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Is Psychology a Good Major?

By According to the latest study by the American Psychological Association (APA), around 3.5 million people in the United States hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Of those, around 14% also hold a graduate degree in the field. Are you thinking about becoming a psychology major yourself? This can be an incredibly rewarding and challenging career path, allowing you to connect with others on a personal, transformative level. The services you offer could give patients greater insight into how they think, feel, and act. As you decide your course of study, it helps to know what to expect. Today, what a degree in psychology would entail, and how to know if it’s right for you.

What Does a Psychology Major Require?

Psychology is the study of human behavior and mental processes. As a psychology major, you’ll take courses that study the human mind, brain, and interactions. The psychology major coursework you complete can prepare you for a graduate-level program in a variety of different fields, from psychology and education to medicine, business, or law. While each University will have its own course requirements, most of your introductory classes will focus on the basics of psychology. This can include research and statistical methods, as well as lab courses. In your labs, you’ll learn how to conduct research and design experiments, as well as observe, measure, and analyze human behavior.

NDNU School of Psychology

At the NDNU School of Psychology, we offer two distinct programs in psychology. This includes:
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in Psychology, offered in partnership with the San Mateo County Community College District
  • Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (M.S.) with emphases in Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) and Marriage and Family Therapy and Licensed Professional Clinical Counseling (MFT/LPCC)
Our B.A. in Psychology offers students opportunities to hone their skills both inside and outside the classroom. In addition to class work, you’ll also participate in individual research as well as community-based learning. As you become well-versed in all of the major areas of psychology, you’ll also develop your analytical skills. You’ll study and analyze all dimensions of human behavior, including:
  • Psychological
  • Behavioral
  • Relational
  • Cultural
  • Neurobiological
  • Spiritual
  • Social
  • Developmental
  • Cognitive
  • Affective
Students who graduate from our programs go on to enjoy fulfilling careers in a variety of disciplines, becoming counselors, therapists, mental health professionals, and more!

Reasons to Become a Psychology Major

While psychology can be an enriching major, it isn’t the right path for everyone. Let’s take a look at some of the top reasons why students choose to go into this field. If these reasons appeal to you, then this could be a viable option for your academic future!

You Can Make a Difference

Of course, the top reason why most people choose to major in psychology is that they’re naturally driven to help others. The more you study and learn about human behavior, the more empathetic and understanding you will become. As you help individuals work through their issues, you form a meaningful relationship with them which can facilitate their growth and provide them valuable coping skills to improve their quality of life. The patients you interact with on a regular basis may be struggling with mental health issues, or simply want to improve their lives and well-being. The therapeutic relationship helps people change ingrained patterns and ways of being that help to improve their lives. However, it’s important to realize that in giving so much of yourself, this job can be emotionally draining at times. Psychologists, therapists, counselors, and mental health professionals must also learn how to prioritize their own mental health and self-care to avoid experiencing burnout.

You Enjoy Learning About Science

Has science always been one of your favorite subjects in school? If so, you may want to consider majoring in psychology! While this discipline centers on human connection, it’s a science at the core. After all, one of a mental health professional’s main roles is to make a hypothesis about what a patient might be struggling with, and then carefully test that hypothesis. Then, they can present the results to add knowledge, answer questions, and recommend viable ways forward. While this sounds like a straightforward process, the reality is that psychological research and clinical work can often be complicated and nuanced. Human behavior isn’t clear-cut, and you may have to explore and understand diverse disciplines and perspectives to understand and help another which other scientists don’t have to contend with. Still, the road to an answer can be fascinating if this type of data analysis interests you.

The Job Prospects Are Rich

Competent, well-educated psychologists, therapists and counselors are always in high demand. This degree can put you on a job path that includes many exciting, diverse professions. Some of the most common titles for careers in psychology include:
  • School psychologist
  • Substance abuse counselor
  • Marriage and family therapist
  • Clinical counselor
  • Clinical mental health counselor
  • Mental health therapist
  • Clinical psychologist
  • Child psychologist
  • Social worker
  • Behavior analyst
  • Behaviorist
As you acquire your psychology degree, you’ll also learn a host of soft skills that can be incredibly useful in almost any industry. From leadership and teamwork to empathy and communication skills, these abilities can help you secure a position in business, marketing, administration, and more.

