Student Resources Switching to Psychology for Graduate School By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry Facebook Twitter Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. Learn about our editorial process Updated on April 03, 2020 Fact checked Verywell Mind content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Emily Swaim Fact checked by Emily Swaim LinkedIn Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell. Learn about our editorial process Print PeopleImages.com / Getty Images Many students who have completed an undergraduate degree in a non-psychology field might find that they would like to switch to psychology for graduate school. Is this even possible? Not everyone figures out where their passions and interests lie during the busy undergraduate years, but it's really never too late to start. It really just depends on how much time, effort, and commitment you are willing to put into making the change. Let's take a look at things you might want to consider before switching to pursue psychology in grad school. Can You Switch to Psychology? So can you switch to a graduate degree in psychology if your undergraduate degree is in a completely different field? Yes, but there are a few important things you need to consider. First, you might need to take some additional courses in order to meet the prerequisites before applying to a graduate program. Next, you need to be sure that you have completed any tests that are required for admissions to the program, which may include the GRE and the psychology subject test. Before you fully commit to a graduate program, you might want to consider starting with a few prerequisite psychology courses. This can not only get you up-to-speed on the subject matter, but it will also help give you a better idea of whether you really want to continue your studies in psychology. Where to Begin Start by looking at a few graduate programs that interest you. Contact each program to learn more about their admissions procedures and requirements. Some of the most common prerequisites needed for admission to psychology graduate programs include: Statistics Experimental methods Abnormal psychology Child development Personality psychology In addition to taking prerequisite classes, you will most likely need to then take the GRE and psychology subject test before submitting your application for admission. Finally, you should remember that getting a Ph.D. in psychology is only one available option. You might also opt for a Psy.D. program, which typically focuses on professional practice while Ph.D. programs center more on a combination of research and practice. While clinical psychology is definitely one of the largest employment areas within psychology, there are a number of alternatives that will also allow you to work in the field, such as health psychology, industrial-organizational psychology, forensic psychology. Next, learn more about some of your career options with a graduate degree in psychology. If you're still not sure what specific focus you'd like your psychology career to take, this quiz was made just for you. The key thing to note here is that switching to psychology for graduate school is definitely possible, but it's going to take some real effort on your part. If psychology is your passion, then you should definitely spend some time looking at your options and figuring out how you can get started on the path toward your dream career. 1 Source Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor. Psychologists. Occupational Outlook Handbook. Additional Reading American Psychological Association. Doctoral degrees in psychology: How are they different, or not so different? Kuther TL. The Psychology Major's Handbook. Boston, MA: Cengage Learning; 2016. By Kendra Cherry Kendra Cherry, MS, is the author of the "Everything Psychology Book (2nd Edition)" and has written thousands of articles on diverse psychology topics. Kendra holds a Master of Science degree in education from Boise State University with a primary research interest in educational psychology and a Bachelor of Science in psychology from Idaho State University with additional coursework in substance use and case management. See Our Editorial Process Meet Our Review Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit