One of the goals of the Psychology program is to prepare students for life after graduation. For some students this means applying for jobs, for others it might mean advancing in their current field, and for many it might mean continuing their education in graduate or professional school.

The best way to make progress is by taking consistent action every semester of college. Do not be intimidated – start early and build up your knowledge, skills, and a strong resume and curriculum vitae (CV).

This list describes a required course (PSY 200) and some electives that can help you:

  • PSY 200 (Introduction to the Psychology Major) - An exploration of career possibilities with an emphasis on learning about activities that can help you build up your resume and CV while you complete the psychology major.
  • PSY 309 (Career and Professional Development in Psychology) - Building on PSY 200, students prepare and tailor application materials (e.g., cover letters, resumes, CVs) for specific jobs and/or post-graduate programs. Students will also take steps to succeed in interviews.
  • COLA 402 (Applied Liberal Arts Internship) - Similar to PSY 309, but this is available for all liberal arts majors (including psychology). Students apply for an internship by being connected to local community organizations.
  • PSY 496 (Independent Study) & PSY 498 (Independent Research) - Students can join a psychology research team/lab and earn credit in these courses. This is a great way to develop research skills that are especially important for graduate or professional school paths.
  • PSY 497 (Supervised Field Experience) - Students locate their own internship position and then find a professor to mentor them through the experience (and earn credit). Students who want to continue an internship from COLA 402 can earn credit in this course.

  • Complete one (or more) internship(s) - Look at, take COLA 402, attend a career fair, consider a.
  • Work in a psychology research lab - Explore 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ psych labs, consider a, or get help from the 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Office of Undergraduate Research.
  • Work or volunteer in a mental health setting - Look for opportunities in the community, watch for announcements from professors and campus groups, consider certification as a registered behavior technician (RBT), and get ideas from fellow Psych Club / Psi Chi members.

  • Assess your interests and your strengths and weaknesses - Use career assessment tests (e.g., Focus2, O*Net Interest Profiler, etc.) available through.
  • Explore career options and choose some that pique your interest - Start this in PSY 200 and keep exploring on your own (e.g.,, books like Success as a Psychology Major or Careers in Mental Health).
  • Meet with a career coach from (virtual/online or in-person).
  • Conduct informational interviews - Use tips from PSY 200 and the Success as a Psychology Major book.
  • Develop a career plan and update it periodically - Build one in PSY 200 and keep updating it.
  • Focus on skill development in your courses - Take courses that include writing papers, building presentations/videos, service learning, and group projects.
  • Focus on skill development outside of your courses – Take a leadership role in a student club, work on projects or skill-based certificates, or take part in study abroad programs.
  • Join student organizations - Learn from and with your classmates in groups like Psychology Club and Psi Chi.
  • Add a minor that complements your major - Consider adding a minor and then work with Wilson Advising to get help with planning it.
  • Attend workshops - Career-related and graduate school-related workshops and talks are offered most semesters by the College of Liberal Arts, Career Services, Psi Chi and Psychology Club, and other organizations.
  • Grow your network and build your brand - Many opportunities are found through people you know; complement that with building a brand through sites like and.
  • Identify mentors and learn from them - Meet with professors, join the Outreach Undergraduate Mentorship Program (OUMP), and meet with peer mentors.
  • Explore company and professional websites - Go directly to company and organizational websites that you might be interested in working at to see available opportunities (e.g., internships, grants and fellowships, job postings).

We strongly recommend using the resources offered by 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Career Services on their website. You can find: internships (e.g., Handshake), career coaching appointments, assessments of your interests, resume examples, interview prep tools, and much more! 

If you ever have questions, do not be afraid to reach out for help. Meet with a from 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ Career Services or send questions to a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ psychology professor (when emailing, mention that you are a 51³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏ psychology student and please provide some context / background with your question).