It Can Be a Graduate School Foundation

If you have your sights set on attending graduate school, psychology can be a great undergraduate degree to obtain. Many students who major in psychology go on to get their master’s degrees or even their doctoral degrees in the field. You could also use a B.A. in Psychology to launch a successful graduate program in medicine, law, business, or social sciences.

You Can Explore Your Interests

Psychology can be a way to deeply explore the fields of study that interest you the most. For instance, if you love children and enjoy working with them, then you may want to consider working in early child development. If you’re passionate about learning the ins and outs of the human brain, you can dive into neuropsychology. If you’re curious about social constructs and how they inform behavior, you can go into an area of social psychology. If your passion is helping families and couples, you can focus on marriage and family counseling. Students who are interested in helping people with mental illnesses or behavioral disorders may choose to work as marriage and family therapists, clinical counselors, and clinical psychologists. In other words, whatever you’re interested in studying, you can find a career in psychology that lets you nurture that interest. Psychologists are even needed in the sports field!

The Income Potential Is High

Most people who enter the field of psychology do so because they truly want to help others and make a difference. However, it is smart to think about the type of salary you could earn in your position. As the sector of psychology is so broad and vast, there isn’t quantifiable data to help you predict exactly what type of salary you can expect. According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS), the median pay for a psychologist is $81,040 per year or around $38.96 per hour. Mental health professionals can earn considerably more or less than that depending on their specialty and position. One of the best things about working in this field is job security. Given the flexible nature of the work and the broad application of your talents, you can rest assured that your skill set will always be in demand! This allows you to consider your options and job offers more strategically, to ensure you’re making the right decision for your future.

Qualities of a Psychology Major

If you’re thinking about majoring in psychology, it helps to know the types of qualities and personality traits that successful students in this field tend to share. Of course, this list doesn’t apply to everyone, and it isn’t exhaustive. These are simply the most common ones that most students exhibit.

Excellent Problem-Solving Skills

Are you someone who shies away from a challenge? Or, do you face it head-on? If problems motivate you and you feel driven to solve them, then you may be a great fit for this major. One of the top requirements for therapists, counselors, and psychologists is the ability to take a complex problem and dig deeply to the root of it. This might mean helping a married couple understand why there’s conflict in their relationship. Or, it may mean working with a grade-schooler to uncover the source of their tension and anxiety. You could work with someone who’s struggling with an addiction, trying to help them work through emotions and process them in a healthier way. People are complicated, and their issues can be difficult to figure out. As a therapist, counselor, or psychologist, it will be your job to understand the motives behind their behaviors, using strategies that emerge from disciplines ranging from philosophy to statistics.

Relatedness and Strong Communication

Mental health professionals need to be able to relate to a wide variety of people and clearly communicate with the individuals they’re working with. Therapists, counselors, and psychologists generally enjoy interacting with others and are energized by this kind of work. Depending on the niche you choose, a significant portion of your job could be spent listening and engaging with others, but this is an equally critical part of communication. Someone who’s perfected the art of relating to others, including the skill of active listening may enjoy the process of absorbing information and using it to make a decision. Some aspects of active listening include staying engaged in the conversation, maintaining good eye contact, using non-verbal cues (like nodding), and asking open-ended questions to spur further dialogue. Communication is a cornerstone of psychology. If you aren’t quite there yet, take heart! You’ll have plenty of time to strengthen this skill during your undergraduate or graduate program.

Natural Empathy

Would you consider yourself to be an empathetic person? Put simply, empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of someone else. Beyond active listening, it means truly putting yourself in the person’s shoes and trying to imagine how their situation must feel for them. Therapists, counselors, and psychologists who are naturally empathetic can connect with their patients on a deeper level, creating space for them to open up and share their experiences. While not all jobs in this field will be public-facing ones that deal directly with people, you still need empathy even if you’re in a lab or classroom studying human behavior. Keep in mind this does not mean that you have to be a social butterfly or extrovert to succeed in this field. You simply need the willingness to connect, feel, and relate to people, even if their experience is different from yours.

A Desire for Life-Long Learning

Psychology isn’t a subject that anyone can become 100% proficient in. Rather, this is a field that you’ll work on throughout the course of your career. If you enjoy learning on a continuous basis, this might be music to your ears! Even with all of the collective knowledge that we’ve gained throughout the years, the mysteries of the mind are still vast. Around every curve, there’s always something new to discover. If you’re a genuinely curious person who never grows tired of finding out something new, then this major will definitely appeal to you.

