What Are the Different Specializations in Psychology?

Quick Highlights:

• There are many psychology specializations like clinical, sports, forensic, and neuropsychology, each leading to different careers.
• Choose a specialization based on what you’re passionate about to enjoy your studies and future job.
• Most specializations require advanced degrees, so plan for potentially lengthy and specific education.
• Research job markets and salaries in your chosen field to ensure it aligns with your career goals and financial expectations.

There are many different psychology specializations you can study when you are in school. Because different psychology specialties will lead to different career paths, you should think about the type of career you want before you start school. If you are in a bachelor’s program, you should also consider the master’s in psychology specialization you want. 

While you don’t have to pick a psychology specialization to get a bachelor’s degree or master’s degree in psychology, you may have a more enjoyable time if you are studying a topic you care about. Additionally, you can consider getting a minor in a subject that complements your specialization. 

Related:

• 5 Best Child and Adolescent Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees
• 5 Best Bachelor’s Degrees in Forensic Psychology
• 10 Best Organizational Psychology Bachelor’s Degrees
• The Pros and Cons of Pursuing a Bachelor’s in Psychology

Overview of Major Specializations in Psychology

Specialties in psychology will vary based on which school you go to. Each university has different psychology specializations you can choose from as well as academic minors. Because of this, you should investigate what types of options are available before you enroll at a specific university. 

Typically, getting a psychology specialization during your bachelor’s degree will involve taking multiple classes on a specific topic. For example, quarter-based schools may require you to take 20 credits in counseling psychology within the overarching psychology major. If you are pursuing a master’s degree, the entire degree may be about a specific specialization, like forensic psychology or sports psychology. 

Clinical Psychology 

One of the most common psychology degree specializations is clinical psychology. The American Psychological Association (APA) officially recognized this as one of the 17 psychology specialties in 1998. 

In clinical psychology, your job will be to provide care to:

• individuals
• families
• couples
• groups

During a typical day at the office, you might perform assessments and consultations with your patients. You may provide therapy and community services. 

Depending on your state, you may need a doctoral degree in psychology before you can become a clinical psychologist. Most likely, you will also need a one- to two-year residency in order to practice. Once you are hired in the field, you can expect to earn a median salary of $96,100 per year according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Sports Psychology

Another one of the top specialties in psychology is sports psychology. A sports psychologist typically helps athletes achieve their best physical and mental health. They may help with team building and social ties. 

While there may be jobs you can get with a bachelor’s degree, you will likely need a master’s degree to access the best sports psychology opportunities. You may also benefit from a double major or master’s degree in health science or exercise science.

In your day-to-day life as a sports psychologist, you will likely spend time counseling athletes and providing cognitive skills training. You may offer clinical interventions or behavioral therapy. Through psychological training, athletes can improve their performance.

Once you pursue a psychology specialization in sports psychology, you can get hired as a sports psychologist or performance enhancement consultant. You could also become a:

• coaching consultant
• athlete development specialist
• mental skills coach

In the United States, the average sports psychologist makes $74,720 per year according to salary.com. 

Forensic Psychology 

If you love crime scene investigation shows, there are other psychology specialties you can pursue. Forensic psychology is a kind of psychology that is used in legal and judicial settings. Often, students will have an additional psychology specialization in family, civil, or criminal casework.

During a typical day, a forensic psychologist may work closely with:

• crime victims
• lawyers
• judges
• criminal offenders

They may be called on to give expert testimony in court. Likewise, forensic psychologists may screen applicants for law enforcement jobs or carry out child custody assessments.

In general, you will need to get a psychology master’s degree or doctoral degree in order to become a forensic psychologist. Once you have completed your education, you can expect to earn an average salary of $78,934 annually according to Payscale.

Neuropsychology

There are many psychology specialties you can pursue if you care deeply about psychological research and learning about the way the mind works. Often, these unique fields require a master’s in a psychology specialization or a doctoral degree. 

Neuropsychologists study cognitive functions. For example, people who pursue neuropsychology career paths may help patients who have:

• traumatic brain injuries
• autism
• Parkinson’s disease

In this psychology specialization, you will need to obtain a doctoral degree and supervised clinical experience in order to get hired. 

As a neuropsychologist, you can spend your time unraveling the way the mind works. You will work to figure out the connection between human behavior and the brain. In your day-to-day work, you may conduct assessments and talk to patients about their case histories. You may also spend your time examining different aspects and symptoms of neurological conditions.

Through this psychology specialization, you can work in a variety of roles. For instance, you can get hired as a:

• traumatic brain injury specialist
• forensic neuropsychologist
• pediatric neuropsychologist
• stroke rehabilitation psychologist
• neurocognitive assessment specialist

If you work as a neuropsychologist, you can expect an average annual salary of $95,045 according to salary.com. 

Other Specializations 

While the previous examples are some of the most popular psychology specialties out there, there are still many more specialties in psychology that you could pursue. The APA compiles a list of the major specialties in this field as well as subspecialties. Before you finish your psychology career planning, consider the possibility of working in one of the following fields.

• School Psychology: School psychology degrees typically lead to working as a school psychologist. In this role, you may help children achieve healthy growth and development.
• Psychoanalytic and Psychodynamic Psychology: While psychoanalysis focuses on early experiences and unconscious dynamics, psychodynamic therapy looks at feelings and relational patterns in the present. After getting your degree, you may work in academia, private practice, social work, or public practice.
• Counseling Psychology: As a counseling psychologist, you can help people identify their strengths and learn how to cope with everyday situations. This field focuses on reducing distress and improving the individual’s overall well-being.
• Industrial-Organizational Psychology: If you work in industrial-organizational psychology, you will spend your time finding science-backed solutions to human issues in work or organizational settings. For instance, you may consult with big corporations about ways to make employee activities more efficient. 
• Couple and Family Psychology: This type of psychologist looks at the dynamics within families and relationships. While you could potentially get hired in a research position, many people in this field get licensed as mental health counselors. 
• Geropsychology: Geropsychology focuses on the well-being and challenges of older adults. Once you are hired as a geropsychologist, you could work in a private practice, hospital, or nursing home. 

How to Choose the Right Specialization 

When considering a master’s in psychology specialization, there are a few things you should think about. First, you should consider your personal interests and strengths. Often, people perform better in their careers if they are doing something they care about. 

Once you have considered your personal aptitude, you should also think about your overall career goals and the market demand. Jobs as a psychologist are expected to grow by 6% between 2022 and 2032 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This amount can vary between different psychology specializations.

To figure out which career field is right for you, take your time to research each specialty. Then, try to interview people who work in the industry. Once you think that you have found the right specialization, you can try job shadowing or interning in the field to get real-world experience.

Explore Psychology Specializations and Degrees 

Whether you are looking for a bachelor’s degree or master’s in psychology specialization, there are many psychology specializations to choose from. Initially, you should think about how these psychology specialties line up with your personal interests and career goals. Then, you should research the psychology specializations each school offers to find the right place to get your degree.