Prevention Specialist

Prevention specialists work to educate at-risk youth about substance abuse and other high-risk activities. In this career, you may work in schools or in the community to encourage a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle. You plan and implement programs to help young people in the target demographic become aware of substance abuse issues and teach them how to make alternative lifestyle choices. You may prepare and host activities in schools to discourage tobacco and drug use and to encourage healthy habits.

Recommended classes:

• PSY 290 - Research Methods
• HCR 350 - Introduction to Clinical Research
• PSY 315 - Personality Theory and Research
• PSY 360 - Cognitive Science

Typical salary: $35,000 - $60,000 a year

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field
• Graduate Certificate (optional) in Prevention Science

Psychometrist

Psychometrists primarily create, score and evaluate neuropsychological, psychological, personality and academic tests given to patients. Psychometrists must work under the direct supervision of a clinical psychologist or neuropsychologist.

Recommended classes:

• PSY 290 - Research Methods
• HCR 350 - Introduction to Clinical Research
• PSY 315 - Personality Theory and Research
• PSY 360 - Cognitive Science

Typical salary: $25,000 - $57,000 a year

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field with at least 3000 hours of testing, scoring and other administrative work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist
       OR
• Masters or Doctoral degree with at least 2000 hours of testing, scoring and other administrative work under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or neuropsychologist
• Finally, you will want to complete a licensure exam to be board certified

Click here to learn more about how to become a licensed psychometrist

Counselor

Counselors work with individuals and groups to promote mental and emotional wellbeing. Counselors can both evaluate and treat mental health problems using counseling and psychotherapy. Counselors can specialize in issues from family or marital problems to substance abuse.

Recommended classes:

• CAP 120 - Introduction to Counseling
• PSY 370 - Interpersonal Relationships
• PSY 315 - Personality Theory and Research

Typical salary: $27,000 - 70,000 a year

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree in psychology or a closely related field
• Master’s degree in counseling or related fields
• After finishing a graduate degree, you will work on becoming licensed. Licensure requirements vary per state.

Click here to learn more about ASU’s Master’s in Counseling program

Click here to learn more about ASU’s Master’s in Human Systems Engineering

Click here to find out more about the different counselor licensing requirements by state

Clinical Psychologist

A clinical psychologist diagnoses and treats patients with mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders.

Recommended classes:

• PSY 366 - Abnormal Psychology
• PSY 472 - Clinical Psychology
• PSY 370 - Interpersonal Relationships
• PSY 315 - Personality Theory and Research

Typical salary: $39,000 - 100,000 a year

Job outlook: Expected to increase by 14% by 2026

• Bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology or a related field
• A doctoral degree (can be either a Ph.D. in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology degree (Psy.D.))
• 3,000 hours of supervised training required for licensure in Arizona

Psychiatrist

Psychiatrists specialize in diagnosing and treating mental illness. Psychiatrists differ from psychologists in that they can prescribe medication to help treat their patients.

Recommended classes:

• PSY 366 - Abnormal Psychology
• PSY 325 - Physiological Psychology
• PSY 224 - Introduction to Cognitive Neuroscience
• PSY 462 - Health Psychology

Typical salary: $71,000 - 250,000 a year

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree that will help you need medical school admissions requirements
• A medical degree (either an M.D. or a D.O.)
• Become licensed and board-certified