Openness and Trust

Do your friends and family members regularly come to you for advice and help? If they know they can trust you, they’re more willing to share what’s on their hearts and minds. The same will hold true for the people or patients you work with. You’ll be required to hold space for some of their closest held feelings, thoughts, and emotions. For them to open up, they must be confident that they can trust you. This will require you to be both open-minded and non-judgmental, willing to listen, understand, and protect the information they choose to share with you.

Learn More About Becoming a Psychology Major

Now that you know a little more about what this field includes and the kinds of traits it requires, are you thinking about becoming a psychology major? This can be a richly rewarding sector to enter, filled with strong job prospects, high earning potential, and of course — the opportunity to make a major and meaningful difference in the lives of those you help. At NDNU, we’re here to help you begin your academic journey the right way. If you’re interested in learning more about the two psychology degree programs we offer, feel free to speak to our team!

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Belmont, CA 94002
(650) 508-3500

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Notre Dame de Namur University is an equal opportunity employer firmly committed to non-discrimination in its hiring and other employment practices and personnel policies. In compliance with all applicable federal and state laws, except where a bona fide occupational qualification exists, NDNU will make employment decisions irrespective of the staff member’s race, color, religion, religious creed, ancestry, national origin, age (except for minors), sex, marital status, citizenship status, military service status, sexual orientation, medical condition (a cancer-related or genetic condition), disability and/or any another status protected by law. When necessary, the NDNU will reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities if they are otherwise qualified to perform all essential functions safely and do it without undue hardship to the NDNU. Inquiries regarding the College’s equal opportunity policies should be directed to the Human Resources Department via email at hr@ndnu.edu. NDNU admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school administered programs.

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Mark Dee

Magellan Solutions USA launched under the visionary leadership of Mark A. K. Dee, Chief Executive Officer – a consultant and service provider for healthcare administrative support, IT development, energy, call center, and business process outsourcing. Mark has served in various multi-level management positions in his 21 years of service in the United States Air Force (USAF). He performed as Immunology and Microbiology department manager, Medical Laboratory Assistant Director, Facility and Security Manager, and finally retiring in the military in 2008 as Superintendent/Assistant Chief of Operations of 330 personnel Medical Group. Mark has experiences in the services industries since he retired, including running a restaurant chain as the CEO. He has also developed other businesses in the Martials Arts studio and 3d-printing industries. He has a BS in Health Sciences and Hospital Administration, Board Certified in Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Graduated in the Senior Executive Leadership School from the USAF, Master’s in Business Administration, and a Master’s of Science in Systems Management at Notre Dame De Namur University.

Chosen Cheng

Chosen Cheng is owner of CMC Group, a privately held engineering and marketing consultancy for small business startup ventures. He currently works with project teams developing patented award-winning solar roofing systems and patent pending drone-based augmented reality geological and thermal mapping solutions. He was formerly a Silicon Valley marketing and innovative corporate training manager. As an avocation and a way to “pay it forward” he enjoys teaching and career coaching college and graduate MBA students many of whom are pioneering first generation college students from underserved communities. He and his wife, a Notre Dame alum, celebrated their wedding reception at the Ralston Mansion in the 70’s and have two stupendously successful, married adult children who between them have four stupendously adorable grandchildren.

Arthur Chait

Entrepreneur, Executive, Engineer, Investor, Professor, Mentor. Founder & CEO EoPlex Inc. ($31 million VC funded startup acquired by ASTI Singapore). President Stanford Research Institute (SRI) Consulting Division (800 staff worldwide). SVP Flextronics (responsible for $8 Billion in global accounts). President Zitel Software. Principal Booz Allen. R&D Director Halliburton. Adjunct Professor Menlo College, Visiting Professor Universidad Francisco Marroquin (Guatemala), Mentor Draper University, Judge Startup Chile. BS Engineering Rutgers, MBA Strategy University Pittsburgh.

Kelly Cansler

Kelly completed both her BS (Finance/Economics) and MBA from NDNU. She utilized her business education to launch an insurance agency in 2008 with Farmers Insurance. It’s grown into multi-million-dollar agency, organically and through acquisition. She has been recognized by Farmers Insurance being ranked within the top 10% of agents nationwide, but also as a speaker, trainer, and mentor within the Farmers Insurance Community. Kelly is extremely connected with local businessowners through several networking channels.

