It's All In Your Head: Psychology & Mental Health Degree Programs

Nothing is more powerful than the human mind--except, perhaps, a person who can affect the human mind in a positive way. A psychology & mental health degree program can help you become that person, and make a difference in people's lives.

Psychology & Mental Health Degree Options

But which particular online degree program should you pursue in this area? There are many online education options, including associate's, bachelor's, and master's degree programs.
Each of these programs can be done entirely through online education, and each of these online degrees can put you in position to work in this dynamic field, but in different functions. To be a full-fledged psychologist, for example, you need a PhD.
A master's degree in addiction counseling, meanwhile, can qualify you to help people beat substance abuse problems. An undergraduate online degree in psychology and mental health can qualify you to work as an assistant in a mental health facility.
Due to the intense nature of the work, apprenticeships and further certifications are a hallmark of the psychology and mental health profession.

Career Options for Psychology & Mental Health Majors

Not everyone with an online degree in psychology becomes a psychologist. On the contrary, psychology is a field with broad-ranging applications. With a psychology and mental health degree, you could find yourself working in various fields, including:

• Human Resources
• Business Development
• Management
• Corporate Training
• Sales

Understanding human motivations and behavior is valuable in many ways.

Psychology & Mental Health Salary Information

Pay varies widely, as do career paths. Here, though, are some median annual salary figures (2007) in professions directly related to psychology and mental health:

• Mental Health Workers: $36,640
• School Counselors: $49,450
• Psychologists: $79,570

In addition, about 34 percent of psychologists are self-employed.
Source:
Bureau of Labor Statistics

Andrew Freiburghouse is a writer and businessman. As a partner at Los Angeles tax preparation firm Pronto Income Tax of California, Inc., Andrew learned the fine art of growing a small business into a not-so-small business. Currently, Andrew lives in Brooklyn, NY.