The psychology degree at Georgia Tech prepares you for many different career paths. Generally, career options are considered depending on whether a student decides to pursue graduate studies or not.
Students who want to leave school with a Bachelor's in Psychology will find employment opportunities in human resources, business, data science, advertising, and many other fields. The American Psychological Association's website gives an overview of the many paths open to psychology majors who end their education with a bachelor's. The decision tree below from University of California, Berkeley may also help generate some ideas.
Those who choose to pursue further education have even more opportunities. Those who continue their education in psychology specifically can look forward to opportunities as counseling and clinical psychologists, school psychologists, health psychologists, and many other applied fields. Those with a Ph.D. may choose to stay in academia as researchers and instructors, or apply their talents in industry fields as consultants and other professionals.
Pre-med Track with a Psychology Major
Historically, the Bachelor's in Psychology at Georgia Tech has been a great option for students looking to move on to medical school following graduation. The scientific foundation, emphasis on brain and behavior, and flexibility of the psychology degree make it an ideal choice for aspiring medical students, physician's assistants, physical therapists, and more!
There are many paths you can take as a pre-med student, but the most common for our students is pairing the Psychology Major with a Minor in Health and Medical Sciences (HMED). The combination of these programs will allow you to complete most, if not all, of the requirements for medical school. The HMED minor would count as 15 hours toward the required 32 hours of Free Electives a psychology major must complete. Any remaining requirements can be completed as Free Electives.
Students looking to pursue medical school are encouraged to reach out to their academic advisor and Georgia Tech's dedicated Pre-Health Advisors.
Pre-law Track with a Psychology Major
As with pre-med, psychology is a great undergraduate degree for anyone interested in pursuing law school. The program's emphasis on systematic thought, written communication, and verbal presentation as foundational skills make it a great fit as a pre-law major.
Students interested in pursuing law school are encouraged to pair the Psychology Major with a Minor in Law, Science, and Technology. This minor would account for 15 of your 32 required Free Electives hours as a psychology major. Additionally, Georgia Tech offers support for pre-law students, including online resources and dedicated advising.
