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I want to go back to school for psychology, but - sm

Posted: Sep 30, 2013

I've read on the internet that a bachelor's degree in psychology doesn't get you too far. There are a lot of jobs in my area (Boston) that require a bachelor's in psychology, mostly in social work/human services, which is what I want to do. Anyone here have a psychology degree or any advice?

I would check with a - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
local college...maybe they can give you some advice. Check with an academic counselor. In my experience they are always glad to help.

I have secondhand knowledge - Old Fogey

[ In Reply To ..]
A niece of my husband's had a bachelor's degree in psychology and told us at the last family reunion that we went to (maybe 10 years ago) she would not be able to do much with that degree as far as counseling; she could just counsel kids on drugs and that was about all. So she was going to go ahead and get a Master's.

and now - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
in many states you can't do D&A therapy w/o a master's and with the masters the pay is less than $45k.

Have a Bsc in Psychology. - Almost totally useless to be frank.

[ In Reply To ..]
The only use it has is to be able to say "I have a bachelor's degree."

If I had to do it over again, I would have picked something that could actually get me a job, like HIM, Software Engineering, Businessâ�¦

I wasn't really thinking enough about jobs too much when I picked my degree, only picked it because I found it interesting and I could get A's in the Major classes without much of an effort. I definitely did it all wrong!

why don't you go back and get your masters? - would be fun :)

[ In Reply To ..]
x

I would ask myself what the objective in obtaining the degree is--sm - anon

[ In Reply To ..]
My honest opinion is that a degree in psychology is primarily worth while as a stepping stone to obtaining a master's. Even school counsellors generally require a master's. I think a primary problem is that many people obtain a degree in psychology because it is interesting to them and that you really need to find something to differentiate yourself from the pool if you go that route. If this degree is needed for pursuing gainful employment in the future to support yourself and pay off any student loans acquired to obtain it, you may be better suited choosing a different major.

I do - SM

[ In Reply To ..]
It's true. A 4-year degree in psychology is a dime a dozen. If you want to work in social work/human services, then go for a social work degree.

Be forewarned, there's no money in social work/human services and I mean no money like MT kind of money.

I have a graduate degree in human services and on the east coast, the most I can make is $43-45k. That's why I still do MT, I make more than that and the stress is less.

It's appalling how little human services positions pay.

Depending on your age, just getting a degree in psychology is going to put you in some really, really stiff competition so you might want to really weigh the cost of school, your age, your potential earnings.

Good luck.

why psychology? - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
I thought I wanted this too. Turns out, I don't. I did my research. The type of jobs available now involve low pay and high stress, not to mention, life threatening scenarios. It will not be how you might idealize it.

I thought I would be sitting across from someone, sharing wisdom and changing lives. I've come to the conclusion that most people are victims and there is no getting through, and the mental health system is broken.

What are your goals with this profession and what do you see yourself doing?

Do more research ... lots more - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
Psychology at the undergraduate level is not a career program. It is basically just a college major. There are loads of graduates becauseit isn't terribly difficult, the market is flooded with them, and the unemployment is very high. It is a great choice for someone planning to get a PhD, but it is a poor choice as an end in itself.

If you are seeing jobs, it is because you live in a densely urban area that has some low-level positions in social services that they can't keep filled. High turnover in a few low-paid jobs is probably what you are seeing.

I know many people here aren't interested in HIM, but it is one of the best choices right now for jobs. Huge variety of job choices, good pay, and upward mobility. You don't need a master's degree to get a top level job, either.

Question - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
What is the difference between a bachelor's in HIM versus healthcare management? I have a 2 year degree in health information technology. I really don't want to go into coding. I do want to get my bachelor's degree, but I'm confused what the difference is between these two degrees.

The difference - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
As you know, there is more to both HIT and HIM than coding. You have already had training in it, so you should know if it appeals to you. If it does not, there are many other jobs in HIM that might. If you would like to see some current examples, there is an interactive career map on the AHIMA website.

Here is the World Health Organization description of HIM, from Wikipedia ..." Health information management professionals plan information systems, develop health policy, and identify current and future information needs. In addition, they may apply the science of informatics to the collection, storage, use, and transmission of information to meet the legal, professional, ethical and administrative records-keeping requirements of health care delivery.[1] They work with clinical, epidemiological, demographic, financial, reference, and coded healthcare data."

Healthcare management is different in that it does not deal specifically with *health information.* It is just general business-type management applied to healthcare.

A bachelor's degree in HIM or HIA (also called health information administration) is what you need for any positions in HIA, regardless of the level. A master's degree is not yet necessary, but is available either in HIA in general or in a specialty area like informatics. You can also do an RHIA program in informatics.

In healthcare management, however, a bachelor's degree is far less useful. There is little you can do with it other than saying you have a bachelor's degree. It is not going to qualify you for many more jobs than you are qualified for now. That is because the degree employers look for is the MBA or MHA (masters in healthcare administration). The MHA and MHA are very expensive degrees, employers look at the school you attended, and getting into the programs is difficult. You need a bachelor's to get into those programs.

In terms of utility, time, and cost, an HIA bachelors (with the RHIA) is a better idea. Once you have it, you can get an MBA or MHA if you like.

Thank you! - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

why wouldnt you just go for BSW? - or go for the masters in psychology

[ In Reply To ..]
i'm going for my BSW now.

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