Is a Psych Degree too General?

[Iron Past]

Some quick background:

I had a number of college hours done during high school, and when I graduated, I went to UT Austin with a major in Aerospace Engineering. Once there, there was something about the people, the atmosphere, or something else, but the field didn't interest me as much as I thought and I switched the next semester to a major in Kinesiology. After that semester ended, though, I had enlisted in the Marines (after realizing I wasn't giving school the attention it needed) and dropped out for four years.

Coming back, I thought I'd take a new direction with my major and go for Architecture at UTSA. I've been there for three semesters, but now there's a problem. Namely, I really don't like their program. I keep thinking that the next semester will be better, but it hasn't been yet (and I have to be here another three years, even though I have the hours of a Junior). Also, I've pretty much decided to go for a career in law enforcement, hopefully with a federal bent. I don't want to go for a Criminal Justice degree since that's a bit too locked into that field, so I'm thinking of switching to Psychology, which I can probably have done in two years anyway. Most federal agencies don't care what degree you have, and psychology is at least a little versatile.

But is it too general? Would it do more harm than good? Should I just stick to Architecture? I'm just bouncing ideas around right now as I'm pretty unhappy with my current program, so any comments are welcome.

[pronounconnoun]

It depends on what field of study you want to pursue afterward. Otherwise, it doesn't matter. If the government program is looking for someone with a specific trade, then it might help to get a little more specific.

[Johan]

Too general? Not at all. Either degree will prepare you for food stamps and the paper work it entails.

No, in all seriousness...who knows. Call local employers and ask them!

[maverick106]

My personal experience is that psych is waaay too general. Unfortunately, its a cop-out degree for a lot of college kids out there with no real direction, so if you actually want to pursue the field seriously, it has to be a dual major or graduate degree. To be frank, it sounds like you have jumped around a lot, and employers will notice that. I would recommend deciding exactly what you want to do, and find the field of study that will do you the most good in that career. If psych is that thing, great, go for it. But have a solid reason why it helps you in your chosen career path...don't just say "well I needed a college degree". Employers will ask, and you want them to see that you have settled down and decided what you want with your life. This will help to assure them that you are dedicated to the career you are pursuing.

[Zrikz]

I would say.. do not go with psychology, way too general.


Who's to say the law enforcement will work out, or you might end up hating it.. just throwing it out here, probably not, but you never know.

I have 4 psyc friends that have graduated in the past 4 years. 1 has been a waitress for the past 3 years, another is doing computer IT work for a small company, another is back in school for another degree and the other works for a public library as a librarian.

Psyc just seems way to general, and you really can't do anything with it, unless you just need a degree because, or unless you plan on going to grad school with it.

Really, if you are only 1-2 years from finishing your architecture degree.. get it, why not, especially if you just need a degree. I think it would be way more beneficial than a psyc degree.

I hate my degree and I discovered this last year, my junior year. I'm suckin it up, graduate this May and going back to school in the fall for another one.

But all of this is my opinion, so take it as a grain of salt.

[Smoof]

Psychology is really a nonsense degree. All the dregs like to major in Psych. Honestly? I'd go Philosophy. The lay-person who would have you believe that Philosophy is basically useless, but it's FAR, FAR more useful than any other liberal arts major. You'll get some background in law, ethics, metaphysics, epistemology, etc. and learn how to critically think and how to be an excellent writer.

[Inspector Fowler]

I have a psych degree. Here is ALL it is good for:

Getting you in the door of jobs that require a degree.
Grad work in psychology.

That is it. It will not give you an edge or any useful skills. If I had it to do over again and I was not allowed to finish the music degree I started (going back this fall to catch that one, thank you for working at a university!), I would get something that at least gave me employable skills like IT, accounting, something.

And as far as the feds go? Accounting or computers all the way. FBI agents spend a shit ton of time subpoenaing bank records, accounts, receipts, computer records, etc. And if you don't go federal, virtually every department of any decent size has a computer crimes division or at least a detective dedicated to it.

[Purple Santa]

It seems you are going into law enforcement so you just wish to do psychology degree because it would be more interesting for you. The basic and low level psychology courses are heavy in theory. As you get to the higher levels, it becomes more researched oriented (such subjects as experimental psychology, tests and measures). The higher up classes can be useful as with any knowledge you obtain. It's how you apply it. If you go the psychology route, I would when getting to electives of the classes, to focus on those with labs. They will be tougher but they are more "grounded" in science.

