Psychology programs explore the human mind and provide understanding of human behaviors, reactions, actions, emotions and attitudes. Continue reading to determine if psychology and human behavior is the right field for you.

Many students are drawn to education and careers in psychology and human behavior because of the field's broad scope and its many applications. Psychology programs are available at the undergraduate and graduate levels of study. Students may specialize in a branch of the field, such as clinical, counseling, neuroscience or school psychology. This can narrow the type of psychology that graduates practice and their potential work settings.

Whether you're looking for more information about degree options, the careers you can pursue in psychology or specific specializations, Study.com has the resources you need to determine if this field is right for you.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a doctoral degree is required for employment as an independent, licensed clinical or counseling psychologist (www.bls.gov). A bachelor's or a master's degree can lead to other positions, such as youth worker, social services aide, caseworker or substance abuse counselor. Depending on the state and work setting, these professionals may also be required to obtain licensure.

Psychology programs can lead to associate's, bachelor's, master's or doctoral degrees. The following pages can help you decide which educational path is right for you.

As with many fields of study, there are numerous distance learning opportunities in psychology. Explore the following pages to learn about a selection of online psychology classes, including some free learning opportunities, and online degree programs. Keep in mind that some distance learning opportunities in psychology may have certain in-person requirements.

Psychology has many branches and specializations, including those outlined below. These specializations can prepare you for a specific career in psychology and provide an additional glimpse into a certain part of the human mind. Explore the following pages to learn more.

To become a licensed psychologist or to pursue other careers in psychology, certification is occasionally necessary. The following Study.com pages provide some information about certification requirements for a small sample of psychology careers.

The following careers are a small sample of what you can do with a degree in psychology.

Employment of psychologists overall was expected to increase roughly 12% from 2012-2022, according to the BLS, which is about average. Earnings for these professionals relied on specialty; the median annual wage for industrial and organizational psychologists was $80,330 in May 2013, while counseling, clinical and school psychologists made $67,760.

Related careers are also expected to see an increase in employment from 2012-2022; the BLS anticipated jobs for substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors to grow by 31% during this time. Meanwhile, employment of social workers was expected to increase by 19%, and jobs for other social and human service assistants were projected to grow 22%.

The BLS also noted that as of May 2013, substance abuse and behavioral disorder counselors made a median annual salary of $38,620, and social and human service assistants made $29,230. At the same time, child, family and school social workers earned a median annual wage of $42,120, while healthcare social workers made $50,820.

More here:
Psychology and Human Behavior - Study.com