career in psychology0001

What Can I do with my Bachelor of Arts Degree inPsychology?

About PsychologyPsychology is a fascinating discipline; it is the study of mental processes andbehavior. Psychologists seek to examine and explain the biological, cognitive andsocial determinants of human behaviour. At a basic level, psychology studentscome to understand and appreciate the many factors that influence and motivatehuman behaviour. Psychology graduates generally have superior skills in problemsolving, critical thinking, collecting, analyzing and interpreting data, writing andcommunicating. Psychology students also develop a number of valuable skill-sets,including the ability to formulate evidence-based arguments, critically evaluateresearch findings, and identify important ethical issues. Such skills are highlyvalued by employers in both the public and private sector.

Career/Job OpportunitiesMany students graduating with a bachelor's degree will work in some division ofhuman or social services. Some common job titles in the area include: CaseManagement, Career Counselor, Rehabilitation Specialist, and PsychiatricTechnician. Some important skills for those working in this area include the abilityto assess client needs, keep thorough and accurate records, express care andempathy and to act as an advocate for your client. As an undergraduate, you havealso done a considerable amount of research and writing. This skill would be usefulin many jobs such as a library assistant, probation officer, business manager, caseworker and many others.Through graduate studies in Psychology, students may become charteredpsychologists, working in clinical settings with clients who have emotional problemsor mental illness. They may also study to become research psychologists in one ofthe many areas of psychology. Graduates may also go on to professional studies infields such as medicine, law, or business. Other related career areas include:• Social Services• Government and Civil Service• Research• Law Enforcement and Corrections• Counselling• Public Relations

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• Journalism• Urban Planning

The ALIS (Alberta Learning Information Service) http://alis.alberta.ca and theWorking in Canada http://www.workingincanada.gc.ca websites provideinformation about wages, education requirements, local and national employmentprospects, interests and skill requirements for graduates of the Bachelor of Arts -Psychology degree.

If you would like to explore your interests, identify your goals; discussyour career options and job search strategies and discover how to makethe most of your education, we encourage you to either drop by theCounselling and Career Centre in room 1402 or call 403-343-4064 to makean appointment with the Career and Employment Services Coordinator.

This career/job listing is only a sample of the opportunities available; these arecertainly not the only career/job options accessible with this degree. Some of thecareers listed require further education.For career information, enter the four digit number listed below in the AlbertaLearning Information Services Website (www.alis.alberta.ca) or the NationalOccupational Classification Website (http://wwwS.hrsdc.gc.ca/NOC/ ).

With your education in Psychology you could be a:

Academic Advisor #4143 Corrections Officer #6462 Geriatric Aide #3413

Program Coordinator Human Resource Specialist#4164 Probation Officer #4155

Activity Leader Community Relations Officer#6261

ResearchAssistant/Researcher #4164/4165

Group Home Worker #4212 Health Educator #0311 Volunteer Coordinator #4212

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counselling@rdc.ab.ca 1 employmentservices@rdc.ab.ca

Relief Worker Employment CounselorFamily Service Worker #4213#4213

Fundraiser #4212 Residential Counselor #4212 Mental Health Worker #4212

Employee Welfare Officer Crisis Worker Human Rights Activist

Management Consultant Benefits Officer # 1432 Marketing Specialist/#1122 Representative

Quality Control/Quality Public Relations Consultant Market Researcher #4163Assurance Specialist #5124

Recruiter #1223 Assistant Manager Job Analyst #1121

Multicultural Consultant Investment Advisor #1112 Entrepreneur/VentureCapitalist

International/Foreign Recreation Director #0513 Alumni Relations OfficerStudent Advisor #4143

Writer #5121 Editor #5122 Reporter #5123

Journalist #5123 Broadcaster #5231 Publisher #0016

Technical Writer #5121 Book Reviewer Web Developer/Producer

Art Therapist #3144 Occupational Therapist Psychiatrist #3111#3143

Social Services CaseworkerMarital Counselor #4153 Career Counselor #4213#4152

Nurse #3152 Life Coach Music Therapist #3144

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Criminologist #4169 University Professor #4121 Mental Health Counsellor#4153

Psychometrist #4169 Forensic Specialist English as a Second LanguageInstructor #4131

Physical Therapist #3142 Social Worker #4152 Guidance Counselor #4143

Psychologist #4151 Sex Therapist #4153 Lawyer #4112

Employers (not a comprehensive list)

