Bachelor’s degrees in psychology are the fifth most popular undergraduate degrees in the USA. They comprise around 120,000 of the 2 million degrees awarded every year.
These versatile qualifications are an excellent gateway to numerous careers. These include teaching, counseling, social work, and more.
They’re also the starting point for various specializations in the field of psychology.
If you’re majoring in psychology, there’s bound to come a time when you must pick a field to focus your energies on.
There are at least 15 different psychology concentrations to choose from. Each of these centers around a particular aspect of the human condition.
These are the best psychology concentrations to help you find a rewarding or lucrative career.
- Clinical Psychology Specializations
This is one of the most pervasive concentrations in psychology. It focuses on mental and behavioral issues in people of all ages across all demographics.
Clinical psychologists provide interventions, consultations, and assessments for those dealing with the following issues:
- Emotional
- Behavioral maladjustment
- Emotional
- Intellectual
- Social
They also work with people suffering from the following:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Substance abuse
- Eating disorders
- Psychopathological issues
Clinical psychologists work in a variety of settings. These include the military, police, schools, government, and private institutions.
The three main branches of clinical psychology are:
- Clinical Child Psychology
- Clinical Health Psychology
- Clinical Neuropsychology
Most of these fields require earning a doctorate in clinical psychology. If you enjoy a hands-on career interacting with many different people, you’re well suited to work in this field.
- Forensic Psychology
You need a doctorate to work in forensic psychology. That’s because it’s one of the most impactful psychology specializations there is.
Forensic psychologists work within the judicial and legal systems. They provide services to legal experts as well as the public.
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In the latter case, their work might include assessing people who present psychological traits that may impact legal outcomes.
They help determine the outcome of cases involving civil litigation, delinquency, or criminal acts. On the legal side, forensic psychologists assist the courts, attorneys, and insurers with their casework.
Most forensic psychologists work in police stations, law firms, courthouses, and detention centers.
You’ll need the following skills to thrive in this career path:
- A passion for involving crimes
- High awareness of cultural and social norms
- Great observation and communication skills
- Adaptability
- Patience
- Composure
- Organizational Psychology
Organizational psychology centers around the intricate interactions that take place in the workplace. It’s especially important in today’s workplaces which are becoming increasingly toxic.
Organizational psychologists focus on building a positive work environment for employees. In doing so, they help create better job satisfaction and optimum performance.
They most often use statistical modeling to find problem areas or measure the effectiveness of new policies and programs. Daily tasks for an organizational psychologist may include:
- Fine-tuning talent recruitment and retention
- Developing training modules
- Measures to ensure employee wellness, both physically and mentally
This field focuses on both individual and group behavior and how it impacts organizational operations and leadership.
- Child Psychology Concentrations
This article entitled, “Is Psychology a Good Major” hints at how studying child psychology can help you expand your general interest in children.
Child psychologists may further concentrate their studies in the fields of:
Clinical Child Psychology
This field of work entails providing services to infants, toddlers, children, and adolescents. It involves assessing and treating a wide range of challenges faced by young people.
These may relate to:
- Biological challenges
- Psychological issues
- Social problems
Many children’s difficulties result from developmental and emotional problems or health-related issues. Children are particularly susceptible to loss and trauma.
A trained psychologist helps these youngsters make sense of their situations and adapt to them.
Child psychologists work in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centers, and private practice.
School Psychology
School psychologists focus mainly on helping children succeed in school from these perspectives:
- Academically
- Socially
- Behaviorally
- Emotionally
Most school psychologists work with K-12 students and their families. In some cases, their services extend to college freshmen, too.
Overall, school psychologists try to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment for scholars. You’ll need a master’s degree and license to work in this field.
Family Psychology
Marriage and family therapists deal with the behavior, emotions, and thoughts of individuals, couples, and children in marriages. They view these factors in relation to the individuals involved and their broader environments.
Some areas of family psychology that involve children include:
- Parent-child conflict
- Parental or spousal abuse
- Developmental disorders
- Sexual abuse
- Medical issues
- Substance abuse
- Youth behavioral issues
Depending on the severity of the issues you want to focus on, you may need a Master’s degree to work in these fields.
- Sports Psychology
Sports psychologists work with highly skilled athletes. They help these high-profile individuals cope with the enormous pressures of their professions.
Like organizational psychologists, they also deal with systemic issues within sports organizations and settings.
Some of the services they provide include:
- Cognitive and behavioral skills training
- Counseling
- Clinical interventions
- Consultation
- Organizational training
Discover Unlimited Career Options
If you are an emphatic person who enjoys helping others, a career in psychology can yield a high degree of satisfaction for you. The best part is that you don’t need to decide between these psychology concentrations right after leaving school.
By signing up for a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you allow yourself plenty of time to explore your options and decide which psychology career path suits you best.
Should you change your mind, your psychology degree will stand you in good stead if you want to change tack, too. With a solid understanding of how the human mind works, you can tackle most careers.
Browse our blog for more information on how to do things the right way.
How do I choose a Psychology Concentration?