Here we list possible tracks you can take in psychology. For each track, we list 1) the classes you should take 2) some 'beyond the classroom' activities/internships/experiences you should pursue and 3) careers that might emerge for you.
Do you want a career in Forensic Psychology?
Essential Courses
PSYC 115: Psychopathology
PSYC 144: Psychological Assessment
PSYC 163: Substance Abuse & Addiction
PSYC 167: Psychopharmacology
PSYC 172: Adolescent Development
PSYC 131: Cognitive Psychology
Suggesting Advanced Topics Classes: Psychopathology, or Personality
Further consideration
PSYC 182: Psychology of Gender
PSYC 150: Social Psychology
PSYC 185: Developmental Psychology
PSYC 160: Personality and Affective Science
PSYC 162: Cultural Psychology
From other departments
CHST 4: Cultural Competence and Humility with Children and Families
ETHN 5: Intro to the Study of Race and Ethnicity in the US
ETHN 127: Race and Mass Incarceration*
SOC 33: Social Problems in the US
SOC 65: Crime and Delinquency
SOC 145: Popular Culture in the Era of Mass Imprisonment*
SOC 159: Crime and Punishment*
SOC 161: The Criminal Justice Systems*
*upper division classes might not be available to psych majors without other prerequisites
Beyond the classroom
Take an ELSJ class as well as an Internship Practicum (PSYC 198).
Get experience working with your population of interest (e.g., work with social workers, work at community service organizations)
Look for internship/research assistant opportunities with these keywords: social work, forensics, forensics, criminal justice, law
Faculty go-to person: Tom Plante, Kieran Sullivan, Tim Urdan
Do you want a career in User Experience/Data Science/Human Factors?
Essential Courses
PSYC 144: Psychological Assessment (for survey construction)
PSYC 150: Social Psychology
PSYC 131: Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 120: Perception
PSYC 157: Industrial/Organizational Psychology (for insights into the business world)
PSYC 130: Psychology of Learning
PSYC 197, 198, 199: Research and/or Internship Experiences
Suggested Advanced Topics Classes: Social, Personality, or Culture and Emotion
Take as many Research Methods and Statistics classes as you can and try to excel in them! R can be downloaded for free, and there are also many free online resources and tutorials (e.g., DataCamp, R for Data Science).
Further consideration
Something to help "understand the user", so at least one of the following:
PSYC 160: Personality and Affective Science
PSYC 162: Cultural Psychology
PSYC 182: Psychology of Gender
PSYC 114: Ethics in Psychology
From other departments
CSCI 10: Computer Science
Courses focused on design (e.g., graphic design, web design, principles of design)
Courses focused on management
Qualitative Research Methods
Beyond the classroom
Get experience using data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, R, and SPSS)
Look for internship/research assistant opportunities with these keywords: data analysis, research analyst, research assistant, user experience (UX) research, market research
Faculty go-to person: Katy Bruchmann
Here is an example of a recent alum on this track.
Do you want a career in Neuroscience?
Essential courses
NEUR 1: Introduction to Neuroscience
NEUR 10: Explorations in Neuroscience
NEUR 150: Neuroscience Seminar
PSYC 65: Foundations of Behavioral Neuroscience lab
PSYC 138: Human Memory
PSYC 131: Cognitive Psychology
PSYC 165: Behavioral Neuroscience
PSYC 166: Human Neuropsychology
PSYC 167: Psychopharmacology
PSYC 169: Cognitive Neuroscience
Suggested Advanced Topics Classes: Neuroscience, Learning, or Cognitive
Take as many Research Methods and Statistics classes as you can and try to excel in them! R can be downloaded for free, and there are also many free online resources and tutorials (e.g., DataCamp, R for Data Science).
Further consideration
If you are particularly interested in language, take PSYC 137: Psycholinguistics, Comm 176A: The biology of communication.
If you are particularly interested in clinical applications, take PSYC 117: Psychopathology, PSYC 130: Psychology of Learning, PSYC 167: Psychopharmacology, PHIL32: Neuroethics, PSYC 196: Psychology of Aging.
If you are considering graduate school, take PSYC 165: Behavioral Neuroscience, PSYC 169: Cognitive Neuroscience, NEUR 150: Neuroscience seminar, MATH 35, CSCI 10.
If you’re considering medical school, take MATH 35, PHYS 11, 12, 13, BIOL 1A, B, C, CHEM 11, 12, 13, 31, 32, 33.