Universities Seniors Residences Placement Agencies

Popular Magazines Colleges Detentions Centers

Head Hunter Agencies Educational and AcademicHigh SchoolsJournals

Law Firms Special Needs Centers Hospitality Industry

Community Organizations Adoption Agencies Public Health Service

Major Skills obtained from Bachelor of Arts - Psychology (not acomprehensive list)• Strong Interpersonal communication (oral and written)• Engage in ethical practice• Knowledge of human development & behavior• Problem solving, decision making and team-playing skills• Able to observe, analyze, & interpret information• Ability to make critical observations, evaluations and appropriate decisions

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• Aptitude for leadership• Good listening, clarifying, questioning and responding skills• Skilled at interacting with people of different backgrounds in different situations• Capacity to anticipate and understand the views and concerns of others• Able to promote healthy relationships• Ability to mediate or resolve conflicts• Ability to plan and carry out long term projects• Concern for and sensitivity to others• Thorough and systematic thinking skills, using conceptual analysis, reasoning

and detailed description• Design and construct surveys and interviews• Ability to read material articulately and analytically• Quickly understand complex problems and identify solutions

Listing of Potential EmployersRed Deer College www.rdc.ab.ca/employmentCity of Red Deer www.reddeer.caDepartment of Veterans Affairs - www.veterans.gc.ca/generalCorrectional Service of Canada - www.csc-scc.gc.caIndian & Northern Affairs Canada - www.ainc-inac.gc.calindex-eng.aspAlberta Mental Health Board - www.albertahealthservices.ca/Canadian Mental Health Association - www.cmha.caLegal Aid Society of Alberta - www.legalaid.ab.ca/SAlT Polytechnic - www.sait.ca/Medicine Hat College - www.mhc.ab.ca/Calgary Health Region - www.calgaryhealthregion.ca/Provincial Health Services Authority BC - www.phsa.ca/Sunrise Native Addictions Services - www.nass.ca/Calgary Drop-In & Rehab Centre - www.thedLca/

General lob Search Websiteswww.rdc.ab.ca/employment Red Deer College Job Opportunitieshttp://rdc.ab.ca/about/human-resources/employment/student-employment RedDeer College Online Job Posting Boardwww.reddeer.ca City of Red Deerhttp://rdcounty.ca/Red Deer County

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http://www.reddeerchamber.com Red Deer Chamber of Commercewww.reddeerconstruction.com Red Deer Construction Associationwww.carmagroup.ca Central Albert Rural Manufacturing Associationwww.jobbank.gc.cahttp://ca.indeed.com/?r=uswww.chr.alberta.ca/jobs Alberta provincial governmentwww.jobs.gc.ca Federal governmentwww.healthjobs.ab.ca Alberta Health Serviceshttp://www.rdpsd.ab.ca/Human-Resources.php Red Deer Public SchoolDistricthttp://www.rdcrd.ab.ca/en/Career Opportunities 6 Red Deer CatholicSchool Districtwww.eluta.cawww.reddeerjobshop.cahttp://reddeer.kijiji.cawww.wegotjobs.cahttp://talentegg.ca/http://www.diversifiedstaffing.com/www.jobster.comhttp://www.extremejobs.ca/http://charityvillage.com/http://www.tagrecruitmentgroup.com/http://www.glassdoor.ca/index.htmwww.alberta-canada.com/jobswww.wowjobs.cawww.jobpostings.cawww.workopolis.comwww.albertajobs.comwww.monster.cawww.linkedin.comwww.careerbuilder.cahttp://volunteercentral.ca/http://www.manpowerab.com/http://www.diversifiedstaffing.com/http://www.visitreddeer.com/

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http://contactpoint.ca/jobs/www.simplyhired.ca/

Professional Associations and Sites of InterestNational Institute of Mental Health - www.nimh.nih.govAmerican Psychological Association - www.apa.orgAmerican Psychological Society - www.psychologicalscience.orgCanadian Psychological Association - www.cpa.caOrdre des psychologues du Quebec - www.ordrepsy.qc.caOntario Psychological Association - www.psych.on.caCanadian Counselling Association - www.ccacc.caCanadian Association for Child and Play Therapy - www.cacpt.comCanadian Mental Health Association - www.cmha.ca

RDC Department InformationBachelor of Arts: Psychologyhttp://www.rdc.ab.ca/academic calendar/program course listing/university transfer programs/Pages/bachelor of arts in psychology.aspx

For More InfoPlease contact the Career & Employment Services Coordinator403.314.2476Counselling & Career Centre - Room 1402employmentservices@rdc.ab.ca

Information adapted fromhttp://caps.mcgill.ca/handouts/whattodo/psychology.pdfhttp://www.uleth.ca/ross/ces/majors/psychology. pdf

7 Updated April 2015

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counselling@rdc.ab.ca I employmentservices@rdc.ab.ca