Earn a BS in Psychology
If you're passionate about helping people and want to make a positive impact in their lives, then earning a BS in Psychology will open up many exciting careers for you.
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What Can You Do with a
Degree in Psychology?
With a psychology degree, you could pursue a wide range of careers across many different industries. What they have in common, however, is that above all else, you would be helping people in need.
Earning your psychology degree will prepare you to understand what challenges people are facing and how to help them overcome these challenges successfully. Every day, psychologists are helping people learn more about themselves and the world around them.
Here are some of the most common career paths:
Counseling
As a professional counselor, you’ll get to help clients navigate and process trauma, depression, anxiety, substance abuse, and more of life’s greatest challenges. You could open your own practice or you could choose to work in the school system, a mental health agency, or any number of counseling settings.
Education
If you’re looking for a deep sense of fulfillment and want to help shape the future, then you may want to consider a teaching career. If you feel that helping to teach the next generation of learners, thinkers, and creators is something you’re called to do, it has never been easier to answer that call.
Social Work
At its core, being a social worker is all about empowering others, influencing change, and making a positive impact on the lives of others. Social workers play essential roles in schools, hospitals, foster care, nonprofits, and more. You also have the ability to work with people one-on-one or in larger groups.
Human Resources
The primary function of human resource employees is to facilitate a positive and high-functioning work environment for both employees and the company. This includes managing the employee lifecycle, such as recruiting, hiring, onboarding, training, promoting, and firing. They also advocate for their employees to help set them up for success.
What Salaries Can You Earn with a Psychology Degree?
Your salary range will depend on which field you enter, where you live, and how much experience you have. Here are the average salaries for common careers with a psychology degree.
Clinical Psychologist
$81,330
Forensic Psychologist
$59,440
School Psychologist
$58,360
Psychiatrist
$216,090
Teacher
$54,392
Counselor
$74,277
Social Worker
$55,440
Financing Your Degree:
A Guide to Helping Working Adults Afford Their Degree Completion Program
Want to return to college but not sure about the price tag?
Our guide will help you understand:
- the scholarships, grants, and other financing options available to you (and how to apply for them)
- the expected cost of a degree completion program
- the return on investment (ROI) of finishing your degree
Program Details and Deadlines
Application Requirements
- Must be age 25 or older
- Must have earned 24 hours of undergraduate academic credit
- Must have a minimum GPA of 2.0 for previously completed college courses
- Must be a U.S. citizen or a legal permanent resident
Admissions Process
- Complete the program application form.
- Provide a statement of purpose.
- Submit your transcripts.
For information on the application requirements and admissions process, visit our Admissions page.
Application Deadlines
Term Start |
Application Deadline |
Summer |
May 1 |
Fall |
August 1 |
Fall 2 |
October 1 |
Start your journey toward finishing your degree in psychology
Cynthia Wright
Director of the Adult Degree Completion Program
cwright@southern.edu
423.236.2563
Ready for What's Next?
Investing in yourself is always a good idea, especially when the benefits of returning to school to earn your degree are almost endless. It can feel overwhelming at times, but that’s why it’s important to have a trusted adviser in your corner.
Meet Cynthia Wright, director of the Adult Degree Completion Program here at Southern. If you’ve got questions about Southern’s program or want to learn more about what financing options may be available to you, she can show you the way.