Beyond the classroom
Get experience using data analysis tools (e.g., Excel, R, SPSS, Matlab)
Look for internship/research assistant opportunities with these keywords: behavioral neuroscience, cognitive neuroscience, psychology, neuropsychology, gerontology.
Faculty go-to person: Patti Simone, Lang Chen, Jen Frihauf
Do you want a career in Clinical/Counseling Psychology?
Essential courses
PSYC 115: Psychopathology
PSYC 144: Psychological Assessment
PSYC 114: Ethics in Psychology
PSYC 198: Internship
Suggested Advanced Topics Classes: Health, Culture and Emotion, Psychopathology, or Motivation
Further consideration
For work in general behavioral health, hospitals, public health
PSYC 117: Health Psychology
For work with couples and families
PSYC 153: Psychology of Close Relationships
For cultural competence in working with clients
PSYC 193: Psychology of Religion and Spirituality
PSYC 162: Cultural Psychology
PSYC 182: Psychology of Gender
For work with clients with substance use disorders
PSYC 163: Substance Abuse and Addiction
For work with psychiatric patients
PSYC 167: Psychopharmacology
For work with children and adolescents
PSYC 185: Developmental Psychology
PSYC 172: Adolescent Development
PSYC 134: Psychology of Education
PSYC 137: Psycholinguistics
Beyond the classroom:
Take an ELSJ class as well as an Internship Practicum (PSYC 198).
Get experience working with your population of interest (e.g., volunteering for crisis hotlines, work with social workers, work at community service organizations)
Look for internship/research assistant opportunities with these keywords: social work, therapist, counselor, licensing, trainee
Faculty go-to person: Tom Plante, Kieran Sullivan
Do you want a career in Organizational Dynamics or Industrial/Organizational Psychology?
Essential Courses
PSYC 157: Industrial/Organizational Psychology
PSYC 102: Writing in Psychology
PSYC 144: Psychological Assessment
PSYC 114: Ethics in Psychology
PSYC 150: Social Psychology
PSYC 198: Internship
Suggested Advanced Topics Classes: Motivation, Social Psychology
Take as many Research Methods and Statistics classes as you can and try to excel in them! R can be downloaded for free, and there are also many free online resources and tutorials (e.g., DataCamp, R for Data Science).
For Further Consideration
For deeper knowledge on relevant Psychology topics:
PSYC 160 - Personality and Affective Science
For broader understanding of how other disciplines approach the same or related topics:
SOC 1 - Principles of Sociology
SOC 119 - Sociological Theory
ECON 1 - Principles of Microeconomics
Beyond the classroom
There are two primary routes you can take as an I/O Psychologist, academic (e.g., professor) and industry (e.g., consultant, HR analyst). The below recommendations will help prepare you for either, though you may want to more strongly pursue certain areas if you know which route you are interested in (e.g., if academic, pursue more research assistantships).
Obtain one (or more) research assistantships, working alongside a professor to get more hands-on experience with the I/O literature, research design, data analysis, and academic writing.
Learn more about (or join) SIOP, the I/O membership organization.
Look for internship opportunities with these keywords: research, human resources, organizational development, consulting, people (or talent) analytics. Learn more about the different types of internships on SIOP’s Internships page.
Faculty go-to person: Nora Abdoun
Do you want a career in Academic Research?
Essential courses
Take as many Research Methods and Statistics classes as you can and try to excel in them! R can be downloaded for free, and there are also many free online resources and tutorials (e.g., DataCamp, R for Data Science).
For other essential courses, talk to a faculty member, who conducts research and teaches upper division courses in an area closest to your interests.
Beyond the classroom
Academic research positions are extremely competitive and require acceptance to research-based PhD programs. The Psychology Honors program can help students prepare for the rigor of this kind of training and demonstrate a record of high achievement.
Prepare to take the GRE.
Get experience conducting research projects first hand using research tools specific to your subfield of interest (e.g., survey design in Qualtrics, eye-tracking, EEG) and data analysis tools (e.g., SPSS and R). A great way to conduct research is to work with SCU Psychology faculty in one of our labs.
Look for internship/research assistant opportunities with these keywords: research assistant, lab manager, data analysis
Faculty go-to person: The faculty member that is closest to your interest
Here is an example of a recent alum on this track.
Do you want a career in Marketing/Consumer Behavior?
Consider adding a Retail Studies Minor with the Retail Management Institute at the Leavey School of Business. (Note: the link to the minor page can be a button if that works better).
SCU Psychology alumna Katie Holmes ‘23 shares her experience with the Retail Studies Minor, and discusses how it has impacted her job performance in management consulting.