Beware of the untruth which says that you should not waste your time with a psychology master’s degree and that you should instead get a PhD.
This is probably one of the greatest myths that is associated with gaining a psychology masters degree. Psychology certainly has a reputation for intellectual snobbery with regard to qualifications and this in turn has led to a denigration of the value and wisdom of gaining a masters degree. In this brief article we are going to expose the myth that gaining a psychology masters degree is a waste of time.
Let us make it clear that this actually is not a myth if you do want to enter the academic arena. You may take up a doctorate degree at junior college levels within the local community. What should be noted is that competition is fierce in this area. Now, if your plan does not include a career in the academic world, then a master’s degree has important benefits that are not provided by a doctorate.
Teaching aside, the job prospects for holders of a psychology masters degree are good. The APA itself has noted that for holders of a masters there are significant career opportunities as a consequence of the training and credentials that the degree holds. More than this, the APA notes that many holders of a masters degree gain employment within their chosen field of study which is a testament to the relevance of the degree in the modern job market.
Aside from the APA, other independent studies have shown that a psychology master’s degree is indeed useful, particularly in the mental health field. Nowadays, managed health care systems choose “sub-doctoral” professionals to deliver their services instead of doctorate holders. The reasons underlying this trend are that this option is cheaper and offer added value to the patient. Indeed, in the field of mental health, particularly in psychotherapy, career opportunities for psychology master’s degree holders are growing, and this growth is likely to continue in the years to come.
A master’s degree is, at some points, more attractive that a doctorate. Consider the availability and accessibility of the course itself. A doctorate program may not be widely available and may require a student to relocate. On the other hand, with the advent of online course delivery, master’s programs for many subjects including psychology are made more available.
There are also cost and time advantages offered by a master’s degree. It takes a minimum of 6 years to get a doctorate while you can earn a master’s degree in 2 to 3 years’ time. For someone who has financial responsibilities and concerns, 4 years of potential earnings is a big advantage, as opposed to getting a doctorate where you will have to wait for more years before you can start earning.
One argument against getting a master’s degree as opposed to a doctorate degree states that you will have to start all over again in the event that you wish to take a doctorate program after having finished your master’s degree. They say that you will not be able to have your master’s credits recognized in a doctorate program. This, however, depends on the doctoral program and how relevant your current master’s work is to the doctoral program you wish to take. Always take not that relevance is an important factor and that there are even some doctoral programs that require you to have a master’s degree.
To sum it all up, a master’s degree has proven itself a valid and suitable route. It provides a myriad of opportunities in the mental health profession and this trend will persist in the next years. This only goes to show that a psychology master’s degree is useful.
