Community psychology is a dynamic, growing field that relates to a variety of career paths. If you’re interested in applying psychological concepts to individuals or communities, this could be the right field for you.
By graduating with a community psychology degree, you open yourself up to a variety of career paths to consider.
Social work
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the demand for social workers is expected to rise by 16 percent from 2016-2026, much faster than the national average. A degree in community psychology can help if you’re interested in a social work position.
For example, you could seek an entry-level role as a residential caseworker, providing support and guidance to individuals at places such as group homes or facilities for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Residential caseworkers supervise clients and help execute their treatment and service plans, as well as assist them in their day-to-day activities.
In addition to supporting their daily life skills activities, residential caseworkers also use counseling techniques to promote positive behavior and perform crisis intervention. Caseworkers must keep careful records with treatment notes, records, incident reports, and so on.
Additionally, a career in social work with a community psychology degree can place you into a variety of settings, including:
- Mental health clinics
- Schools
- Child welfare and human service agencies
- Hospitals
- Settlement houses
- Community development corporations
- Private practices
Counseling
A degree in community psychology can prepare you for a career in counseling, potentially working in settings such as group homes, community organizations, correction centers, and education facilities.
The responsibilities of an entry-level counselor can include:
- Conducting group and individual meetings
- Delivering treatment to participants
- Evaluating participant progress
- Developing and implementing treatment plans
Counselors can also work closely with other staff members to support an organization’s overall mission.
Digital Marketing
It may seem surprising that community psychology can lead to a career in digital marketing, but it can. Community psychology techniques can be applied to evaluate market research, branding strategies, and social media strategy.
If you’re interested in psychology and marketing, leveraging your community psychology degree toward a position in social media could be a great option.
People who pursue careers in social media have strong interpersonal, verbal, and written skills. They use these to plan out a social media strategy for businesses and organizations. Data analysis, market research, and reporting is also part of the process.
Community management is a vital component to jobs in social media. This entails responding to comments and inquiries online. A strong understanding of people and empathy is important for success in this line of work, making a degree in community psychology a great choice for people considering pursuing this type of profession.
Teaching
You can apply a degree in community psychology in this career to understand and work with children or adults of various temperaments and learning styles. This often involves working with people who possess different special needs and cultural backgrounds. However, you may also need to pursue additional licensure.
After-school (or before-school) teachers typically work with younger students in elementary schools, charter schools, and preschools. These teachers can be responsible for coordinating a comprehensive program for children. This involves planning, supervising, and implementing age-appropriate activities.
Nonprofit Management
A degree in community psychology could lead you into a career path in nonprofit management. A community program director is one example of this.
Community program directors can work at schools, park districts, camps, and other organizations. Program directors are usually responsible for everything from planning a curriculum to marketing the program, and the implementation of its various components.
Program directors oversee day-to-day operations, community outreach, and building relationships with community members and parents (if it’s a program for children).
This career requires excellent organizational, communication, and interpersonal skills.
Online Community Psychology Degree Programs
Pacific Oaks offers online and on-campus Community Psychology degrees. These programs prepare students with the skills to identify the needs of a community and design interventions that lead to positive and sustainable results.
Interested in beginning your community psychology education?
If one of the above careers sounds inspiring, it’s time to start your thinking about a degree in community psychology.
Pacific Oaks College offers in-person and online B.A. in Community Psychology programs. Fill out the information below to learn more or visit our community psychology program page.
