Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals

Wiley-Blackwell: Used with permission

Title: Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals
Authors: Jeffrey L. Helms and Daniel T. Rogers
Genre: Educational Psychology, Career Goals
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
Publication Date: 2010
eBook: 2011. Available in Kindle format
Hardcover:  ISBN-10: 1405190647
Pages: 336

Review

Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals, by psychology professors Jeffrey L. Helms and Daniel T. Rogers, is a thorough, well researched and easy to read handbook on choosing a career in the field of psychology. This book looks at all aspects of a psychology career from being an undergraduate major through the weighty choice of a career in neuropsychology and everything in between. This book would work well as a textbook for a career planning course or for an individual who is contemplating entering this field.

Choosing Psychology College Programs

The first part of the book tackles the major in psychology, and includes chapters on why one would choose this major, the college experience and how to succeed as a psychology major, as well as assessing and developing career goals. Bachelor's and master's degree programs in psychology are discussed, including chapters on how to select a college or university program, how to get an entry-level position, and how to prepare for an advanced degree.

This part of the book follows a logical pattern, and each chapter in this section includes suggested exercises for readers to help them focus on the material presented in the chapter. These are very hands-on activities such as talking with those already in the field, keeping an activity log, conducting Internet investigations of current job openings and developing mock resumes, CVs and job applications. This section is very much oriented toward getting a student started and helping him succeed in college and in the job search.

Careers in Psychology

The second part of the book takes an in-depth look at the subfields of psychology from a career-oriented approach. Each of these chapters includes an introduction of the subfield in question, with a description of the type of work one would do in that particular field – including salary and employment issues to be aware of. Training and degrees needed for the field are discussed, as well as which jobs can be performed with a bachelor's degree and which need an advanced degree.

In this section, each chapter includes a guest essay by a noted practicing psychologist in the field and a professional spotlight on one psychologist that includes education, professional memberships, and words of advice for students interested in each particular subfield. These chapters all end with suggested exercises and readings by topic area.

Jobs for Psychology Majors

Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals is a great resource that runs the gamut from undergraduate course choices, to finding work with bachelor's degree, to getting into graduate school. It gives a detailed look into the many careers one might choose with a psychology degree including careers in research, psychology in industry, clinical practice, counseling and education to the more esoteric fields such as neuropsychology, forensic psychology and academic careers in universities.

Comments

This book is a must read for anyone contemplating a major in psychology. Fittingly, the book ends with a chapter titled: "Assessing the Career Outlook for the Psychology Major."

What others are saying 

 From the Amazon.com website:

"A worthy addition to the growing literature on the keys to success for undergraduate psychology majors, the Helms and Rogers text is likely to be one of those books that conscientious psychology students refer to again and again."
—William Addison, Eastern Illinois University

"The Helms and Rogers text truly focuses on helping students achieve their educational and career goals. The authors go beyond the typical career books by presenting a realistic, robust, and diverse picture of possible careers in psychology. Bringing a variety of careers to life, the professional spotlights and profiles of real psychologists represent the true diversity of careers in the field.  I look forward to discussing it with my students."
—Tracy Zinn, James Madison University

"Helms and Rogers present critical information to help students get the most out of their psychology major. In addition, this book will answer questions about graduate school that students don't even know they have to ask. If students take the advice seriously, it will ensure their success."
—Barney Beins, Ithaca College

About the Authors

Dr. Jeffrey L. Helms is Professor of Psychology at Kennesaw State University where he joined the faculty in 2003. Prior academic appointments included teaching not only at the undergraduate level but also at the master's, specialist, and doctoral levels. His publications, research, and practice interests are predominantly in the areas of forensic psychology and the scholarship of teaching. Dr. Helms is a member of the American Psychological Association and the American Psychology-Law Society.

Daniel Rogers is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Kennesaw State University where he joined the faculty in 2005. His research and practice interests are in the areas of personality assessment, measurement, interpersonal and psychodynamic theories, and the scholarship of teaching and learning. His clinical experience includes work across the age spectrum and across levels of impairment, with emphasis on psychological assessment and psychodynamic interventions.

Book source

A pre-publication review copy of Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals was provided by Wiley-Blackwell.

Helms, Jeffrey L. and Daniel T. Rogers. Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals. Malden, MA: Wiley-Blackwell. 2010.

What others are saying and author information provided by Amazon.com.

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor. The copyright of the review of Majoring in Psychology: Achieving Educational and Career Goals in My Book Blog: eBook Reviews is owned by Irene Taylor. Permission to republish in print or online must be granted by the author of this blog in writing.