Cliff Burnette

Cliff is the senior vice president and chief human resources officer at Rambus, a global chip and IP provider that advances data center connectivity and solves the bottleneck between memory and processing. Cliff has over 20 years of experience leading global human resources operations for publicly traded companies with expertise in employee relations, organizational development, and compensation strategy. Prior to Rambus, Cliff worked for several other high-tech companies in the semiconductor and medical device space and holds a bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Marketing from Texas State University and a master’s degree in Human Resources Management and Organization Development from the University of Texas at Austin.

Memo Morantes

Memo Morantes has been a San Mateo County resident for more than 45 years. He has been a three-term San Mateo County Board of Education incumbent, a Redwood City/San Mateo County Chamber of Commerce board member, a Sequoia Hospital Foundation member, a co-chair of the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo, and a civic/community activist. 

Sheryl Young

Sheryl serves as a director for Philanthropic Ventures Foundation, which provides $10M each year for innovative teachers and social entrepreneurs throughout the Bay Area. Prior Sheryl served as CEO of Community Gatepath and AbilityPath.org. She has over 30 years of managerial experience in operations, finance, and marketing. Young is a graduate of the Stanford University Graduate School of Business Executive Program for Non-Profit Leaders, earned an M.A. of Public Health from UC Berkeley, an M.A. in Special Education from Ball State University and a B.A. in Political Science from Purdue University.

Brian Schumacker

Brian manages South San Francisco-San Bruno’s wastewater treatment plant and with a dedicated staff of over 40 professionals who safeguard community health and protect the fragile San Francisco Bay ecosystem. Brian holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration, both from Notre Dame de Namur University. Brian has also earned the highest levels of professional certifications in wastewater treatment.

Mario Rendon

Mario Rendon serves as District Director for State Assemblymember Kevin Mullin. He develops the communications, public relations and constituent service strategy for the office and supervises a small team that represents Mr. Mullin in the 22nd Assembly District within San Mateo County. He has over twenty year’s experience working with elected officials at the local, state and federal level developing public policy.

Jerry Hill

Jerry’s public service started with his local neighborhood association that progressed to the California State Assembly and Senate where he authored legislation resulting in laws on issues related to consumer protection, utility safety, coastal protection, public health, education and the environment. Jerry was born and raised in San Francisco, receiving his BA from the University of California, Berkeley and a Teaching Credential from San Francisco State University.

Magda Gonzalez

Magda was most recently the City Manager for the City of Half Moon Bay, California. Prior she was the City Manager of East Palo Alto, California and Assistant City Manager, Redwood City. Magda was President of Cal-ICMA, representing the Local Government Hispanic Network and serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and the Latino Leadership Council of San Mateo County. Magda is also a member of ICMA and the State Bar of California and received several awards and recognitions, including Career Excellence Award (WLG) and the Ethical Hero Award from Cal-ICMA.

Jeremy Dennis

Jeremy currently serves as Portola Valley Town Manager. Previously, he’s worked for elected officials at all governance levels, including twice as District Director for local assemblymembers. He worked as the Palo Alto Long Range Planning Director, and for San Mateo County in management roles. Jeremy has a Masters in Urban Planning from the London School of Economics, and graduated from UC Davis studying US History/Political Science.

Kate Comfort-Harr

Kate is Executive Director of HIP Housing, a nonprofit specializing in creative affordable housing solutions throughout San Mateo County. Kate is a frequent speaker on a wide array of affordable housing topics and is passionate about the cultivation of collaborations between the private, public and social sectors. She serves on the Board of Directors for the San Mateo Credit Union and was awarded the Chamber San Mateo County’s 2020 Business Woman of the Year Award.

Jeff Cox

Program Director for Master of Public Administration

Jerome Nadel

Jerome Nadel is Internationally experienced design-led marketing executive (CMO and GM) with a track record of improved market position, revenue growth, and M&A. He is an advance degreed psychologist and user experience product/service design expert, board member and advisor. Jerome recently retired from Rambus as where he was CMO and GM of the security software division that he led the sale to Visa. He has had a variety of chief marketing officer and chief user experience officer roles at companies including Human Factors International, SLP InfoWare, Gemplus, and Sagem. He started his career in the IBM Human Factors Labs. He is also an avid cyclist with National and multiple California State Champion titles.