If you have the desire to help people as a career, then the area of social work might very well be your area of expertise. And as human nature has it, most people do. Not all, but a good number of them. That might be why Psychology tends to be one of the more popular choices to major in.
Discussing the subject of Psychology comes with great prestige and intellect. Its subject matter goes as far back as the days of Greek mythology and is arguably one of the top subjects of early education. So, it’s natural that students tend to gravitate toward this well-respected subject. Delving into the questions of human life, matter and our very existence can be intriguing. It will always remain one of the most interesting subjects in the collegiate curriculum, but once you cross the stage and receive your diploma, the next question is usually this:
What Can I Do With a Degree in Psychology?
The answer is simple: A lot! You just have to do the research.
If you’re going to spend thousands of dollars learning a profession, then it’s wise to learn how it applies to life today.
The stereotypical notion of working in the Psychology field for some people is the vision of scribbling on an iPad sitting on a leather chair while your patient reclines on a leather couch talking about his or her issues. The truth is you can do even more with a degree in Psychology. Becoming a doctor is just one of the options!
It’s all about taking the analytical skills and theories you learn in the degree program and applying it to real-world situations. Whether you are a social worker, school counselor, or therapist of any kind, the bachelor’s degree that you earn in Psychology will help job seekers seriously consider you for the position.
The Subject of Psychology is Versatile to Everyday Life
In fact, Psychology is applicable to almost any job field. If you expect to work with people, you’ll need to work with them in a harmonious environment for the good of the company’s overall mission and culture. As the saying goes, “One bad apple can spoil the whole bunch.” Whether you are the “bad apple” or someone else is, in the workforce, people need to be handled accordingly as personalities vary and it’s extremely important that one is not offended to the point where he or she feels that they have been lawfully wronged. That’s just bad!
Applying What You Learn in College to Life
Acquiring the skill set of understanding general psychology can make all of the difference between loving your job or dreading getting up in the morning to go to work!
People in general have the power to make an environment, encounter, relationship—personal or professional, pleasant or bad. While humans instinctively react to actions, whether it’s physical or mental, the art of Psychology gives us the tools to think, assess, and react accordingly in a civilized matter, evolving from the primal instincts of long ago.
How do we do this?
We do this by applying the courses that Florida National University (FNU), a regionally accredited university, offers in our Bachelor of Science in Psychology degree program. This intensive 120-credit-hour program is designed to prepare students for entry-level positions in the field of psychology. The type of courses included in this curriculum will teach students about the basics of the profession starting off with a general understanding of Human Growth and Development, General Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, and of course the foundation of it all, math!
You might wonder what math has to do with psychology, and the answer is everything! A great deal of psychology’s data is based off of an intensive amount of research that involves the use of statistical calculations. So knowing and understanding how to calculate findings is absolutely critical to the psychology profession because this type of research is what confirms progress.
Research the Profession
It’s best to learn about the profession before making the decision to master it. Not only should you find out what type of jobs you can get with a bachelor’s in Psychology, it’s also recommended to take the time to interview people working in this industry for your own personal assessment. The interview doesn’t have to be formal. Just a quick phone call may do, but if you can manage to have a cup of coffee with one of these professionals, that’s even better! You might even stumble upon a mentor!
More About FNU’s Bachelor’s in Psychology
FNU’s Bachelors of Science in Psychology offers two different concentrations: Mental Health and Additional Studies.
This is the concentration that most students may be more familiar with as it may be the reason why they may have chosen to enroll in this program in the first place. In this concentration, you’ll focus solely on the mental aspect of psychology learning the nature of the mind and natural behavior.
At the same time, you’ll be achieving a balance of the basic psychological principles, research methods and theories. With this skillset, students with this degree will be equipped to apply their knowledge toward development, counseling, and developmental disabilities.
Here are some of the courses you can expect to take under this concentration:
| Autism Spectrum Disorders |
| Psychology of Health and Illness |
| Crisis Intervention |
| Cultural Diversity in Health Care |
Additional Studies
The second concentration option is Additional Studies, which focuses more on the psychology behind substance abuse. Understanding the psychology behind addictive behavior is what you’ll be focusing on in this particular block of study. Psychology Today states “…most addictive behavior is not related to either physical tolerance or exposure to cues.” So in that light, here are some of the courses you can expect to take under this concentration:
| Substance Abuse Prevention |
| Relapse Prevention |
| Introduction to Group Counseling |
| Psychopharmacology |
If you’re interested in pursuing a career in Psychology, then consult an FNU advisor at any one of our campuses in the Miami and Hialeah area today.
