Is a Psychology Degree Useless? (Reasons it can be)
A psychology degree is not entirely worthless. Yet, a simple bachelor’s degree with a psych major may not get you far.
Psychology does teach you numerous worthwhile skills, making you employable across different fields. However, it provides fewer career opportunities and advantages than STEM degrees. In this article, we will review the pros and cons of a psychology degree to discriminate whether the degree is worthless or not.
Psychology pertains to the scientific study of the human mind and its conduct. It includes the study of conscious and unconscious phenomenons, which help analyze a person’s feelings, personality, mental health, memory, etc. Psychology usually falls under the liberal arts degree category. It enhances your analytical and communicative aptitudes, which are highly appreciated in various fields.
Yet, a psychology degree itself does not open doors to vast opportunities. For example, engineers are irreplaceable due to their technical knowledge. However, jobs available for psychology majors can effortlessly be taken up by other majors, too, such as mental health workers, sociologists, etc.
Is a Psychology Degree Useless?
No, a psychology degree isn’t completely useless, nor is it too beneficial employability-wise. Many psychology students work in unrelated areas because of a lack of career options in this field for simple graduates. You need to pursue higher education like a master’s in the field to really get a lucrative & relevant job in psychology.
This contributes to the reasons why people call it useless. Even though it helps you learn beneficial skills but still doesn’t grant you the capability of being actually useful to many employers.
However, it trains professionals who have a significant impact on society. They can help people overcome stress, depression, drug addiction, anxiety, etc., which results in the overall well-being of a community. Psychologists can bring out the good in people. So, it has a beneficial role and can not be considered worthless.
Advantages of a Psychology Degree
There are multiple pros to a psychology degree. Let’s discuss them in detail.
Transferable skills development
It isn’t necessary to do a psychology degree just to become a psychologist. It teaches numerous skills that are transferable to multiple fields. Psychology students grasp good written and spoken communication skills. They become effective listeners and critical thinkers, which enables them to apply to various fields.
Positive impact on society
Psychology students are a great help to the community. They tend to understand and help people. They can resolve many conflicts and support people in coming out of their depression, anxiety, addiction, or suicidal phase.
Psychology degree drawbacks
Just as there are the pros of a psychology degree, it comes with numerous drawbacks too. A few of them are discussed below.
Lack of relevant jobs
The primary reason why psychology is said to be a useless degree is that it does not offer adequate career opportunities. It teaches you valuable skills that make you capable of applying for unrelated fields, which is not necessarily a fair thing.
A time-consuming endeavor
A psychology degree can be draining and time-consuming. It takes almost five years to complete the bachelor’s degree, which is virtually useless, then a few more years for the master’s. Later, two or more years to earn experience. So, it might take 9 to 12 years to become a practicing professional psychologist.
Psychologist Salary: How much do they make?
Onetime you finish your psychology degree, you will be awarded handsomely for all your efforts and hard work. It is an evolving field with a high demand for trained professionals. Psychologists make a handsome amount from their work, earning above $50k annually on average. Some may even earn as low as $30k & as high as $90k in some cases as well on an annual basis.
You can opt for career options like becoming a clinical psychologist, social worker, counselor, professor psychotherapist, etc.
Here are some very frequent questions requested by our readers that we’ve tried to address in relation to the subject.
So Is a Degree in Psychology Worth It?
It is pretty much worth it. Psychologists earn a handsome salary yearly as compared to other professions. Moreover, they have a significant impact on others’ lives. You acquire to learn many beneficial skills. However, it might be an extended and stressful journey.
Is Psychology a Good Major?
Yes, it can prove to be a good major. It qualifies you to have an optimistic effect on many lives. You are a source of help and recovery for people. It is an intriguing science. You can understand the human mind and behaviors. It improves your mental capacity and analytical skills.
How Hard is a Psychology Degree?
A psychology degree is not hard, it is, in fact, it’s considered one of the easiest college degrees. However, it has a heavy workload and requires time. Many people wonder, is psychology easy? It can be. You do not need anything extraordinary to complete your degree. Provided that you attend your classes regularly, pay attention to the lectures, and spend adequate time learning.
Is BS Psychology Worth It?
Most psychology careers require a master’s or doctorate-level academic degree, but a BS degree can be valuable too. Many jobs require a psychological background. More than 50% of BS psychology graduates enter the workforce without a masters. However, it will limit career opportunities, so it’s beneficial to apply for a master’s.
Is It Hard to Find a Job With a Psychology Degree?
Yes, it might get difficult to get employment with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. A master’s or Ph.D. degree is perfect for getting a good job. However, there are some relevant and irrelevant jobs available within healthcare departments, education, social work, therapy, counseling, etc.
Does Psychology Have a Future?
With a psychology degree, there is a promising future in a diverse range of work areas. It facilitates you to seek a career in both arts and scientific fields. The fields include clinical or forensic psychology, rehabilitation, neuroscience, and more. There are so many areas you can work in based on your experience.
Does Psychology Pay Well?
Yes, psychology pays handsomely as it’s known to be one of the highest-paying careers. Their salary is grand than in many other STEM fields. A psychologist can easily make up to $50-60k in a year. With a master’s or doctorate, you get the chance to open more opportunities and earn higher.
Is Psychology a Respected Degree?
Yes, psychology is recognized as a respectable field across the world. And rightfully so. Psychologists leave a positive impact on society. They enable people to do better. They help people overcome depression, stress, addiction, and suicidal phases almost daily.
Is Psych the Easiest Major?
Yes, it is assumed to be easier than most of the other STEM majors. It does not require any extraordinary skills. Besides, it is all about the human brain and its behavior, which might be interesting to learn. It enhances communication and behavioral skills.