Understanding how the brain works helps you teach in a way that is meaningful and memorable. 

To be a successful educator, you need to present students with information in a way that is compelling and memorable. Classes in social psychology can help you understand what is important to students, and classes in cognition can help you present information in a way that is easy to understand.

Learn about successful psychology graduates working in education by clicking the links below.

Interested in a career in education? Check out the resources below.

Teacher

As a teacher, you would be creating and implementing lesson plans for various age groups and subject matters.

Recommended classes:

  • PSY 341 - Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 320 - Learning and Motivation 
  • PSY 324 - Memory and Cognition
  • PSY 344 - Directed Child Study
  • EDP 311 - Educational Psychology for Future Teachers

Typical salary: $42,000 - $80,000 per year

Requirements:

Special Education Teacher

As a special education teacher, you would adapt lesson plans to help promote development in children with a range of developmental disabilities.

Recommended classes:

  • PSY 341 - Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 443 - Abnormal Child Psychology
  • PSY 320 - Learning and Motivation
  • PSY 344 - Directed Child Study

Typical salary: $38,000 - $96,000 per year

Requirements:

Professor

As a professor, you would be creating and implementing lesson plans within your interested field of study, as well as conducting research of your choice. 

Recommended classes:

  • PSY 320 - Learning and Motivation
  • PSY 290 - Research Methods
  • PSY 350 - Social Psychology
  • PSY 230 - Introduction to Statistics
  • PSY 399/499 - Supervised Research is strongly recommended for students interested in graduate school

In order to be a competitive candidate for graduate school, students will need:

  • Experience working in a research lab or as a teaching assistant
  • Letters of recommendation from faculty
  • Strong GRE scores.

Typical salary: $39,000 - $170,000 per year

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in the academic field of your choice
  • 2-year master’s or 5-year doctoral degree depending on the academic field of interest

Click here to see the doctoral programs available in our Psychology department

Administrator

School administrators handle a variety of tasks required for the day-to-day operations of a school.

Recommended classes:

  • PSY 304 - Effective Thinking
  • PSY 320 - Learning and Motivation
  • PSY 440 - Industrial/Organizational Psychology
  • EDP 310 - Educational Psychology for Non-Teachers
  • PSY 370 - Interpersonal Relationships

Typical salary: $61,000 - $140,000 per year

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in educational studies or other related field
  • 2-year master’s degree

Click here to see ASU’s Master’s in Educational Leadership program

Advisor

As a college advisor, you would assist college students in registering for classes, ensure they fulfill graduation requirements and maintain student records.

Recommended classes:

  • EDP 310 - Educational Psychology for Non-Teachers
  • PSY 315 - Personality Theory and Research
  • FIN 123 - ASU Financial Literacy
  • CAP 120 - Introduction to Counseling

Typical salary: $53,000 per year

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in the academic field of your choice
  • 2-year master’s degree

School Counselor

As a school counselor, you would track student’s school performance, identify any issues contributing to poor performance and help students develop needed skills.

Recommended classes:

  • CAP 120 - Introduction to Counseling
  • PSY 341 - Developmental Psychology
  • PSY 344 - Directed Child Study
  • PSY 370 - Interpersonal Relationships
  • PSY 399/499 - Supervised Research is strongly recommended for students interested in graduate school

Typical salary: $32,000 - $92,000 per year

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in the academic field of your choice
  • 2-year master’s degree in school counseling
  • Pass the relevant state licensure exam

School Psychologist

As a school psychologist, you would try to identify students with learning disabilities or mental health problems and develop plans to help address these issues.

Recommended classes:

  • CAP 120 - Introduction to Counseling
  • PSY 341 - Developmental Psychology
  • CAP 120 - Introduction to Counseling
  • PSY 366 - Abnormal Psychology
  • PSY 399/499 - Supervised Research is strongly recommended for students interested in graduate school

Typical salary: $42,000 - $124,000 per year

Requirements:

  • Bachelor’s degree in psychology, education or other related fields
  • 2-year master’s or 5-year doctoral degree
  • Pass the National Certified School Psychologist exam or other state licensure test

Interested in finding an internship or mentor in education? Fill out the form below.