If you’re interested in people and what affects their behavior, you might want to consider pursuing a bachelor’s in psychology. A BS in Psychology degree program exposes you to psychological research and theories, while helping you acquire skills you can use to help others. Explore these 10 reasons to earn a degree in psychology.

Five Hidden Benefits of Earning a BS in Psychology

1. Your own relationships may improve. Through your studies, you’ll gain insights into human behavior. This can assist you in not only understanding others but also in helping yourself. When you understand why someone behaves the way they do, even if you don’t appreciate their behavior, you can develop more compassion toward them.
2. There’s always something new to learn. The human brain still holds mysteries. When you study psychology, you’ll learn the latest theories about how our minds work. Thanks to cutting-edge research, new discoveries are being made constantly, so you’ll always have new findings to learn.
3. You’ll learn to think critically. Psychology is defined as the science of mind and behavior. It’s a scientific field that involves testing hypotheses and questioning assumptions. When you study psychology, you’ll develop critical thinking skills that you can use in any job as well as in everyday life.
4. You’ll gain research skills. As a psychology student, you’ll learn how to design research studies and analyze data. You’ll experience what it’s like to use empirical methods to collect and interpret data. In any future job, you’ll be able to apply these skills to create and conduct surveys that can yield valid results.
5. It’s a versatile degree. A degree in psychology can be applied to just about any career field. Understanding human behavior is an important skill in the workplace, and studying psychology provides a great foundation for that. In fact, below you’ll discover five possible career options for a BS in Psychology graduate.

Five Potential Career Paths for BS in Psychology Graduates¹

1. Drug and alcohol abuse counseling. With a bachelor’s degree in psychology, you could pursue opportunities in addiction counseling. By choosing a degree program that offers a concentration in addiction studies, you’ll learn theories about why people develop addictive behaviors and what can be done to prevent addiction.
2. Court liaison. The legal system isn’t easy to navigate, but a court liaison keeps things running smoothly. Court liaisons coordinate witness schedules, complete official court documents, and may even serve subpoenas. They work with attorneys, law enforcement officers, judges, and clients.
3. Advertising. Psychology students study human motivation, and that knowledge is useful in the field of advertising. With a great understanding of individual and group behavior, you can craft targeted messages and campaigns to launch products and programs as an advertising associate.
4. Human resources. If you choose a concentration in workplace psychology for your bachelor’s in psychology, you’ll learn how psychology principles are applied to the workplace. You’ll study industrial and organizational psychology and explore everything from leadership principles to legal concerns.
5. Caseworker. Caseworkers work in a social work setting or in healthcare. Their role is to ensure their clients get the best possible care and services. If you become a caseworker or an advocate, you could help populations such as those with developmental disabilities, children, older adults, or those with mental illness. You would then work with service providers or agencies to get what your clients need, whether that’s housing, transportation, medical care, life-skills training, or employment.

A psychology degree has the potential to open up a variety of opportunities and can also enrich your personal life by deepening your understanding of human relationships and motivations. If you decide to pursue a bachelor’s in psychology, consider an online program. You can start your studies right away with online psychology classes. And you can finish your coursework at a time and in a location that works for you, rather than having to travel to classes on campus at specific times each week.

Walden University is an accredited institution offering online psychology degree programs, including a BS in Psychology. Walden’s bachelor’s in psychology concentrations include Addiction, Applied Psychology, Child and Adolescent Development, Forensic Psychology, General Psychology, Human Development, and Psychology: Individual and Society. Expand your career options and earn your BS in Psychology with a concentration of your choosing in a convenient, flexible format that fits your busy life.

¹Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of a degree program.

Walden University is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission, www.hlcommission.org.