Descriptions of Occupations of
Interest to Psychology Majors
From the Dictionary of Occupational
Titles
Drew C. Appleby, Ph.D.
Director of Undergraduate Studies in
Psychology
The following is a list of over 100 occupations that
psychology majors can pursue and the urls that will take them to the
descriptions of these occupations in the Information Technology Associates
online version of the Department of Labor’s Dictionary
of Occupational Titles (DOT). I created
this list of occupations from the following sources.
·
Psychology
majors enrolled in my B103 Orientation to a Major in Psychology class who must
identify an occupation in which they have an interest and create a plan to
successfully enter that occupation
·
A
list of the occupations that IUPUI psychology alumni have entered
·
Marky
Lloyd’s Careers in Psychology website
(www.psychwww.com/careers)
·
A
non-exhaustive examination of the DOT,
during which I searched for additional occupations of interest to psychology
majors not identified by the first three sources
The DOT provides descriptions of over 40,000 occupations that
identify the tasks people employed in these occupations must perform. This
makes the DOT a valuable source of
information for undergraduate psychology majors because they can use it to
discover the skills they must develop to gain employment in the occupations
they wish to enter. This knowledge can then help them identify the
opportunities their schools offer to develop these skills (e.g., classes,
internships, service learning, and extracurricular activities) and can also
provide them with the motivation to take advantage of these opportunities
because of their increased awareness of the importance of these skills. For
example, the following is a description of school
psychologist taken verbatim from the DOT.
Notice how each sentence begins with a verb, thus identifying the skills
school psychologists must possess to perform their job (e.g., evaluates
needs, advises teachers, refers individuals to community
agencies, counsels pupils, plans special placement, serves
as a consultant, and carries out research, conducts diagnostic
studies).
Evaluates needs of average, gifted, handicapped, and
disturbed children within educational system or school, and plans and carries
out programs to enable children to attain maximum achievement and adjustment:
Conducts diagnostic studies to identify child's needs, limitations, and
potentials, observing child in classroom and at play, studying school records,
consulting with parents and school personnel, and administering and
interpreting diagnostic findings. Plans special placement or other treatment
programs. Counsels pupils individually and in groups, using psychodrama, play
therapy, personal interviews, and other psychological methods to assist pupils
to achieve personal, social, and emotional adjustment. Carries out research to
aid in introduction of programs in schools to meet current psychological,
educational, and sociological needs of children. Advises teachers and other
school personnel on methods to enhance school and classroom atmosphere to
provide motivating educational environment. Refers individuals to community
agencies to secure medical, vocational, or social services for child or family.
Participates in planning of remedial classes and testing programs designed to
meet needs of students. Serves as consultant to school board, superintendent,
administrative committees, and parent-teacher groups in matters involving
psychological services within educational system or school.
Undergraduate psychology majors interested in
becoming a school psychologist should read this description carefully, and seek
opportunities to develop or enhance these skills. This information will help
students to identify careers of interest, and assist in the career planning
process.
Academic Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107010.html
Advertising Sales Representative http://www.occupationalinfo.org/25/254357014.html
Alumni Director http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/090117014.html
Animal Trainer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/15/159224010.html
Applied Statistician http://www.occupationalinfo.org/02/020167026.html
Art Therapist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/076127010.html
Benefits Manager http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166167018.html
Career Information Specialist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/24/249367014.html
Caseworker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107010.html
Chief Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107046.html
Child Development Specialist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195227018.html
Child Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045061010.html
Child Welfare/Placement Caseworker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107014.html
Claims Supervisor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/24/241137018.html
Clinical Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107022.html
Coach http://www.occupationalinfo.org/15/153227010.html
College/University Professor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/090227010.html
Community Organization Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195167010.html
Community Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195367018.html
Comparative Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045061018.html
Computer Programmer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/03/030162010.html
Conservation Officer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/37/379167010.html
Correctional Treatment Specialist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107042.html
Corrections Officer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/37/372667018.html
Counseling Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107026.html
Criminal Investigator (FBI and other) http://www.occupationalinfo.org/37/375167042.html
Customer Service Representative Supervisor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/23/239137014.html
Data Base Administrator http://www.occupationalinfo.org/03/039162010.html
Data Base Design Analyst http://www.occupationalinfo.org/03/039162014.html
Delinquency Prevention Social Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107026.html
Department Manager http://www.occupationalinfo.org/29/299137010.html
Developmental Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045061010.html
Dietician http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/077117010.html
Educational Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045067010.html
Elementary School Teacher http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/092227010.html
Employee Relations Specialist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166267042.html
Employment Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166257010.html
Employment Interviewer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166267010.html
