Please conduct research as needed for your particular area of expertise. There are too many potential career paths in behavioral sciences to list them all and adequately cover the scope of the career and provide income projections in each career niche.
Most, however, have a great career outlook in behavioral science. Additionally, data from agencies such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics and industry associations is often a collective presentation of the industry, with career data grouped under a broader category. For purposes of this document, career information is detailed under the broader category of psychology and applied behavior analysis.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook projects that overall employment of psychologists is expected to grow 19 percent through While job prospects should be best for individuals with doctoral degrees, both the American Psychological Association Demographics of the U. Behavior Analyst Workforce: Understanding the National Demand for Behavior Analysts cite increases in job growth in both fields of psychology and applied behavior analysis.
Because psychologists are in demand to help individuals best manage emotional challenges, using an assortment of cognitive, interpersonal and behavioral therapies. This covers a wide range of applications including work with the aging population, veterans suffering from war trauma, and individuals with autism and other disorders.
As awareness and acceptance of the link between mental health and learning grows, so will jobs for school psychologists to work with special needs students or those with behavioral disorders. Psychologists are also impacting the workforce. Using theory, research, statistics and quantitative models to understand the psychology of people at work, psychologists study the performance of employees and the organizational dynamics to analyze how behavior can be influenced or changed, which in turn leads to solutions that benefit the employees and the company.
Practitioners in applied behavior analysis ABA focus on the function of behavior, using principles of behaviorism to affect behavior, either to obtain a more positive outcome or to avoid a behavior.
The use of applied behavior analysis has expanded steadily over the past 30 years due to the acceptance by insurance companies of it being a viable means of treatment for children suffering from autism and other behavioral issues such as ADHD and personality disorders. Applied behavior analysts study and measure behavior to train individuals, support professionals, teachers and parents in the techniques and interventions that bring about positive behavior changes.
This is a successful treatment for behavior issues in children and adults, those with special needs and mental disorders, kids with educational apathy, the elderly, athletes, industrial workers and those with criminal behavior. In this field of behavioral science, demand has more than doubled between and , with 85 percent of the job postings in health care, educational services and social assistance industries. Growth also comes as a result of increased advocacy and a growing awareness of treatment benefits.
For more information on the scope of specialties available in each of these disciplines, visit:. According to the Department of Health and Human Services, 13 percent of the population was over 65 years of age in , with 10 percent of this population diagnosed with dementia. By , 20 percent of the population will have reached 65 years of age. While the average lifespan has continued to increase, the attention to physical and mental issues associated with advanced age has not kept pace.
In fact, the National Institute on Aging estimates that 5, full-time, doctoral-level geropsychologists will be needed by to accommodate the increasing demands of aging baby boomers. Behavioral Science vs. Psychology Degree. Online Degrees Vs Behavioral Science vs. Vs Behavioral Science vs. Psychology Degree Business Administration vs. Business Analytics Business Degree vs. Nursing Degree. What Is a Behavioral Science Degree? Corporate Coach : Also known as executive coaches, these professionals work with executives or other leaders to help them identify goals, improve self-awareness, and develop professionally.
They do not typically give advice the way a therapist or consultant does, but rather they ask clarifying questions to help leaders identify solutions on their own.
Behavioral Scientist : These professionals work in fields such as law enforcement and social services, and have varied responsibilities that can include investigating public health issues or developing educational programs. For example, a behavioral scientist might develop a method to reduce the likelihood of repeated crimes, drug abuse, or another specific issue within a community by analyzing data and identifying patterns that address the underlying cause.
Behavioral Science Researcher : These professionals conduct behavioral research studies at universities, healthcare facilities, and private companies. They interpret and analyze the outcomes of statistical tests; make informed choices on how to measure, screen, and prepare data; and prepare journal articles or oral presentations to share and distribute findings.
Steps to Earning Your Behavioral Science Degree Behavioral science degrees commonly feature coursework dedicated to various aspects of health, including psychology, sociology, and physiology. What Is a Psychology Degree? Types of Careers Human Resources HR Specialist : HR professionals coordinate the hiring and internal communication activities of personnel within a company or organization.
They use their insights on human behavior to make determinations on new hires and navigate sensitive workplace conversations. Mental Health Counselor : These psychology professionals use their understanding of the human mind to help people care for their mental health, especially when faced with challenges such as grief, marital problems, and anxiety. Market Research Analyst: Market research analysts collect and process data about a target audience for a company and use that information to sell products.
Using their insight into consumer behavior, these analysts can help guide marketing strategies that can lead to desired marketplace outcomes for a brand or company. Skills Developed Through a Psychology Degree Several of the skills developed through a psychology degree are similar to those cultivated by a behavioral science degree, such as analytical and communication competencies.
Steps to Earning Your Psychology Degree The coursework associated with earning a psychology degree typically covers subjects directly pertaining to the concept of psychology, such as abnormal psychology, biological psychology, and human cognition.
These career sectors include: Healthcare: Professionals in this field help others overcome personal or socioeconomic roadblocks to improve their well-being. This field can range from psychotherapy to social work. Education: This field enables individuals to apply their knowledge and skills to a classroom setting, up to and including the post-secondary level. Research: Professionals in this field apply their knowledge toward the research and development of programs designed to help people overcome psychological, developmental, and sociological challenges.
Differences Between Behavioral Science and Psychology The differences between behavioral science and psychology degrees include the focus and coursework of the degrees themselves, as well as potential career paths.
Career Paths Psychology majors can pursue work as psychologists, mental health counselors, or survey researchers, or in other specialties such as forensic psychology, grief counseling, or developmental psychology. State and local licensing requirements vary depending on the profession and level of expertise. Employers typically set their own hiring requirements, which can vary. For example, you can work the front desk at a shelter for women with substance abuse issues if you have a high school diploma and minimal work experience.
The following are examples of actual job openings and associated requirements taken from employers across the country:. As you can see there are a tremendous number of very different career options within the behavioral sciences. All of them study human behaviors in order to help improve society by helping one individual at a time from grieving widows, to children, domestic violence victims and even in a prophylactic capacity as a public health educator.
As a behavioral science degree holder you will have myriad options to help people. For example, as a probation officer you can help people to have the resources and direction to get a second chance at life. If you prefer the prevention of crime, you can work with police investigating crimes as a criminologist. Perhaps you are someone who wants to work with children who have disabilities, as a special education teacher you can help children overcome their challenges to gain an education and a higher self-esteem.
As a grief counselor you can help grieving families come to terms with their loss so they can return to an enjoyable and productive life. The impact of our behavioral scientists on society is very substantial.
One way a behavioral scientist can impact society is by working with non-profits as a Grant writer who helps to secure funding. The impact of a public health educator is very significant and includes reduction of communicable diseases within their community by educating the public on healthier decisions and behaviors.
There are many positive ways you can help society in the behavioral sciences. There are a broad range of career options in the fields of social and behavioral sciences.
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