The Value of a PSYC Degree
Written by Nancy Maria Fernandez
@nancymfernz
Header Photo by Markus Winkler on Unsplash
A significant part of your university life revolves around your major and what you intend to do with your degree after graduation. While a substantial portion of your university education entails working on assignments, meeting deadlines, and studying for exams, there is certainly more to your degree than what meets the eye. Written exclusively for all the psychology students, both existing and prospective, this article will detail some of the things you can do with your PSYC degree. Since psychology is a people-focused field, there is a common misconception that having a PSYC degree means working in clinical settings only. However, a simple Google search reveals that there are many career paths that you can explore with your degree in psychology. This thought was echoed by all of the panellists at a recent virtual event conducted by SMU.
On February 8th, 2021, SMU’s Career & Experiential Services held a virtual career panel titled “What Can I do with my PSYCH Degree?” Hosted by Laura Cohen of the Career Services department and co-hosted by Robyn McIntosh of the Arts Academic Advising, the event featured a panel of five psychology professionals (four of them being members of the SMU Alumni) that included Isaac Cormier, Dayne Adams, Elyse Hatt, Karthik Saini, and Amanda George. The panel discussed various career possibilities that could come with having a degree in psychology.
Cormier, a Psychology Technician and a part-time Casual Support Worker with the Nova Scotia Health Authority, contended that his psychology degree gave him the theoretical knowledge that complemented the practical experience that he gained when he began working in the field. He said that it helped him feel confident and enabled him to build networks with his academic mentors and professors. Dayne Adams believes that his co-op placement helped to supplement his knowledge in psychology since it involves providing students with practical work experience in their field of study. It also helped him learn a lot about himself including his professional interests and passions.
When asked about how a Masters’ degree in psychology can affect one’s career prospects, Cormier acknowledged its added benefits, but he did clarify that not having a Master’s degree doesn’t impede one from getting an entry-level position post-graduation. Adams, who works for the Halifax Regional Centre for Education said that a Master’s degree in Social Work is not necessary to be eligible to work with schools. However, he did mention that while deciding on a suitable graduate program, one should be aware of their own interests and passions as there is a wide range of courses to choose from.
Amanda George, who works as a Psychotherapist as well as a Psychometrist, said that a Bachelor’s degree would be enough to begin a career in Psychometry which mainly involves conducting psychological tests and assessments on clients. She also pointed out that for those interested in the same career path, taking more statistics-related courses during their undergraduate degree program (like Psychological Measurements and Advanced Statistics) is one way to begin working toward their goal. Elyse Hatt, who works as an Employment Counsellor with Lakecity Works, advised students to complete a career practitioner certificate program should they decide to work in the employment or career sector as it is becoming increasingly popular in Nova Scotia.
When asked about an important piece of advice they would give to their younger, college-going selves, Hatt said that she would direct her younger self to practice mindfulness and self-care more earnestly. Adams added that he would advise his younger self to enjoy his time as an undergraduate student while exploring different things and to learn from every mistake and opportunity in order to better enrich his college experience. One way to try new things is through volunteering. In addition to being a valuable add-on to your resume, volunteering can help you gain the necessary experience and social contacts needed to expand your network circles. You can always find new volunteering opportunities on the Volunteer Nova Scotia website as well as on your Career 360 account. You can also book an appointment with SMU Career Services to talk more about volunteering and all things related to your career.
Panellists also spoke about burnout while working in mental health. Adams acknowledged that burnout and exhaustion can be very serious problems, which is why it is important to actively prioritize self-care and to practice activities like deep breathing and sports to help combat the stress. Saini mentioned that he regularly practices yoga, meditation, and mindfulness to help strike a positive work-life balance. He also believes that it is important to reach out to others and seek professional help when you need it as people tend to withdraw themselves when they experience problems. Talking about some of the challenges that she experiences in her line of work, George believes that breaking down people’s barriers and gaining their trust is a hurdle that she faces because of people’s past experiences with trauma. She also mentioned that for any aspiring psychotherapist, it is important to have a good supervisor, mentor and overall, a good support system to help you gain the confidence that will inform your ultimate career goal.
Towards the end of the session, the panellists offered a few tips for undergraduate students, advising them to reach out and connect with people who will be instrumental in aiding them as they prepare to commence their professional lives post-graduation. Adams pointed out the significance of networking, how important it is for a student to build a rapport with their professors, and to learn how to navigate job search websites. Cormier, too, reiterated the importance of talking to professors and advised students to make use of their office hours. Hatt also encouraged students to take advantage of free university services, like academic advising and career services.
To conclude, it can be rightfully said that while we cannot predict the trajectories of our future careers, our university education will greatly influence what and who we decide to be after graduation. As contended by the panellists, it is very important to build connections through networking to seek professional help and guidance when we need it. You can get in touch with the university’s Career Services department at career.services@smu.ca. You can also reach out to SMU Counselling at counselling@smu.ca. Information on academic advising can be found here.
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash