<p>Hey everyone so I have been having a hard time deciding what I want to do when I get out of HS. I know it's. It super important to know what I want to do yet since I'm only a junior but I would like to be able to apply to college with a set major in mind. </p>
<p>A little while ago I was so sure that I wanted to teach and that was that but lately, especially after taking my psychology and teens and tots class I don't know how I feel about that idea anymore. I definitely want to do something that involves children and I would like to work in an inner city school district. However I am very interested in psychology but I know majoring in pyschology isn't exactly a good choice. </p>
<p>Then I came across the major Urban Studies.
I thought that pairing urban studies with a teaching major would be a good idea, if anyone has any input on that idea; and then going for a masters in pyschology. Would this be a good mix? I'm just at a lost at the moment, also what would I be able to do with a masters in pyschology?</p>
<p>Thank you for the help... I posted here because I thought I'd get more answers than in the education major section.</p>
<p>I don’t think you should worry so much about this. Overplanning your life at this point, in your junior year, may actually prevent you from seeing or taking advantage of opportunities. Continue exploring your interests, both academically and in work. Try to enjoy the last two years of high school. You don’t have to choose a major right away in college, and you can change several times too.</p>
<p>There is zero need for you to “declare” a major as a junior in high school. Sure it helps to have some focus when searching for colleges but for the most part, not a necessity. Take some online interest surveys, etc. to see where your interests lie and what careers might be a good option for you with those interests and research schools based on that, not a specific major. </p>
<p>As for pairing an urban studies major with education, not going to fly in our state. You would not get any kids of a teaching job with that combination. This is also a good reason why you shouldn’t focus too much on your “major” right now.</p>
<p>While you do not have to decide on a major yet and it’s good advice not to overplan, it doesn’t hurt to increase your awareness of the various options and pathways that are available.</p>
<p>Urban studies + a teaching major might be a good combination if you want to teach in inner city schools. Also, quite a few schools of education even offer a program in urban education to prepare teachers for inner city schools. I always consider it best to prepare with a strong subject major, rather than a education major and then get a teaching credential. That pathway is more important at the middle and high school level than for earlier grades, and an education major (with strong subject matter preparation) might be a more feasible option for some students to hold down costs.</p>
<p>If you wanted to do a graduate degree in psychology, though, you would have to get a strong undergraduate preparation in psychology. Usually, this means a psychology major, though not always, depending on the area of psychology you want to enter. At the master’s-level in psychology, you should look at school counseling programs or school psychology. Much of school psychology focuses on testing, but intervention with learning disabilities or classroom behavior problems are also areas that involve school psycholgists. Depending on the state, school district, etc., an Ed.S. (Specialist) degree might be necessary for school psychology positions. This requires somewhat more training than a master’s degree, but less than a PhD. There are also doctoral program in counseling or school psychology. At the master’s level, there are programs in applied behavior analysis. With certification as a behavior analyst, you might provide services to children with autism or other developmental disabilities in school, community, and family settings. Beyond those options, opportunities in psychology at the master’s-level are more limited. Other related areas you might consider at the master’s-level include special eduication, social work, speech pathology, or nursing.</p>
<p>Thanks everyone. Ad I said above I know I don’t need to be worrying a lot but I would like to have a better idea of what I would pike to do because a few of the schools I’m looking at start their field work ( observations and in classroom experience) mid first year. As for the urban studies program it included studying urban life and culture which I would’ve assumed to be a good idea since I do want to teach in an inner city school.</p>