Associate Degree in Psychology

***Keep in mind that my content is directed more for those attending public institutions of higher education in the state of Texas. 

My general advice to those enrolled at a community college, regardless of major, is to complete your associate degree prior to transfer into a 4-year institution. There are some cases where this is not necessary, but read on to see why this could be useful. To be transparent, this does improve our “completion rate”, but more importantly for you, it helps ensure you have a smoother time when your try to transfer your core courses. Learn more about the Texas Common Course Numbering System.

Psychology associate degrees can serve several purposes. The degree can open some entry level career opportunities in human services (social service assistant for non-profits, detention centers, group homes) , business (human resources, sales, supervision), education (teacher’s assistant, paraprofessional, pre-school teacher), and in mental health (counseling assistant, crisis hotline). A terminal associate degree could help you obtain positions that a high school diploma would not. [http://work.chron.com/list-jobs-aa-psychology-15857.html]

The associate degree can also serve as the foundation for a bachelor’s degree. The bachelor’s degree does not have to be the same major, but make sure you are planning ahead to ensure your associate degree will meet all the prerequisites of your desired bachelor’s program. Keep in mind what I said previously. Earning an associate degree can aid in the transferability of your core courses.

Another option for your associate degree is that it could lead to licensure eligibility in the state of Texas as a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor (LCDC). For more information take a look at the Texas Department of State Health Services website. Here is the link that will take you directly to the Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor Program Home Page.