A Career in Psychology

Interest in studying psychology has grown enormously in recent years. Not only is psychology a fascinating subject to study, but it also prepares graduates for a very wide range of careers. Some of these have obvious connections with psychology and are listed below.
But psychology also provides useful training for a much wider range of career options. These include market research, social work, teaching, nursing, advertising, sales, media and broadcasting, personnel management and even the police and the Armed Forces.

A university degree is often just the starting point for further training in a particular branch of psychology. Some of the available psychology degree programs in Kenya include:

Degree Programs

• Bachelor of Counselling Psychology - Mt Kenya University

• Bachelor of Arts Counselling Psychology - Kenyatta University

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - United States International University Africa (USIU-A)

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Counselling - Africa International University

• Bachelor of Psychology - Laikipia University

Masters Programs

• Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology - United States International University Africa (USIU-A)

• Master of Arts in Counselling and Psychology - United States International University Africa (USIU-A)

• Master of Education in Guidance and Counseling - Kenya Methodist University

Branches of Psychology

• Clinical Psychology: Training in clinical psychology usually takes place after students have obtained relevant work experience in clinical psychology. Students then undertake a three-year postgraduate training course.
• Counselling Psychology: Counselling psychologists help people cope with difficult life events such as divorce, bereavement and unemployment.
• There are numerous different approaches to counselling and training requirements vary accordingly.
• Educational Psychology: Educational psychology is closely allied to developmental psychology. Educational psychologists work in schools, together with teachers and parents, to enhance children's learning and development, especially in cases of behavioural and learning difficulties. Training involves an initial degree in psychology, a teaching qualification and at least 2 years experience of teaching in schools, before starting postgraduate training in educational psychology.
• Forensic Psychology: Forensic psychologists work in the field of criminal and civil justice, providing support to the police, the prison and probation services, the National Health Service and the Social Services. Postgraduate courses in forensic psychology typically require one year of full-time study.
• Health Psychology: Health psychologists help people cope better with illness and treatment. They are interested in how people perceive illness and adapt to it, how they interact with health care professionals, and how they cope with pain and different treatment regimes. Postgraduate training typically requires one year of full-time study.