2021 General Psychology Degree Guide
General Psychology will allow you to explore the way humans and animals respond and interact to their circumstances and environment. This major involves the study of human and animal behavior through scientific research. Your coursework will help you understand the inner workings of a person including personality types, how we learn language, inherited traits, what role environment plays in development and more.
Classes that you can expect when majoring in General Psychology include: abnormal psychology, sensation and perception, research methods, cognition, personality, learning, social psychology, general psychology, developmental psychology, and neuroscience.
Featured schools near , edit
General Psychology Degrees Remain Popular
In 2018-2019, general psychology was the 4th most popular major nationwide with 130,560 degrees awarded. This represents small change only -0.1% from the prior year's total of 130,686 psychology degrees awarded.
The United States has 1,563 different schools where you can get a degree in general psychology. Our 2021 Best Colleges for General Psychology ranking analyzes 779 of these schools to determine the best overall colleges for general psychology students. Continue reading to check out one of our many unbiased rankings of psychology programs later in this article.
What Are The Requirements For a Degree in General Psychology
General Psychology requires a great deal of memorization as you learn specific terminology and theories. A sense of curiosity will help you investigate and understand behavior and genetics. Students should be adaptable and work well with others. This major requires a lot of group work and interaction with people from diverse backgrounds.
In addition to people skills, you should also be comfortable working with numbers and performing scientific experiments. Learn to quickly extract important information from readings and data. Problem solving skills will help you work through difficult labs, as well as apply theories and strategies to life situations.
Prior Education for a Psychology Program
A high school diploma or equivalent is typically required for most psychology degree programs and many students will need a minimum GPA and SAT/ACT score depending on the school. In addition to these basic general psychology program qualifications, to serve in some psychology careers, special certification may be required outside of your degree.
General Psychology Degree Types
Psychology degree levels vary. You can spend many years getting as high as a in general psychology to something that takes less time like a . Depending on the general psychology degree you choose, obtaining your diploma can take anwhere from 1 to 4+ years.
| Degree | Credit Requirements | Typical Program Length |
|---|---|---|
| Associate Degree | 60-70 credits | 2 years |
| Bachelor’s Degree | 120 credits | 4 years |
| Master’s Degree | 50-70 credits | 1-3 years |
| Doctorate | Program required coursework including thesis or dissertation | At least 4 years |
A master's degree is the most common level of education achieved by those in careers related to psychology, with approximately 26.9% of workers getting one. People currently working in careers related to psychology tend obtained the following education levels.
| Level of Education | Percentage of Workers |
|---|---|
| Bachelor’s Degree | 26.1% |
| Master’s Degree | 25.4% |
| Post-Doctoral Training | 20.2% |
| Doctoral Degree | 15.9% |
| Post-Master’s Certificate | 5.6% |
Most workers in psychology have at least a master's degree. The chart below shows what degree level those who work in general psychology have obtained.
The education level required is different depending on the psychology career you are seeking.
Career Opportunities for A Degree In Psychology Graduate
Students interested in becoming a clinical, counseling, or research psychologist will need a doctoral degree. You will need to obtain a master's degree to become a school psychologist. Psychology graduates who don't wish to continue their education can also find jobs in social work, marketing, human resources, advertising or public health programs.
Solid Growth Projected for Psychology Careers
Want a job when you graduate with your psychology degree? General Psychology careers are expected to grow 9.1% between 2016 and 2026.
The following options are some of the most in-demand careers related to general psychology.
| Occupation Name | Projected Jobs | Expected Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Managers | 1,071,700 | 8.0% |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | 168,500 | 14.2% |
| Psychology Professors | 54,000 | 15.1% |
| Psychologists | 19,200 | 10.3% |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | 1,800 | 5.9% |
How Much Money Do People With a Psychology Degree Make?
General Psychology graduates between 2015-2017 reported earning an average of $28,983 in the 2017-2018 timeframe. Earnings can range from as low as $11,300 to as high as $93,100. As you might expect, salaries for psychology graduates vary depending on the level of education that was acquired.
High Paying Careers for Psychology Majors
Salaries for general psychology graduates can vary widely by the occupation you choose as well. The following table shows the top 5 highest paying careers psychology grads often go into.
| Occupation Name | Median Average Salary |
|---|---|
| Managers | $115,590 |
| Industrial-Organizational Psychologists | $109,030 |
| Psychologists | $95,610 |
| Psychology Professors | $88,490 |
| Clinical, Counseling, and School Psychologists | $85,340 |
Getting Your General Psychology Degree
With over 2,894 different psychology degree programs to choose from, finding the best fit for you can be a challenge. Fortunately you have come to the right place. We have analyzed all of these schools to come up with hundreds of unbiased psychology school rankings to help you with this.
Study Areas in General Psychology
General Psychology is one of 3 different types of Psychology programs to choose from.
Most Popular Majors Related to Psychology
| Related Major | Annual Graduates |
|---|---|
| Clinical, Counseling & Applied Psychology | 28,126 |
| Child Development & Psychology | 12,985 |
| Other Psychology | 2,784 |
View All Psychology Related Majors >
References
-
Image Credit: By BruceBlaus under License More about our data sources and methodologies.
Featured Psychology Schools
Request Info
|
Southern New Hampshire University
You have goals. Southern New Hampshire University can help you get there. Whether you need a bachelor's degree to get into a career or want a master's degree to move up in your current career, SNHU has an online program for you. Find your degree from over 200 online programs ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Purdue University
Building on Purdue’s mission to provide greater access to affordable, world-class education, Purdue University Global delivers a fully personalized online experience that’s tailored to working adults. By opening the doors to adults who need flexibility to fit learning into their busy lives, we make it possible to achieve a high-quality education from the prestigious Purdue University system—completely online ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Grand Canyon University (GCU)
With a spotlight on intellectual creativity and innovation for the 21stcentury, the College of Humanities and Social Sciences at GCU provides a job focused education. It blends the study of traditional humanities in a modern context. Through academic inquiry and beyond the box thinking, the college advances our society and its accomplishments ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Northcentral University
Northcentral University (NCU) was founded to provide accessible, high-quality, online graduate degrees to working professionals. As a regionally accredited, online university, NCU serves students worldwide, focusing on Doctoral and Master's degree programs in the Schools of Business and Technology Management, Education, Psychology, and Marriage and Family Sciences ... Learn More > |
Request Info
|
Colorado Technical University (CTU)
CTU could help you connect to what matters most: a powerful professional community, aculty who are real-world professionals, and innovative technology ... Learn More > |
College Factual provides higher-education, college and university, degree, program, career, salary, and other helpful information to students, faculty, institutions, and other internet audiences. Presented information and data are subject to change. Inclusion on this website does not imply or represent a direct relationship with the company, school, or brand. Information, though believed correct at time of publication, may not be correct, and no warranty is provided. Contact the schools to verify any information before relying on it. Financial aid may be available for those who qualify. The displayed options may include sponsored or recommended results, not necessarily based on your preferences.
© College Factual – All Rights Reserved.
