A psychology degree requires many skills and training. There are many career opportunities to choose from and often an advanced education is required above and beyond a bachelor's degree.

Similar to many majors, there is a lot of information on psychology education and training for beginners. It is important to research the following when deciding on psychology education training:

1. Career paths available with psychology education and training. Sort out careers you may be interested in from the ones you don't want to look at.

2. The different learning formats and schools for a degree in psychology. Both online and on-campus formats are available for a psychology degree.

3. Advanced psychologist training. Often, advanced education is required such as graduate programs, master programs and PhD programs.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find career paths available with a psychology degree

It is important to look at the career paths available to you with a bachelor's of psychology degree when deciding to study psychology. This will help you determine the specific education and training you will need and help you establish goals.

I recommend: Read the article published in Eye on Psi Chi by R. Eric Landrum. In the article, Landrum describes the common career paths taken by people holding an undergraduate degree in psychology. The American Psychological Association provides an excellent website for you, to look at the different career paths and salaries for a career in psychology.

Choose a school to earn your psychology degree

Earning a psychology degree can be done either online through an online psychology degree program or at a four-year college. It is important when looking at the different programs offered, that you consider the psychology courses and psychology classes you will take, the cost and the format to select a program that will work best for you as an individual.

I recommend: U.S. News & World Report publishes a well-respected ranking of university psych programs. If you are considering an online program check out Walden University. Also review Baker College, which is centered in Michigan and has many different programs on offer.

Locate advanced psychology education and training

Many people that have an undergraduate psychology degree choose to go on to get a higher education in psychology and often find that higher education is required.

I recommend: Education Online Search provides an excellent article on psychologist education and training. To become a psychologist you will need training above and beyond a bachelor's degree. EducationDynamics is a website allowing you to browse psychology graduate programs, master degree programs and PhD programs in both online and on-campus formats.

For those serious about their psychology education and training, pursuing an undergraduate degree in psychology needs to be followed up with a masters of psychology degree. You can easily begin your psychology courses through an accredited university or online program.

Whether you plan to pursue an associate's, bachelor's, master's or PhD degree, finding the right psychology education and training facility will be the key to you pursuing a career in the field.

To find the right psychologist training opportunities for you:

1. Figure out what your intentions are with the degree. Do you just want it to improve your overall business skills, or do you truly want to practice clinical psychology. Only 25% of people who obtain a degree in psychology go on to pursue an actual career in the field, so make the decision early what you plan to do your degree.

2. Look at your budget constraints. Choosing a program will hinge heavily on what you can afford.

3. Assess time as a factor. Time can be just as flexible as money, so for those already out in the workforce, finding a flexible program is key.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use a psychology degree search engine

Find psychology degree programs easily online through industry specific search engines and directories.

I recommend: You can actually find an online program at GuideToOnlineSchools.com. There you can find information on a number of psychology classes including an Associate degree, a Bachelor Degree, a Masters degree, a PhD, Child Psychology, Counseling, Forensic Psychology, Clinical Psychology or Executive Coaching. Look at the spotlight schools featured at All Star Directories. They also offer information on top programs, top schools, career information and recent articles. Look at online master's degree program listings from World Wide Learn.

Find scholarships to supplement the costs of your psychology courses

Look for general scholarship opportunities, but also seek out industry organizations to help your psychology classes and education.

I recommend: Check out the complete list of Psi Chi, The National Honor Society in Psychology, Awards & Grants. Use FastWeb for free scholarship searching, personalized scholarship matching, financial aid and student loan tips as well as part-time jobs and internship search capabilities. Look at the comprehensive list of scholarships offered by the American Psychological Association.

Look at top psychology degree programs

Compare the best programs when considering psychology education and training.

I recommend: Look at the Education in Psychology program at Argosy University. They offer the following online psychology degree programs: Doctor of Education in Counseling Psychology, Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership, Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Request an undergraduate degree packet from Regent University. They offer accredited degrees and flexible programs. Look at the top ranked Stanford University psychology program for psychology education training. Yale is another psychologist education and training source.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When looking at universities with psychology classes, speak with both their faculty and their students. A school may be ranked as one of the best psychology degree programs, but if their students don't feel that the experience has been rewarding for them, you might consider looking elsewhere.

Students seeking psychology education and training learn various principles pertaining to the human mind and human behavior. Undergraduate students take a variety of psychology classes, while students earning a PhD in psychology take additional psychology courses that focus on a particular area, such as clinical psychology, school psychology, industrial and organizational psychology, neuropsychology, social psychology or counseling psychology.

If you're looking for the right place to get your psychology degree, you'll want to stay current on the latest news and trends in psychology education. While you can get some of this information directly from prospective psychology training programs, you'll also want to consider additional sources. Here are some things to consider:

1. Professional organizations are often at the forefront of changes in psychology education and training.

2. Online psychology courses offer education and training in a wide variety of areas.

3. Psychology seminars offer training on current hot topics within the field.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Examine the websites for professional organizations involved in psychology education and training

Professional organizations dedicated to advancing the profession of psychology are rich sources for the latest trends in psychology education and training. Frequently, these organizations are on the cutting edge of training.

I recommend: The American Psychological Association dedicates a portion of its website to students. Here, you'll find information about accredited psychologist education and training programs, practicums, internships, financing education, and finding a job. Students specializing in the area of school psychology should review the National Association of School Psychologists website, which provides a wealth of information about NASP/approved nationally recognized graduate programs in school psychology. Both of the aforementioned organizations provide annual national conferences as well as regional conferences that will keep you up to date on the latest trends in psychologist training.

Take an online psychology course

Continuing education providers offer a wide variety of online courses that can be taken by anyone wanting more information about a particular subject within the field of psychology. Many of these courses are approved by the American Psychological Association for continuing education credits.

I recommend: Psycheu offers a variety of courses accredited by the American Psychological Association. Interested students can take courses in such subject areas as play therapy, school violence, eating disorders, and domestic violence. Learn 4 Health also offers classes for psychologists and those interested in gaining more insight into the field of psychology. Current topics include ethics, grief in children, and spiritual recovery from mental disorders.

Attend psychology seminars

Psychology seminars are taught by professionals with specific knowledge about a particular topic. Generally, the professional travels to different locations to give each presentation. Since these professionals are experts in their fields, they have access to the most recent news and trends.

I recommend: PESI Continuing Education Seminars offers various seminars through their mental health education program. You can enter your zip code on their website and see a list of upcoming local training seminars. Professional Psych Seminars also offers courses at one of four locations in California. Attendees can stay at the hotel where the training session is held. You can take courses such as Brain-Based Therapy, Advanced Therapeutic Strategies with Eating Disordered Patients, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Contact recent alumni of prospective psychologist training programs to get their take on the general atmosphere of the programs. Also, since recent alumni generally have stronger relationships with staff, they may have information about any potential changes in the structure of the psychology degree program.