Career Options

Psychology

psychology

Students graduating with a major (B.S./A.B.) in psychology will be well prepared for a variety of graduate (M.S./Ph.D.) education programs in psychology and related fields, including programs that focus on psychology research and on clinical practice (e.g., social work, clinical psychology). Completion of a Ph.D. in psychology would then facilitate a career as a scientist/educator in colleges and universities, government sponsored institutions or private industry. Psychology majors from Duke will also be highly competitive for admission to non-psychology graduate programs, such as medical, law, and business school. Even for those not interested in graduate training, psychology is excellent preparation for nearly any career in which an understanding of human behavior is important. Students who graduate with a degree in psychology go on to pursue a variety of professional paths, such as:

  • Academia, education, and teaching (teach psychology and other subjects; research and consulting; work to improve funding for science education)
  • Business and law (marketing; advertising; human resources; lawyer)
  • Health-related careers (clinical research; health education)
  • Global health (global health reporting and research)
  • Creative sector (product design; advertising)
  • Consulting (management; private company)
  • Non-profit research or foundations (discovery specialist for research foundation)
  • Government and policy (policy advisor; public policy)
  • Writing and publishing (scientific journalist; educational writer/producer)
  • Innovation/entrepreneurship (devices; social and other media, medical health)

 

Neuroscience

 


NeuroscienceStudents graduating with a major (B.S./A.B.) in neuroscience will be well prepared for a variety of graduate (M.S./Ph.D.) education programs in neuroscience and related fields, including programs that feature studies in genetics and genomics, molecular and cellular neuroscience, systems neuroscience or cognitive science. Completion of a Ph.D. in neuroscience would then facilitate a career as a scientist/educator in colleges and universities, government sponsored institutions or private industry. Neuroscience majors from Duke will also be highly competitive for admission to medical school or any other health professions school, such as dental school or schools that prepare physical therapists or physician assistants. Given the broad impact of neuroscience, Duke neuroscience majors will be increasingly sought out by leaders in law, business, social sciences, arts, and humanities for collaboration where knowledge of the brain sciences addresses public policy, professional practice, and a broad understanding of human behavior, including the following fields:

  • Academia, education, and teaching (teach neuroscience; work to improve funding for science education)
  • Business and law (marketing; advertising; patent lawyer)
  • Health-related careers (clinical research; radiation physicist)
  • Global health (global health reporting; data collection focus on neurological health)
  • Creative sector (toy designer; advertising)
  • Consulting (management; private company)
  • Non-profit research or foundations (discovery specialist for research foundation)
  • Government and policy (policy advisor; public policy)
  • Writing and publishing (scientific journalist; educational writer/producer)
  • Innovation/entrepreneurship (devices; medical health)

More information about Career Options in Psychology & Neuroscience

  • Career service specialists are waiting to meet with you to discuss potential career options even before you declare your major
  • Talk with neuroscience and/or psychology professors; ask them about their experiences and what their career path has been like.
  • As a Psychology & Neuroscience major, you will have a ‘major advisor’ that you can also talk to about your career path.