Choosing a major can feel overwhelming, especially when you are not sure what careers it can lead to after graduation. Did you know that the psychology major is the most popular major on the UC Davis campus? Yet, many students wonder what they can actually do with the degree. In fact, 6% of all degrees conferred in 2024 were in psychology. The truth is, psychology can open the door to many different paths for a student. 

What is Psychology? 

Psychology is the study of how people think, make decisions and interact with others. It is an essential part of society because it helps us understand why people make decisions and solve real-world problems. Kelly Torbet, a UC Davis psychology major advisor, explains how “psychology as a field of study broadly prepares students for a wide variety of careers.” 

“It is extremely common for employers to hire students of all majors,” Torbet said. “There's lot of great career exploration tools through the UC Davis Career Center.” 

Psychology provides a broad variety of options in the real world. Torbet also explains that psychology pairs well with many other majors on campus such as “sociology” and “human development” that are common degrees students often add as a double degree with the psychology major. 

What are the Psychology Degree Options at UC Davis? 

UC Davis offers a psychology degree as a major, minor and graduate program. Most students start with an introductory psychology class, then take more lower-division classes like statistics and research methods. These classes help prepare them for the harder, upper-division courses that they will take later. Furthermore, students have the option to pursue the degree as either a Bachelor of Science (B.S.)  or a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), depending on their individual interests and goals. 

What is the difference between pursuing the degree as a B.S. vs a B.A.? 

At UC Davis, choosing between pursuing a psychology degree as a B.S. or a B.A. comes down to the types of courses you want to take. A B.S. is geared toward more math and science focused students. Students can either choose a Biological emphasis, which requires 99 units and includes courses in math, physics, and biology, or a Quantitative emphasis, which requires 85 units, and includes math, chemistry, biology, and computer science courses in addition to psychology coursework. On the other hand, the B.A. is more flexible and geared toward students who prefer liberal arts subjects. It requires a minimum of 52 units and focuses on courses in human development, research methods, and human behavior, with fewer science requirements. Students can choose the option that best fits both their interests and future career goals. 

How are the Psychology Classes at UC Davis? 

UC Davis offers a variety of psychology courses that help students build a strong foundation in the subject. Amira Herrera, a first-year psychology student, shared she has “learned quite a lot” from the courses here. She also explained that her favorite psychology course she has taken so far was, “General Psych with Professor Rayo.” 

This is one of the first courses students interested in the major will take. Herrera continued, saying that even though she took similar classes in high school, she found herself learning much more in this course and gaining a deeper understanding of psychological terms and concepts.  

“After taking professor Rayo’s PSC 001 course last quarter, I can say that this course taught me a lot of relevant information about how to perceive the world which I still use in my everyday life,” Herrera said. 

What can you do with a Psychology degree?

Psychology is a broad field, so there are many career paths you can choose from. Some students go into healthcare careers, like therapy or counseling. Others use their degree in fields like Human Resources, research and business. In other words, this degree can lead to many opportunities. 

Here are some possible career options that many students who major in psychology go into: 

I. Allied Health Careers

Allied health careers focus on helping people improve their physical and mental well-being through treatment and hands-on-care.

1. Occupational therapist: 

What do they do? 

• Occupational therapists help people improve the quality of their daily lives and find solutions for people who are unable to perform functions like they used to either due to illness, injury or other circumstances.
• Average Salary: $98,340 (2024) 

 2. Physical Therapist 

 What do they do? 

• Physical therapists help people improve their motion and ease body pain after injuries or chronic health conditions.
• Average Salary: $101,020(2025) 

3) Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner: 

What do they do? 

• These professionals work with patients who have mental health conditions. They help improve the overall well-being of their patients through treatment and support.
• Average Salary: $124,680 (2024) 

4) Physicians Assistant: 

What do they do? 

• Physician assistants work closely with doctors. In hospitals, they help examine patients, assist in procedures, and manage patient care. 
• Average Salary: $133,260 

II. Clinical and Counseling jobs 

These careers involve direct work with patients to improve their mental, emotional and behavioral health. Many of these jobs require graduate school. 

1. Clinical Psychologist: 

What do they do? 