Engineering Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045061014.html
Experimental Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045061018.html
Family Counselor/Caseworker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107018.html
Financial Aid Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/169267018.html
Fund Raiser I http://www.occupationalinfo.org/29/293157010.html
Fund Raiser II http://www.occupationalinfo.org/29/293357014.html
Group Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195164010.html
Guidance Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107010.html
Health Care Facility Administrator http://www.occupationalinfo.org/18/187117010.html
High School Teacher http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/091227010.html
Human Resource Advisor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166267046.html
Industrial/Organizational Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107030.html
Information Specialist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/10/109067010.html
Job Analyst http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166267018.html
Lawyer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/11/110107010.html
Loan Officer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/18/186267018.html
Management Analyst http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/161167010.html
Market Research Analyst http://www.occupationalinfo.org/05/050067014.html
Marriage and Family Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107054.html
Medical Social Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107030.html
Mental Retardation Aide http://www.occupationalinfo.org/35/355377018.html
Military Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107030.html
Minister, Priest, Rabbi, Chaplain, etc. http://www.occupationalinfo.org/12/120107010.html
Music Therapist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/076127014.html
Neurologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070101050.html
Neuropathologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070061010.html
Neurosurgeon http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070101094.html
News Writer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/13/131262014.html
Nurse http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/075364010.html
Occupational Analyst http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166067010.html
Occupational Therapist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/076121010.html
Optometrist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/079101018.html
Patient Resources and Reimbursement Agent http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195267018.html
Pediatrician http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070101066.html
Penologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/05/054067014.html
Personnel Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107030.html
Personnel Recruiter http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/166267038.html
Pharmacologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/041061074.html
Physiatrist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070101070.html
Physical Therapist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/079364018.html
Physician http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070101022.html
Police Officer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/37/375263014.html
Polygraph Examiner http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/199267026.html
Preschool Teacher http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/092227018.html
Probation/Parole Officer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107046.html
Psychiatric Aide/Attendant http://www.occupationalinfo.org/35/355377014.html
Psychiatric Social Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107034.html
Psychiatric Technician http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/079374026.html
Psychiatrist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/070107014.html
Psychological Anthropologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/05/055067010.html
Psychological Stress Evaluator http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/199267026.html
Psychometrist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045067018.html
Public Health Director http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/079117014.html
Public Relations Representative http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/165167014.html
Purchasing Agent http://www.occupationalinfo.org/16/162157038.html
Real Estate Agent http://www.occupationalinfo.org/25/250357018.html
Recreation Leader http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195227014.html
Recreation Supervisor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/18/187167238.html
Recreational Therapist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/076124014.html
Research Assistant http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/199364014.html
Retail Salesperson http://www.occupationalinfo.org/27/279357054.html
School Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107034.html
School Social Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107038.html
Social Group Worker http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195107022.html
Social Psychologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045067014.html
Social Services Aide http://www.occupationalinfo.org/19/195367034.html
Speech Pathologist http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/076107010.html
Substance Abuse Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107058.html
Systems Analyst http://www.occupationalinfo.org/03/030167014.html
Teacher for the Emotionally Impaired http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/094227010.html
Teacher for the Hearing Impaired http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/094224010.html
Teacher for the Learning Disabled http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/094227030.html
Teacher for the Mentally Impaired http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/094227022.html
Teacher for the Visually Impaired http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/094224018.html
Technical Writer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/13/131267026.html
Therapist for the Blind http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/076224014.html
Veterans Contact Representative http://www.occupationalinfo.org/18/187167198.html
Veterinarian http://www.occupationalinfo.org/07/073101010.html
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor http://www.occupationalinfo.org/04/045107042.html
Vocational Training Teacher http://www.occupationalinfo.org/09/097221010.html
Volunteer Coordinator http://www.occupationalinfo.org/18/187167022.html
Writer http://www.occupationalinfo.org/13/131067046.html
If there
are other occupations contained in the DOT
that you believe should be included in this list, please email these
occupations and their urls to me at dappleby@iupui.edu.