However as others have mentioned, a psychology degree by itself is only useful to get into a graduate/doctoral program. You can find jobs in the health field with a BA/BS in psychology, but they are low paying. Anyone who gets decent advice in college knows a psychology degree is not a stand alone degree. I would think those entering a college/university, they would do their homework on what exactly their degree will produce for their job opportunities when they graduate.

[Iron Past]

If psych is that thing, great, go for it. But have a solid reason why it helps you in your chosen career path...don't just say "well I needed a college degree".

The reason I say Psych is that it's one of the degrees asked for in some of the jobs. But, this is exactly why I stayed away from it, it doesn't seem to have much use.

Really, if you are only 1-2 years from finishing your architecture degree.. get it, why not, especially if you just need a degree. I think it would be way more beneficial than a psyc degree.

Unfortunately, because of the course structure, there's no way I can graduate before three years from now, and I'm running out of benefits as it is. I'm also just really negative about the way the courses, design classes in particular, are structured. But any major change would be done at the end of the semester anyway, so maybe the rest of the semester will change my mind.

Looking at it, it seems a degree in sociology (with a focus on criminology) might be a more useful degree. And if any employer gives me flack for changing majors they can kiss my ass, and I mean that. Any place that doesn't have people smart enough to realize that if I stayed with a program long enough to get a degree I obviously like it isn't a place I want to work (the average number of major changes is three, by the way).

[Disgustipated]

Sociology degree isn't much more useful than Psych. Most liberal arts degrees are pretty lame, to be honest with ya.

[Iron Past]

Yeah, but a focus on criminology would be applicable to what I want to do, I would think.

[DangerousDaze]

Can't you do aberrant or criminal psychology? That would be more appropriate if you want to become a Fed.

[TheFlyingOrc]

Psychology degrees, year after year, are the lowest paying degrees on the market, because no job actually requires a Psychology undergrad. It's majoring in "college", and the stupidest college grad I know has a psychology degree. For your own sake, please choose another field of study.

[Philonious]

I have a Ph.D. in Psych and pretty much agree with everyone here. If you plan on going into the field, then by all means do a psych undergrad, but for anything else I wouldn't bother. But the same idea holds for pretty much every other undergrad degree, especially the Philosophies, Sociologies, Englishes, etc. All of them are pretty useless and have few 'real world' applications. If you want an applied degree go engineering, business, computers or tradeschool. Best bet is to look into the jobs you want, and see what kind of degree will help.

[Ox]

Yeah, but a focus on criminology would be applicable to what I want to do, I would think.
I tend to find people who studied criminology don't have a major competitive advantage. You're not going to take any college course that's going to replace the police academy, so there's little point in trying. Instead, figure out what the academy won't teach you that you'll need later.

Basically, accounting and computers are, as the good Inspector notes, vastly useful degrees. It will give you a huge leg up on the competition if you have ability in these fields. Also consider any course that requires you to do a lot of writing, especially nonfiction writing with heavy emphasis on teaching you how to be a better writer: philosophy, pre-law, and politics degrees are good for this. Law enforcement involves a lot of paperwork, and the ability to prepare a concise, clear, thorough search warrant affidavit is invaluable to any cop. Also consider developing the ability to communicate orally: cops often have to testify in court, and it is truly shocking how many of them can't seem to speak in comprehensible paragraphs. Even an English degree would be good if you take extremely difficult courses that require lengthy written and oral analysis of your texts.

[Iron Past]

Hm. Interesting post, Ox. And everyone else, for that matter.

[zarathstra]

I have a history degree (I know, I know) and I managed to find work, but for what you want to do, psychology probably won't be all that useful. As others have suggested, take some accounting or compsci classes.

[Spockrocket]

My dad got a history degree and now works for the county welfare department.

Liberal arts degrees won't get you very far on their own. Double-majoring or grad school are your only real options with degrees like that.

[zarathstra]

My dad got a history degree and now works for the county welfare department.

Liberal arts degrees won't get you very far on their own. Double-majoring or grad school are your only real options with degrees like that.

