Best Career Options is BA Psychology

Introduction

Psychology is, in many ways, a science. It studies the mind, human experiences and behaviors. This happens by using data of two kinds – biological and social. Many believe that psychologists can read minds. This is not true! However, this field studies human behaviors and experiences among individuals and groups. For students interested in this field, a BA Psychology would be the best option. 

BA Psychology stands for Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Depending on the college, this degree can take 3 to 4 years. Having a BA in Psychology will help you work as a psychologist in many areas. This includes work in research, medicine, rehabilitation centers and MNCs.

BA in psychology is a study of how behavior is affected by biology, society, thoughts and environmental factors. As part of course work, BA psychology students will have to do research. This could be as interns, volunteers or in clinical areas. Most courses have classes on psychological theories, research and statistical methods. There will also be classes on environment interaction and mental disorders. Some areas include developmental and organizational psychology as well as counselling. BA psychology graduates will also learn about the strict ethical standards in psychology.

You can also read our blog on Eligibility and Syllabus of Psychology.

Best Jobs for Psychology students

• Counsellor

Counsellors are doctors for the mind. They help people improve their mental well being. They work with clients to suggest reasonable goals and insights into their thoughts. Counsellors work with patients who have developmental or behavioral problems. They offer ways for clients to reach their goals. 

To be a licensed counsellor, one must also have a MA in psychology. Just like a doctor’s job, a counsellor needs to train under experienced psychologists before they are ready to practice. You can find jobs as a counsellor in various settings. Some of them include schools, career counselling and mental health counsellor. You can also work as a rehabilitation counsellor in de-addiction centers, juvenile justice homes and jails.

• Research Jobs

The field of psychology is expanding quickly. Every day, there are new insights into the human mind and behaviors. The world of psychological research is truly fascinating. So, if such experiments interest you, you can find a job as a psychological researcher. BA psychology trains you in research skills like statistics, testing and ethics. So, with a BA in psychology, you can find jobs with the profile of “research assistant” also known as an RA. This would be in colleges, universities or prominent institutes like NIMHANS. Besides, psychology researchers also find jobs at governmental and private organizations.

Many think tanks and charities hire psychologists to conduct research and develop therapies for conditions like mass trauma after natural disasters, speech problems, child development and drug abuse. Working with governmental agencies can also give you the power to use your skills to enact good community policies. 

• Criminology Jobs

Criminology is the science that studies the causes of criminal activity and the way criminals operate. A criminologist works to identify what makes a criminal using statistical tools and data science. For this, they work with law enforcement, prisons and rehabilitation centers. Besides, their job involves interviewing criminals, building criminal profiles and working with investigative agencies. 

Many BA Psychology programs offer criminology majors if you wish to specialize in this field. Having a BA in Psychology gives you a deep understanding of behavior deemed “criminal”. This degree gives you the skills to apply criminology theories in various contexts such as youth and community spheres, prison reform, probation work and courts. 

• Journalism Jobs

Journalism is a profession that involves collecting data from the ground and reporting it clearly through media outlets. Journalists also interview leaders and ask them difficult questions about which people want to know. Some journalists also analyze events and explain this to audiences. All these processes (and more) at news houses require a psychologist’s help. These jobs have a low entry barrier (especially in regional media), so you might be able to access them more quickly as a beginner. Journalists on TV and those writing for publications need to interview people. Having sound knowledge of psychology would enable you to understand better the person being interviewed. Thus, a BA in Psychology equips you to understand the human psyche – this degree makes you a valuable addition to journalism magazines. 

• Social Worker

Social workers are needed for NGOs, charity organizations and rehabilitation centers. Although the pay is low, it is a very rewarding job. BA psychology holders can do a Master’s in Social Work or find jobs soon after graduation. Social workers also need to help communities after natural disasters or traumatic events. 

Psychologists are required in social work for jobs that include working with young children, helping people accept and cope with terminal or chronic illnesses, helping the elderly to deal with loneliness and other roles. Much like a psychologist’s job, social workers have to keep track of the client’s progress and follow up to ensure their well-being. This job also deals with crises like child abuse, sexual abuse and mental health emergencies like suicide or trauma. 

You can also read our blog on Scope of Psychology.

• Sports psychologist

The job of a sports psychologist is very lucrative. After a BA in psychology, you might have to pursue a MA specializing in sports psychology. This job will study the factors affecting the performance of sports players. This includes team dynamics, motivation and sports counselling. They also help players recover from low points like failure or injuries. 

As you work with sports teams, the pay is quite high. Psychologists who work with national-level teams have numerous benefits such as the chance to travel to foreign countries, reasonable payment and job security. Most teams hire psychologists specializing in sports psychology. If you are personally passionate about sports, sports psychology will be a good option. 

• HR/ Management

Most companies have psychologists on their hiring teams. This is because psychologists are good at understanding the psyche of job applicants. Psychologists are often part of job interviews. They observe hiring processes like group discussions. Most companies also ask applicants to take psychometric tests. A psychologist is good at analyzing the results of tests to pick the best candidate. 

Psychologists are also part of the Human Resources (HR) teams. Their job is to motivate employees to work better. They also mediate between people if conflicts arise. Most big companies also have mental health services in their office. Psychologists work to ensure the holistic well being of all the people in the company. BA psychology graduates are good at these skills. 

• Advertising Jobs

It is a common understanding that advertising is a job that requires a lot of creativity. However, this job also requires creators to have a deep understanding of the human mind in order to create messages that are appealing to the consumer. Many advertising firms recruit psychologists to make their advertisements more appealing and compelling to people. Your BA in Psychology will help you understand consumer preferences, needs and desires to design and sell products. Your degree will give you insights into subtle aspects of messaging that encourage people to buy various products. While this is a slightly impersonal job, it does offer good pay in medium and large companies. This job will also be a good avenue for you if you have a creative side that you wish to develop. 

• Teaching Jobs

After graduating with a BA in Psychology, you can look into teaching jobs. You will be good at understanding the mind of students. You can get a B.Ed. as well. In addition, with an MA, many more well-paid teachings options are open to you. An MA degree allows you to teach at schools and even higher education institutes. 

If you want to go for online tutoring, you can go with Chegg India. Chegg offers you the chance to work at your own time, in your own place. Students get to work with Chegg as a subject matter expert. All you have to do is answer questions posted by students with text-based answers. You will get paid for each question that you answer. Signing up for this job has three easy steps. First, sign up on the Chegg India website. Next is the online screening test for the subject area you have chosen followed by a small guidelines test. Once you pass this test, you go to step three. This stage is where you provide your bank and other details. Once this is done, welcome to your new job!

You can do this as your part-time job. Alternatively, you can also answer questions full time. In this way, you can earn up to 1 lakh INR every month! 

You can now become a Subject Matter Expert with Chegg.

Final Thoughts 

In conclusion, a BA Psychology is an excellent degree to pursue. If you are interested in the human mind, interpersonal relations and behavior, then this path would be ideal for you. Most jobs open to those with a BA in Psychology are very rewarding and you will have high personal satisfaction due to the positive impacts you will have on people. Communities benefit very much from the contributions of psychologists. The jobs open to graduates in this field can be classified as counselling roles, research profiles and corporate positions. Depending on your interests, you can choose any field. All the best!

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Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Leader Desk team and is published from a syndicated feed.