, background, significance, proposed research methodology, implications of proposed research and detailed budget. Any figures, tables or appendices must fit within the page limit but the references section may be on a separate page. The research proposal will be evaluated based upon the quality of the background/introduction, project motivation/rationale, proposed methodology and theoretical implications/overall merit. If you are resubmitting an application, you may provide a one-page cover letter describing your revisions. If you wish to be considered for the diversity-earmarked funding, you must upload a separate document limited to 250 words that explains (a) how this research applies to one or more areas of diversity, and (b) how the overall merit and broader implications of this study contribute to our psychological understanding of diversity. To be eligible for funding, your document must be titled “LAST NAME DIVERSITY SUPPLEMENT” and uploaded as a PDF. If your application is not selected for diversity-earmarked funding, you will still be considered in the general pool of applicants for this grant. Please submit materials 1, 2, and 3 in one PDF file, in the order listed above. Submissions with more than one upload (other than the diversity supplement) will not be reviewed. Please name the file “Last name_Award Name (abbreviated)_Year of submission”, so an example would be “Smith_BPSRG_2015”. If you are submitting for the diversity supplement, please upload item #4 as a second PDF file with “BPSRG-Diversity” as the award name in the file (e.g. “Smith_BPSRG-Diversity_2015). Look here for ways to merge files into one PDF. Submissions Please note the online system will close at 11:59 p.m. (ET) on the day of the deadline; all application materials must be submitted at that time. No mail submissions will be accepted. If you are not an APAGS member at the time of submission you may attach a copy of the receipt you get when you join APA/APAGS electronically as proof of your membership. Submit your application online. Please read this carefully : Approximately two months before an application is due, you will see this specific grant/award as a choice in the drop-down menu under “Grants” in the online submission form. Do not apply until the grant is listed in this menu as your application will not be accepted. Check back periodically if you are waiting for a chance to submit. The online system will close immediately on the due date and time. Late submissions will not be accepted. You will receive notification of your award decisions two months after the due date. Spring David Arndt Jay Bettergarcia Jeffrey Bowen Kimberly Chaney Yara Mekawi Marykate Oakley Yasmine Omar Amy Rapp Marianne Rizk Maya Rossignac-Milon Ashley St. John Timothy Williamson Diversity Grant of the Basic Psychological Science Research Grant Amy Rapp Jay Bettergarcia Yara Mekawi Honorable Mentions (Honorable Mentions do not get funded, but receive certificates.) Shanna Cooper Shannon Duncan Jerika Norona Sheida Rabipour Yvette Szabo Chassitty Whitman William Woody Teresa Young Jenny Zhen-Duan Fall Nicholas W. Affrunti: University of Louisville Rodolfo Barragan: Stanford University Monica Patricia Burns: Harvard University David Eddie: Rutgers University Jonathan M. Gallegos: The Pennsylvania State University Sheena Jeswani: Fordham University Benjamin N. Johnson: The Pennsylvania State University Charles Lynch: Georgetown University Jennifer Marie Staples: University of Washington Diversity Grant of the Basic Psychological Science Research Grant David J. Lick: University of California, Los Angeles Nicholas Alexander Livingston: University of Montana

If you are fascinated by the human mind and behavior patterns, enrolling in a Psychology Graduate Programs offers you the opportunity to delve into an area that you are keen about, and perhaps want to research. Psychology is one of the fields where advanced study may translate into a range of potential career paths. Why? One of the reasons is that in order to actually call yourself a “psychologist” you need to be licensed. Licensing laws vary by state and the type of position you are looking into, but, consider this: Most clinical and counseling psychologists need a doctorate in psychology, an internship, at least 1 to 2 years of supervised professional experience, as well as to pass the Examination for Professional Practice in Psychology[i]. Now, maybe the type of career you aspire to doesn’t require a PhD or PsyD, but it may require a Masters in Psychology, so take a look inside a Psychology Graduate Program to see what your options are after your undergraduate degree. Explore which Psychology Graduate Degree might lead you closer to your academic and vocational goals. How to Choose a Psychology Graduate Program: On-campus or Online? One of the ways to approach your search for a Psychology Graduate Program is to determine whether you prefer to study on a college campus or in an online format. Some Psychology Graduate Schools may actually offer both formats, while others