Hey, he could be a client at the county welfare department.

[Stmfuller]

wow, it's like looking in a mirror.
I have a music degree, with no education certificate.
My degree is useless, I put far more effort in it then you have to with most majors and the best I can get right now is work in sales.
So...uh...make sure you have a marketable degree...seriously.
otherwise it's a waste of 40k

[anakin876]

I've found my psych degree mildly useful in getting a job working with troubled teens in a kid prison setting. I also found that my writing, comprehension, and critical thinking skills improved greatly through my coursework. The Psych department at the University I attended (BYU) was heavily focused on preparing everyone working for the undergraduate degree for graduate work.

As everyone else has said - a psych undergrad really only prepares you for graduate work. You CAN acquire/hone some very sueful skills (depending on the program) but you won't be ready for a "good paying" job with just your bachelor's degree. Talk to the employers who asked for a psych degree, find exactly which job you want, then get the degree and skill set that matches the job requirements. If you know exactly what you are doing a psych degree is great. If you are unsure, or just interested in why people do what they do (and understanding it) a psych degree will NOT help you succeed in life.

[Iron Past]

Actually, I think I'm going to change to Computer Science, which is a much more merketable degree and has advantages in federal law enforcement. I don't know why I never thought of it before, so thanks for the input. I'm going to set up an appointment to talk with a counselor and see how soon I can have it finished (looks like two years, maybe less with a summer course or two).

[TheFlyingOrc]

Actually, I think I'm going to change to Computer Science, which is a much more merketable degree and has advantages in federal law enforcement. I don't know why I never thought of it before, so thanks for the input. I'm going to set up an appointment to talk with a counselor and see how soon I can have it finished (looks like two years, maybe less with a summer course or two).

As a former computer science major, find out exactly what the program teaches. Mine was very theory heavy, and didn't teach you "computers" but more "programming theory" and software design. These are great skills to fall back on later, and the program is hard enough to put you above everyone else with liberal arts degrees, but for pure technical skills, computer science doesn't teach you much that's useful in non-programming fields.

[Ox]

the program is hard enough to put you above everyone else with liberal arts degrees
I'm pretty sure TFO just suggested he had a better education than I do. Pistols at dawn, sir.

Actually, make that pistols at lunchtime. I stay up late in wild drug-fueled sex orgies sometimes.

[cp#]

Honestly, yes.

[zarathstra]

I'm pretty sure TFO just suggested he had a better education than I do. Pistols at dawn, sir.

Actually, make that pistols at lunchtime. I stay up late in wild drug-fueled sex orgies sometimes.

I have a liberal arts degree. I do okay. I know that may not be common, but I'm okay with my choices.

[TheFlyingOrc]

I'm pretty sure TFO just suggested he had a better education than I do. Pistols at dawn, sir.

Fine, fine. UNDERGRADUATE liberal arts degrees, then. Mr. Fancy-pants lawyer face.

Actually, make that pistols at lunchtime. I stay up late in wild drug-fueled sex orgies sometimes.
You're really bad at being Catholic.

[Cit Phil Cit]

I'm going to school to take social anthropology! I'm going to make a case study of the misanthropes that inhabit online gaming communities. I hope to be running some big important division at Microsoft or Sony in a few years.

Just kidding, I want to define social grouping and structural organization in the event of a zombie holocaust.

[Ox]

Fine, fine. UNDERGRADUATE liberal arts degrees, then. Mr. Fancy-pants lawyer face.
What's the metric here? Employability? Probable salary upon graduation from undergrad? General knowledge?

You're really bad at being Catholic.
Oh yeah? Well, you're really bad at... at... YOUR FACE.

ohsnap

[TheFlyingOrc]

What's the metric here? Employability? Probable salary upon graduation from undergrad? General knowledge?

Employment in Law Enforcement, what he was talking about in the OP.



Oh yeah? Well, you're really bad at... at... YOUR FACE.

ohsnap
And lo, he looked upon the face of Ox's post, and from that time he was as one dead.

Twas YOUR FACE that did slay the orc.

[Bad Buddha]

What's the metric here? Employability? Probable salary upon graduation from undergrad? General knowledge?

I think we need a Venn Diagram!