Psychology Workforce Literacy: A Gap Worth Minding

Abstract

The undergraduate psychology major is often one of the most popular choices for bachelor's degree-seeking students. Although national and international organizations are devoted to broad interests, there does not seem to be much coordinated effort—on any level—to comprehend and advocate on behalf of psychology baccalaureates. In this review article, we expand on psychology workforce literacy, focusing on a psychology major's ability to navigate the college-to-career transition. Psychology workforce literacy is more than exploring and knowing the options with a psychology bachelor's degree. It is also about self-confidence to make meaningful decisions about the next steps in one's career path, and many of these ideas emerge from the career development literature. We present ideas about how faculty can prepare undergraduate students with psychological workforce literacy knowledge and skills, curriculum options, and the pedagogical/assessment supports that faculty will need to know that their efforts are effective.