California is the most populous U.S state. Its economy is the 12th largest economy in the world. Some of its most prominent industries are government, healthcare and social assistance. The state is home to numerous institutes for higher education that offer programs in various areas of study. Students who are interested in psychology can also find plenty of programs in the state. California boasts some of the top-rated psychology schools in the nation according to U.S News and World Report. This why pursuing programs in this area of study in California gives students an edge in a competitive job market. The employment for psychologists is expected to grow by 22% between 2010 and 2020, according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.
Being a psychologist may possibly enable you to get involved in work that is satisfying, helping people overcome their mental, behavioral and emotional problems. They also develop programs to improve schools and workplaces by addressing psychological problems. In addition, they develop treatment plans in order to help people get over various disorders.
Psychology Schools in California
The psychology schools in California enable students to improve their prospects for having careers in the field of psychology. Learners in these programs learn about the functioning of brain as well as how to diagnose and treat different emotional and mental issues. California’s psychology schools are known for their curriculum as well as extraordinary faculty that includes industry leaders.
Types of Programs
Students interested in the field of psychology can pursue the doctorate programs in psychology. These programs vary in focus. The experimental psychology programs prepare students for research and academic careers while clinical and school psychology programs help students serve in schools or clinics.
The PhD programs are offered in various area of study such as clinical, cognitive, developmental, health, learning and behavior and social psychology. In these programs, learners may be required to serve as teaching assistants in an undergraduate class in addition to completing classroom-based learning. Additionally, students in the clinical programs need to complete a supervised internship as well.
Some of the courses of study students can pursue in the psychology programs are statistics, research design, biological and cognitive/affective bases of behavior, and social basis of behavior and individual differences.
Employment Opportunities
The employment of industrial-organizational psychologists is expected to increase by more than 29% from 2010 to 2020, as reported by O*NET. This is due to the fact that organizations use psychologists to help select and retain employees and potentially increase productivity. the O*NET also reports that jobs for clinical psychologists are expected to grow by up to 28%, as more psychologists will possibly be required to help people deal with depression and other mental disorders, job stress, and addiction.
Psychologists can work in a variety of settings including hospitals, schools, clinics and business settings. The median annual salary of Industrial-Organizational Psychologists was $83,580 in May 2012, as reported by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. The compensation is subject to the area of specialty, location and experience. According to the BLS, the ones who want to find the best prospects should earn a doctorate degree in an applied specialty or a doctoral degree in school psychology.