FYI: A Psychology Master's Degree IS Useful

Often you will hear this said, "Get a doctorate; stop messing around with a psychology master's degree. It is only a waste of time"

Let us take a look at this myth and dig deeper into the truth. Admittedly, the field of psychology has its own intellectual snobs who look down on a master's degree as something inferior when it comes to qualifications. This has resulted to an unfair depreciation of the value and wisdom gained from a psychology master's degree. In this article, we will peel off the myth and expose the truth.

Of course, if you are thinking of establishing a career in the academia, then it is necessary for you to get a doctorate. You can take up a doctorate within the local community and at junior college levels. However, you have to note that there is fierce competition in these arenas. If you are not planning on an academic career, however, a master's degree offers distinct advantages over a doctorate.

There are many career opportunities for those who have a psychology master's degree. The APA itself has observed that the credentials and training gained from a master's degree make for good job prospects. The APA also notes that master's degree holders have obtained employment within their selected field of study, further proving that a degree is still relevant in the modern job market.

Other independent studies verify the importance of a psychology master's degree, particularly within the field of mental health. "Sub-doctoral" professionals are increasingly preferred by managed health care systems as opposed to doctorate holders. This is because "sub-doctoral" professionals provide more value in terms of patient service at a lower cost. This fact has provided a world of opportunities for master's degree holders in the field of mental health, most notably within the field of psychotherapy. What's more, it is a trend that has great prospects in the future.

Gaining a masters degree has significant attractions compared to studying for a doctorate. To begin with, doctoral programs are not as widely available as masters and students may be required to move some distance away in order to study. The ability to study online has revolutionized the delivery of masters programs for many subjects and psychology is no exception.

Another plus factor for a master's degree involves the time required. With a doctorate, you will need some 6 years to finish, while you can complete your master's program in just 2 to 3 years. Think of the income potential that you can be yours in those four years! You can start earning after a couple or so years, rather than waiting to finish your doctorate program before you can earn.

A further argument that is sometimes advanced for going straight to the doctorate is that if you take a masters degree you cannot then subsequently transfer your work to a doctorate. In effect you have to start all over with your doctorate and ergo, the masters is a waste of time. In practice this depends upon the doctoral program you enroll in and the relevance of your masters work to the doctorate you subsequently are seeking. The key issue is to bear in mind the relevance of your masters to the doctoral program and also that some doctorate programs actually require a masters as a prerequisite.

Indeed, a psychology master's degree is not a waste of time. It is useful, especially if you want to enter the mental health profession. It has provided a great deal of opportunities for tens of thousands of mental health professionals now and in the future.

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