Psychology Major Alumni Survey
Psychology alumni from Ohio State pursue many different types of careers! We encourage our current and prospective psychology majors to explore the varied paths of our psychology alumni.
In 2017, the Psychology Undergraduate Advising Office conducted a survey of over 7500 Ohio State psychology graduates who received a Bachelor of Arts (BA) or Bachelor of Science (BS) degree between 1997 and 2016. These alumni were sent an email invitation to complete an online survey regarding their academic and professional experiences. The data from 820 Psychology alumni (11% response rate) are compiled below to address frequently asked questions about careers in psychology.
What are the most common career fields for psychology graduates?
As you see below, psychology graduates work in a wide variety of fields. The common career fields shown below includes both alumni who completed their education with a bachelor's degree and those who continued on to earn a graduate/professional degree.
Other career fields indicated by psychology alumni include:
- Law Enforcement/ Corrections
- Nonprofit/ Human Services
- Insurance/ Real Estate
- Marketing/ Advertising
- Finance/ Banking
- Hospitality/ Customer Service
What do psychology majors do immediately after graduation?
Graduate/professional school includes programs in psychology, medicine, counseling, social work, and many more. See below for more detailed information about different types of graduate/professional programs our alumni pursue. Alumni who chose Other indicated a variety of opportunities, including long-term service (e.g., Peace Corps), military, and focusing on family.
What jobs can I get with a bachelor's degree in psychology?
There are too many possible jobs to list! Ohio State Psychology alumni who completed their education with their bachelor's degree got their first job in the career fields below.
Career fields included in the Other category include:
- Law Enforcement/ Corrections
- Higher Education/ Student Affairs
- Counseling
- Hospitality/ Customer Service
- Finance/ Banking
- Marketing/ Advertising
- Technology
- Nonprofit/ Human Services
- Legal
Here are some examples of jobs held by our alumni right after graduating with their bachelor's degree...
- Case Manager
- Human Resources Assistant
- Financial Advisor
- Clinical Research Coordinator
- Applied Behavioral Analysis Therapist
- Data Manager
- Psychiatric Technician
- MRI Technologist
- Legislative Aide
- Campaign Manager
- Patient Care Advocate
- Court Liaison
Should I pursue a BA or BS degree?
Both degree options lead to numerous career and graduate school pathways. Our data indicates that alumni with both degree types went on to jobs, graduate/professional school, and other opportunities. To learn more about the BA and BS psychology major requirements, see our Curriculum information.
But I need a BS degree to get a PhD, right?
Not true! You can pursue any graduate degree type with either a BA or BS degree.
Many psychology alumni have pursued masters degrees, which are typically 1 to 3 year programs. Professional degrees prepare students to work in a particular applied profession, especially those requiring licensure or accreditation (e.g., Doctor of Medicine, Juris Doctorate, Doctorate of Physical Therapy, Educational Specialist). Doctorate programs are extensive study in an academic field, leading to a PhD or EdD degree. Alumni indicated completing some Other types of degrees, including certification programs and specialized degrees in the health field.
What fields do psychology majors study in graduate/professional school?
A degree in psychology can prepare students for many different types of graduate and professional programs. Our alumni pursue degrees in the fields seen below (word size corresponds to the frequency of responses from our alumni).
Of alumni who pursued graduate/professional degrees, 27% were in psychology. Within the field of psychology, our alumni pursued many different graduate specializations, including:
- Clinical Psychology
- School Psychology
- Counseling Psychology
- Industrial/Organizational Psychology
- Social Psychology
- Sport Psychology
- Forensic Psychology
At Ohio State, the undergraduate psychology degree provides students with a solid foundation in the major areas of psychology and transferable skills that will be an asset in any graduate or professional program. Our undergraduates do not specialize in a subfield of psychology, but rather are encouraged to explore the wide array of topics that psychologists study. Learn more about the fields of psychology and careers with a graduate degree.