Psychologists traditionally study both normal and abnormal functioning, and also treat patients with mental and emotional problems. They also concentrate on behaviors that affect the mental and emotional health and mental functioning of healthy human beings. For example, they work with business executives, performers, and athletes to reduce stress and improve performance. They advise lawyers on jury selection and collaborate with educators on school reform. Psychologists are Involved in all aspects of our fast-paced world.
Psychology majors are especially well-equipped to move into a wide range of careers after graduation. Because students in our program have acquired in-depth knowledge about why people think, feel, and behave as they do, the skills and knowledge they acquire are applicable to any vocation and are highly valued by employers.
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Music Career Leads to Master's Program in Organizational Psychology
Sunday Helmerich ’19 excelled academically after entering Pepperdine University in 2008, but finally faced up to the central reality of her college experience.
“I had to admit to myself that I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” she said.
A talented musician and composer, Helmerich left school and began a career as a musician and songwriter. “I was living in LA and playing in a band Thick as Thieves,” she said. “An actor heard one of my songs at a show and sent it to a writer.”
That was the beginning of a side gig composing music for TV programs and commercials. She’s placed songs on shows including Revenge (ABC), Bones (Fox), The Fosters (ABC Family), and The Real World (MTV). She also did stints as a licensing assistant at DreamWorks Animation and Sony Music Entertainment, learning about the music industry while picking up skills in audio engineering and music administration.
But Helmerich never gave up on college. In the back of her mind she wanted to finish her undergraduate degree in psychology, and then move on to a career in clinical psychology or social work.
She jump-started her college career at the University of Tulsa studying industrial organizational psychology, then finished her BA degree at UVM. She graduated in May 2019, and was recently accepted to an organizational psychology master’s program at the Columbia University Teachers College.
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