Elizabeth Buchanan '18
Talking walks every night in the spring of freshman year...once it started to warm up. A group of us (4-8 of us) would always go for long walks on campus. It was always so peaceful and quiet until we made it loud.
Psychology Career Guide
Explore Options: A Menu of Major-Specific Experiences and Sampling of Related Career Paths
Academic Resources
Explore Psychology academic resources designed to support your academic goals.
Feeling like you don't know what to do with all of this great information? We highly encourage to make an appointment with your academic advisor and career advisor. Another great starting point is the Self-Guided Career Exploration Tool.
Career Resources
Unlock career potential in Psychology! Discover resources to maximize your professional trajectory.
Psychology Jobs and Internships via Handshake
Menu of Experiences
Psychology Practicum Options
GVSU's Psychology Department offers two practicum opportunities for students.
Psy 490: Internship Credit
Psych Friends Peer Mentorship Practicum
Study Psychology Abroad
Through study abroad you’ll also set yourself apart from other job-seekers and graduate-school applicants in an increasingly competitive market.
Imagine yourself studying psychology in Vienna, Austria, the hometown of famous psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud, arguably one of the most influential contributors to the field itself. Explore the history and development of the field from a truly unique vantage point that will distinguish you from your classmates.
Join A Student Organization
Get involved with a student organization related to your major. Student orgs are a great way to get connected and explore career options!
Develop Skills by taking courses and earning certificates:
Developing relevant skills that employers seek is an essential component of a student's education. GVSU students should consider elective courses and certificates that pair with their major to gain additional skills.
- Research
- Understanding human behavior
- Academic writing
- Problem-solving
- Analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information
- Interpersonal awareness
- Basic statistical analysis
- Understanding of psychological theories and the history of psychology
Community Service Opportunities
Seek volunteer opportunities related to the field you're exploring as a way of testing out future careers.
The Civic Engagement Center keeps a list of current volunteer opportunities updated on their website. There are ongoing opportunities on a continuous basis, as well as on-campus and off-campus opportunities posted as they become available.
Undergraduate Scholar Engagement
Pursuing academic, creative, and research experiences and projects outside the classroom is an excellent way to learn new skills and build a body of work in your field.
Getting Undergraduate Research Experience in Psychology
The Center for Undergraduate Scholar Engagement (CUSE) also provides opportunities for undergraduate research and scholarship.
Psychology Career Spotlights
Alexis Gerard '19
I loved being involved in dance troupe while in undergrad. Being able to choreograph and lead such a wonderful organization helped me build close friendships and is where I found my place at GV.
Eric Drewry '07
My favorite memory is probably a collection of memories that I have while working as a dispatcher at the Grand Valley Police Department. I have life-long friends that I met there, I've even officiated two weddings for friends I met at the dispatch desk.
Kara Rickenberg '19
I was lucky enough to have my Honors freshman sequence downtown. I enjoyed exploring and learning about the city of Grand Rapids.
Where Alumni Have Landed
- Family Service Worker – Head Start for Kent County
- CLS Mentor – Indian Trails Camp
- Project Coordinator – nexVortex
- Youth Supports Coordinator – Muskegon Community Mental Health
- Mental Health Worker – Forest View Hospital
- Human Resources Assistant – Deer Valley Ski Resort
- Medical Sales Assistant – Paragon 28
- Direct Line Therapist – Building Bridges
- Service Specialist – State Farm Insurance
- Senior Associate of Community Investment – United Way
- Clinical Program Manager – Hope Network
- Volunteer Coordinator – Americorps
- Financial Counselor – United Way
- People Services Generalist – National Heritage Academies
- Consumer Relations – Wolverine Worldwide
- Crisis Aide – Every Woman’s Place
- Employment Specialist – Goodwill Industries
- Foster Home Developer – Orchards Children’s Services
- Child Welfare Worker – State of Michigan
- MedNow Specialist – Spectrum Health
Attend Events
Career Community- Human & Public Service
Employer Showcase: Michigan Education Corps
September 18, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the Michigan Education Corps! Students can stop by for a casual conversation with...
JCPenney Suit Up - Fall 2024
September 29, 2024 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM
All Grand Valley students and alumni are invited to attend a GVSU/JCPenney Suit-Up Event! This event will include options to participate virtually or in-person. In-person: Come to JCPenney at RiverTown...
Prepare for the Career Fair
October 1, 2024 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Are you preparing for the upcoming Fall GVSU Career and Internship Fair, but not quite sure where to start? The Career Center will be hosting a drop-in event to help you refine your resume, formulate...
Employer Showcase: Peace Corps
October 2, 2024 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Stop by the Au Sable Hall First Floor anytime between 9:30am and 2pm to meet representatives from the Peace Corps! Students can stop by for a casual conversation with professionals...
GVSU Fall 2024 Career and Internship Fair
October 9, 2024 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM
The Fall Career & Internship Fair is an excellent place to kick off your job or internship search, or to begin networking with organizations looking to hire Grand Valley students and alumni of...
Consider joining the Human and Public Services Career Community or any other Career Community you are interested in!
Beyond Undergraduate: Graduate or Professional Programs
Undergraduate Psychology majors are able to pursue a variety of graduate degrees. Below are a few examples:
- Master of Social Work
- Master in Counseling
- Master/Ph.D. in Psychology
- Psy.D. in Psychology
- Occupational Therapy
- Law School
Discover More
Join a Career Community
Watch Videos to Hear from Alumni Working in the Field
Check out our podcast!
Career Center Resources
Looking for other career resources? The Career Center Resources page contains resources related to careers, resumes, internships, job search, interviewing, networking, and more.