Since opening with four psychology programs in 2015, PSYCAS, the centralized application service for graduate psychology, has grown to nearly 80 programs at the master’s- and doctoral-levels of training in 2018. For prospective students to PsyD programs, more than one quarter of APA-accredited PsyD programs now participate in PSYCAS. Unfamiliar with PSYCAS? You can learn more here.
On a whim and while struggling with the challenge of finishing my doctoral dissertation, I purchased a flask with the following quote engraved on its leather sleeve: “The problem with jogging is that the ice falls out of your glass.” I thought that was quite a hoot given my current state of mind and long-held belief that running could never be something I would enjoy. The notion of running for fun also contradicted my memories of eighth grade and running suicides in the Moore Junior High School gym.
For most careers, providing professional services using psychological knowledge requires a doctoral degree in psychology, and these careers are often called professional or health service psychology. However, psychology careers for individuals holding master’s degrees are available in multiple occupational settings and in fields across the discipline. The demand for jobs at this level of training is reflected in the growth of master’s psychology degrees — from slightly below 18,000 in 2003 to nearly 28,000 in 2013. Similarly, the National Science Foundation reports growth during the past decade in research-focused psychology master’s degrees: approximately 15,000 in 2003 and 22,000 in 2011.
Congratulations! Your hard work has paid off and you have been asked to present your research in a poster session or symposium at a professional conference. Now what? Beyond getting your presentation prepared, what else should you consider in order to guarantee the best impression on fellow students and faculty?
Doctoral degrees in psychology offer individuals preparation to conduct scientific research, professional practice or both. Most individuals receive either the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) or the Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree. Although each of these degrees is designed to engage students in deep knowledge and skills within a subfield of psychology, there are substantial differences in the type of training and career plans of individuals with these degrees. Finding the best-fitting program for an individual student begins with understanding these differences.
