Questions and Answers for prospective Livingstone College Psychology Majors
Q: What is psychology?
A: Psychology is the study of the mind and human behavior. Its root word “Psyche” (Greek) comes from “Sakhu” (Egyptian), which meant the illuminator or the eye (as a window to the soul).
Q: What do psychologists do?
A: Psychologists’ work involves tasks from providing therapy to conducting research, depending on the subfield in which they specialize. These subfields include Clinical, Counseling, Cognitive, Developmental, Educational, Experimental, Forensic, Health, Human Factors/Engineering, Industrial/Organizational, Neuropsychology, School, Social, and Sports Psychology.
Q: I want to be a psychologist. How long do I have to go to school?
A: Once you finish your four-year degree, you should go on to graduate school. In order to earn your master’s degree, it takes two to three years. For your doctoral degree, you’re looking at another five to seven years.
Q: If I go on to graduate school, what are the requirements?
A: When you are working on your bachelor’s degree, you should make sure you do your best, so that you graduate from Livingstone College with a 3.0 or above. Also, you will have to study for, and take, the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), if you plan to get your doctoral degree. It’s also a good idea to gain some research and practical experience through summer opportunities.
Q: What can I do with a B.A. in psychology?
A: Although you can’t call yourself a psychologist with a bachelor’s degree, you will have knowledge of human relations, in addition to research and statistical skills. This expertise offers you career versatility; companies hire psychology majors for a variety of positions (e.g. human resources).
Q: Will Livingstone College give me what I need to succeed in my career goals?
A: Ideally, you should do your part by taking advantage of every opportunity provided to you. We will do our part by making sure that opportunities for success are available to you.
Q: What is the salary range for psychologists?
A: The salary range for doctoral level psychologists depends on the subfield in which they specialize. For instance, clinical/counseling psychologists are in the 60K range, while industrial/organizational psychologists are in the 70K range. Those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology can expect salaries in the 30K range.
Psychology Program, Livingstone College, 701 W. Monroe St., Salisbury, NC 28144 704-216-6917 mlovett@livingstone.edu
