Psychology Major, The: Career Options and Strategies for Success

by Landrum, R. Eric; Davis, Stephen F.

• ISBN13: 9780131987517
• ISBN10: 0131987518
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2007-01-01
• Publisher: Pearson College Div

Summary

Now in its third edition,The Psychology Major: Career Options & Strategies for Successhas proven to be a valuable tool for todays college student. The Psychology Major3/e provides students with tips about a variety of career opportunities within the field of psychology, how to conduct research, write papers in APA format as well as study tips.

Table of Contents

Preface	vi
Why College?	1	(10)
Who Goes to College	1	(1)
Public Expectations Concerning College	1	(1)
Student Expectations about Going to College	1	(2)
Desirable Skills and Abilities	3	(1)
The Covert Curriculum	3	(3)
The Civic, Liberal Arts Value of a College Education	6	(1)
The Financial Value of a College Education	6	(2)
Oh, You Don't Have to Go to College	8	(1)
Exercise #1: Should I Stay in College?	9	(2)
Why Psychology?	11	(11)
Thoughts about the Psychology Major	11	(2)
Areas of Specialization within Psychology	13	(2)
Who Majors in Psychology	15	(2)
Desirable Skills and Abilities for the Psychology Major	17	(1)
The Importance of Advising and Mentoring	18	(3)
Why the Psychology Major is a Good Choice	21	(1)
Exercise #2: Psychology Survey	22	(1)
Careers with a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology	22	(19)
The Undergraduate Curriculum	22	(1)
What Employers Want, and What They Pay	23	(1)
Careers with a Bachelor's Degree	24	(3)
Career Options, Job Descriptions, and the Amazing O*NET	27	(1)
What about the Associate's Degree?	28	(1)
Becoming a Freshman Again	28	(8)
Exercise #3: The O*NET System	36	(5)
Pursuing Bachelor's-Level Options	41	(19)
The Complexity of Finding a Job	41	(1)
Preparing Your Resume, With Samples	42	(9)
Letters of Recommendation, With a Sample	51	(1)
Interview Skills, Questions, and Knockout Factors	52	(5)
What If You Are Not Initially Successful in Your Job Search?	57	(2)
Exercise #4: Job Ads	59	(1)
Career Options with a Master's Degree or Doctoral Degree	60	(17)
Why Graduate Training?	60	(3)
Types of Graduate Training and Graduate Degrees	63	(2)
Sample Job Descriptions, Work Locations of Graduate Degree Recipients	65	(2)
Occupational Opportunities with the Master's Degree	67	(3)
Occupational Opportunities with a Doctoral Degree	70	(3)
What is a Postdoc?	73	(2)
Exercise #5: Reading APA Monitor Ads	75	(2)
The Graduate Admissions Process	77	(26)
The Popularity and Competitiveness of Graduate Admissions	77	(2)
Overview: The Application Process	79	(1)
Primary and Secondary Selection Criteria, with Caveats	80	(3)
Grades, Transcripts, and the GRE	83	(2)
Letters of Recommendation, with Faculty Examples	85	(2)
The Personal Statement, with Student Examples	87	(6)
A Student's Guide to the Curriculum Vita (CV), with Examples	93	(6)
Research Experience, and Match & Fit with Your Program of Interest	99	(1)
Strategies to Consider If You Do Not Get In	100	(2)
Exercise #6: Letter of Recommendation Request Worksheet	102	(1)
Research and Teaching Assistantships	103	(8)
What is a Research Assistantship?	103	(3)
Presenting Research at Conferences	106	(2)
What is a Senior Thesis?	108	(1)
Becoming a Teaching Assistant	108	(2)
Exercise #7: Outside-of-Class Activities Plan	110	(1)
Getting Involved: Internships and Organizations	111	(9)
Field Experiences and Internships	111	(1)
What Interns Do	112	(1)
Other Internship Opportunities	113	(1)
Organizational Involvement	114	(1)
The American Psychological Association	115	(1)
The American Psychological Society	115	(1)
Psi Chi	116	(1)
Regional Associations	117	(2)
Exercise #8: Time Management	119	(1)
Sharpening Library and Research Skills	120	(10)
Generating Research Ideas	120	(1)
The Literature Review	121	(1)
The Special Role of References	121	(1)
Library Research Strategies	122	(1)
Books	122	(2)
Journal Articles	124	(1)
The Internet	125	(2)
More Literature Search Strategies	127	(1)
Library Skills Psychology Majors Should Have	128	(1)
Exercise #9: PsyclNFO Author Search	129	(1)
An APA Format Primer	130	(18)
Writing Psychology Papers	130	(2)
The Parts: Introduction, Method, Results, and Discussion	132	(5)
Grammar and Vocabulary	137	(1)
A Brief Note on Plagiarism	138	(1)
Sample Paper	138	(9)
Exercise #10: Proofreading APA Format	147	(1)
Doing Well in Psychology Classes: Study Tips	148	(11)
General Study Tips	149	(2)
Developing Effective Study Habits	151	(1)
Improving Your Reading	152	(1)
Getting More Out of Lectures	152	(1)
Improving Test-Taking Strategies	153	(2)
Math Anxiety	155	(1)
Behaviors to Avoid	156	(2)
Exercise #11: Locations for Studying	158	(1)
Ethical Issues for Psychology Majors	159	(12)
The Ethics of Being a Student	159	(1)
The Ethics of Research	160	(2)
The Development and Use of APA Ethical Principles	162	(1)
The Role of Informed Consent and the Institutional Review Board	162	(4)
Principles Seven and Eight of APA's Ethical Principles of Psychologists and Code of Conduct	166	(4)
Exercise #12: Ethics Scenarios	170	(1)
Psychology and Other Options: Nurturing Your Career	171	(12)
The Psychology Major, Revisited	171	(2)
Diversity in Psychology	173	(3)
Other Related Options	176	(2)
Self-Reflection, Self-Assessment, and Career Development	178	(3)
More Resources	181	(1)
Exercise #13: Attitudes and Options	182	(1)
References	183	(10)
Author and Subject Index	193