The Value of a Psychology Major: Bridging the Gap between Perceptions and Reality

Abstract

In theory, a psychology major provides students with a set of skills that is highly valued by employers. In practice, however, US psychology majors fare relatively poorly in the job market. We hypothesised that one cause of this paradox may be a mismatch between student perceptions and the reality of the working world. To test this hypothesis, we first used existing data to determine what skills employers value most, and what types of jobs US psychology majors typically obtain. The results were compared with interview responses provided by US psychology majors near to graduation. This comparison revealed a substantial mismatch between perceptions and reality. One way to address this mismatch is through a careers course, and data are presented demonstrating that this approach can be effective. However, we argue that career preparation should not be considered as an isolated piece of the curriculum, but in the context of the larger debate regarding the appropriate goals for a college education.