• Clinical Psychologists utilize multiple forms of therapy to treat and diagnose mental illness
• Average Salary: $94,310 (2024) 

2) Child Psychologist 

What do they do?  

• Child psychologists work with children treating emotional, behavioral or mental issues and finding strategies to help treat them.
• Average Salary: 87,450 (2024) 
• Job Growth: Salary is expected to grow 6% from 2024-2034

3) Psychiatrist:

What do they do?

• Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in treating mental health and earn a Doctor of Medicine degree, allowing them to prescribe medications.  
• Average Salary: $256,930 (2023) 

III. Non-Psychology careers

A psychology degree can also be used in careers outside of traditional psychology fields. 

1) Human Resources specialist: 

What do they do? 

• Human Resources specialists help hire employees and support them through training and workplace programs.
•  Average Salary: $72,910(2024)

2)  Market research analyst: 

What do they do? 

• Market research analysts study sales data and help companies understand customers and markets so they can make better business decisions.
• Average Salary: $76,950(2024) 

IV. Teaching-Careers 

• A degree in psychology gives you knowledge about the subject, which can help you work to teach and share this knowledge at both the undergraduate and the graduate level. 

1) Psychology Professor: 

What do they do? 

• Psychology professors teach psychology courses to students at a variety of undergraduate/graduate levels.
• Average Salary: $93,990(2024)  

What skills do you learn with a degree in psychology? 

Through studying psychology, you will learn a wide range of skills that will help you in many different careers, including: 

• Research skills 
• Critical thinking
• Understanding human behavior
• Teamwork 
• Problem-solving skills 
• Communication skills, and more

Hear from UC Davis Psychology Alumni

For many graduates, a psychology degree from UC Davis extends far beyond the classroom, shaping both their careers and daily lives.

Lisha Davidovits, a UC Davis psychology alumna, now works as a Success Coach. She credits her degree with giving her “a strong foundation for understanding workplace dynamics and the behaviors of those around me.” 

Through her studies, she developed critical thinking skills and gained “invaluable” communication and interpersonal abilities. These skills, she explains, have helped her “build relationships, write effectively, create presentations and marketing materials and network with confidence.” Reflecting on her experience, Davidovits shares that her UC Davis psychology degree has “shaped both [her] career and how [she] shows up in her life.” 

Another notable alumnus, Brian Victor, has built his career as a family law attorney. He emphasizes how central psychology is to his work, noting that “understanding how people think and behave is essential to reaching resolutions in high-conflict situations.” He describes the ability to understand human dynamics as his “greatest professional asset,” one that directly defines how he practices law every day. 

Victor affirms that his UC Davis psychology degree was “absolutely” worth it, providing him with essential communication skills, behavioral understanding, and serving as the direct foundation for his work today.

Are there opportunities to get involved with Psychology outside of the classroom? 

The psychology program at UC Davis provides students with many opportunities to get involved outside of the classroom. The Global Learning Hub offers multiple program recommendations that allow students to study psychology courses around the world. This opportunity helps students learn in new environments, meet their course requirements for graduation, and explore new cultures.

On campus, there are also many research labs where students can volunteer and gain hands-on experience in an academic setting. In addition, courses like PSC 192 help students find internships where they can apply psychology concepts in real-world settings. 

Finally, students who advance in the major and meet the GPA requirements have the opportunity to join Psi Chi, an honors society that supports academic success within the psychology community on campus. In other words, there are plenty of opportunities for students to take their work with the subject further.

“Students need to engage in experiences, no matter what the experience is,” Tolbert said. “This can include being involved in a student organization, volunteering for a cause they care about, interning, or working in a part-time position.” 

Tolbert says a degree is only part of career exploration and job opportunities. Because of this, the UC Davis Psychology Program encourages students to get involved in major-related activities outside of academics.

Is the psychology major right for you? 

Overall, the psychology major is one of the broadest majors that students can choose to explore the human mind and behavior. It provides students with a wide range of career options, internships, global opportunities and other options to expand their experience. So, if you are thinking about building a strong foundation for your academic and professional career, the psychology major may be the right choice for you.