may not. You want to consider whether you have time to commute to class, or whether you need to schedule studying at your own pace. Also, whether you prefer the hands-on and social learning atmosphere or the independence of a distance-learning format. Once you have determined your program format, you can use these criteria on GradSchools.com to find online and on-campus programs. Graduate Schools can be found by location – so if you have always wanted to study in a specific city, state, or country, use these tabs to filter your results. Look for programs that are accredited. Accreditation for Psychology Graduate Programs The American Psychological Association (APA) accredits[ii]: Doctoral graduate programs in clinical, counseling and school psychology, as well as programs offering combinations of two or more of these areas. The primary professional degrees offered are the PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) and PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). Internship programs that are a required component of doctoral training Postdoctoral residency programs that provide professional preparation Be aware that the APA does not accredit schools or universities, or programs at the bachelor’s or master’s levels. Also, accreditation applies only to programs — it is not a credential that individuals can attain. Nonetheless, the U.S. Department of Education should have a list of legitimate Masters programs, and you should always refer to a dialogue with a prospective graduate school to discuss requirements, pre-requisites and whether their program might lead to preparing you for licensure. Choose an Area of Concentration Within Psychology Psychology is an extremely broad field. Your undergraduate years may have brought you into contact with some foundational subjects, but graduate-level programs in Psychology allow you to get more focused, more experienced and research a field that really draws you in. For instance, if you have a passion for sports, you might choose Sports Psychology Graduate Programs. On the other hand, if you know you would like to work with industry, you might choose an Organizational Psychology Graduate degree program. Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs might be the right fit for someone interested in the criminal justice system, or in working with victims of crime. We recommend you spend some time browsing the ‘Subject Selection’ to determine where your interests lie, or what the academic path is to practicing in that field. For many prospective students, it may come down to choosing between a clinical psychology graduate program or a counseling psychology grad program. Consider whether you are more of a researcher or aspire to a professional practice. FUN FACT: The American Board of Professional Psychology awards specialty certification in 15 areas of psychology, such as clinical health, couple and family, or rehabilitation[iii]. What Types of Psychology Graduate Programs Are There? We gave you a hint up top, but that only skims the surface. Psychology Graduate Programs are offered as Masters in Psychology, PhD and PsyD programs, as well as Graduate Certificates. There’s more? Masters in Psychology Programs A Masters Degree in Psychology is a graduate level degree that typically requires 2 to 3 years of study beyond the undergraduate degree. The most common types of Psychology Masters degrees are the Master of Arts (M.A.) and the Master of Science (M.S.) There are also Masters in Psychology Programs that prepare you to enter the workforce after graduate, and programs that prepare you for your doctorate degree. Thesis and non-thesis options are offered depending on your intentions. If you plan to study at the doctorate level, completing a thesis might be a good choice. If you plan to enter the workforce right away, a non-thesis option might be fine. Some of the listings you might encounter may include: MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Master of Arts in Psychology, General Psychology MS, Master of Arts in Counseling: Specialization in Forensic Psychology. Browse the Psychology Masters Programs . Doctorate in Psychology Programs Aiming higher academically? A Ph.D. or Doctor of Philosophy is one of the highest-level degrees achievable in the field of psychology. A doctorate degree might take between four to six years of additional graduate study after earning a bachelors degree. As an alternative to the Ph.D., students might choose a Psy.D. or Doctor of Psychology. The main difference is that the Ph.D. in Psychology focuses on the scientific model, emphasizing research, while the Psy.D. in Psychology focuses on the practitioner model and emphasizes clinical practice. Graduate Certificates in Psychology A post-master's graduate certificate in psychology is designed to help you develop skills sets and knowledge in a particular area of psychology beyond the master’s degree level. Other graduate certificates might require a Bachelor’s degree and be a way to gain expertise beyond your undergrad degree.