After four-plus years of studying, taking tests and producing papers for a countless number of classes, finally, you emerge with a head full of knowledge and a degree in hand ready to greet the working world.

There is just one question remaining: where to go now that the degree has finally been obtained.

Surprisingly, there are many opportunities that await a person with a psychology degree.”A degree in psychology is a very good foundation for going into many various other professions,” said Christye Peper, Career Center counselor.

There are numerous entry-level jobs for a person with this type of degree, although after even the most scrutinized search, this may seem like a very well-kept secret.

The key in finding these jobs is knowing where and how to look for them; you won’t find an entry-level job for a “psychologist.”

This fact means that additional detective work must be done to search out job options for psychology majors.

The types of entry-level jobs for which undergraduate psychology majors are typically prepared are those that use people skills, analytical skills, writing skills, or research skills.Jobs that a psychology major might want to consider in the business area can include everything from an advertising agent to a claims specialist, sales representative, or store manager.

Other jobs in the mental health/social services arena would encompass everything from a behavior analyst, a caseworker or rehabilitation adviser to a social service director.Various other jobs that a psychology major might want to consider would include anything from a college admissions counselor or community recreation worker to a technical writer.

The salaries for these jobs vary from $20,000 to $55,000 per year, depending on the industry and the geographic area.

For students who are not interested in just an entry-level position, there are other alternatives.

Career Center Counselor David McVey explains that a person can go on to grad school to achieve a career related to psychology, or even jump through a few more hoops and apply to the credential program to go on to teaching.

Typically, salaries for a licensed psychologist range anywhere from $50,000 to $80,000, and salaries for a teacher range from $22,000 for an elementary teacher and on up to approximately $60,000, depending on the level taught.

Sometimes a student may decide that they do not want to go into the field of work that they had been planning to go into.

“Many students have not had the time to reflect on their own values, skills and interests to find out what their preferences are for the kind of work they want to be involved in,” McVey said. “The Career Center can teach a person how to explore the world of work to find a career that relates to who they are. There are many resources available at the Career Center for those who are not quite sure of the path they want to take and there is also help available for those who already have an idea of where they are going.”