<p>I plan to receive a BA in Psychology from The College of New Jersey in not too long, and I am considering my next step.</p>
<p>Since the masters is not the terminal degree in psychology, MA programs in psych are either prepping students to get into PH.D. programs or are training students to become school psychologists. There is a very miniscule job market for master's level psychologists. So as you consider your next step, try to figure out whether you want to become a psychologist and then figure out what type--clinical, experiemental, organizational, etc. Sorting through theese options will clarify your next educational step.</p>
<p>Thanks! I'm not sure what the other option would be, if I didn't go for a master's. I'm going to be honest, and risk embarrassment: I know very little about master's and Ph.D. programs, beyond some of the basics. I suppose I could talk to a counselor, as well.</p>
<p>I tend to enjoy cognitive more than the other fields, though I still have bio, developmental, and some other options available to me.</p>
<p>If you enjoy cognitive psychology than you have a couple of career options. If you think you would want to apply cognitive principles to the treatment of psychological disorders you could look at Ph.D. programs in clinical or counseling psychology. These programs take about four years of graduate work with a full year clinical internship before you obtain your degree and then about another year of experience before you become a licensed clinical psychologist able to work with clients in a clinic, hospital or in a private practice. If you do not see yourself treating clients, then a degree in cognitive psychology is more suitable. 4-5 years of graduate school and then either a career as a professor of psychology or in some applied field that uses cognitive psychologists (some government agencies like the CIA, or testing services like the college board). In either case you should be prepared to spend a good deal of your graduate school time doing research in areas related to cognitive psychology. You should expect to work with your advisor on his/her research and develop research ideas of your own so you can finish your doctoral disertation which is an original piece of research in your field. More information about careers and graduate study in psychology can be found at apa.org.</p>