Female psychology student at Cornerstone University stands at a fence in her yard

Across communities, individuals and families are navigating challenges that impact every area of life. People face complex challenges every day. This includes mental health struggles, unmet basic needs and life circumstances that make it difficult to thrive. Psychology professionals play a critical role in understanding these challenges and helping people move forward.

If you’ve ever felt drawn to helping others navigate emotional, behavioral or social obstacles – or wondered whether your experiences could translate into meaningful work – you may be asking: Is psychology right for me?

An undergraduate degree in psychology builds the foundation to understand human behavior, support others effectively and pursue careers in human services, ministry, mental health and beyond. Before committing, it’s important to understand what studying psychology really involves and what it demands from you. At Cornerstone University, you’ll be supported by a Christian community of faculty and staff who will equip you to be prepared for entering the field of psychology.

Cornerstone University is here to tell you the five key things to know as you consider whether a psychology degree is the right fit.

How To Know If Psychology Is for You

1. Curiosity About Human Behavior is Essential

Psychology goes beyond a general desire to help others; it’s rooted in deep curiosity about why people think, feel and behave the way they do. Unlike sociology or anthropology, psychology focuses on individual differences, examining how factors like biology, culture, trauma, and environment shape mental health.

The intricate threads of individuality provide a complex yet highly interesting lens into the human brain and how different people respond to the same situations.

In most undergraduate psychology degree programs, you’ll cover a wide range of topics in courses like:

  • Psychological Theories — A foundational understanding in the field of psychology.
  • Cross-Cultural Psychology — Understanding differences in perception and mental health across diverse populations.
  • Current Trends in Psychology — Exploring up-to-date research in psychology, recent findings from behavioral studies, and new methods to support mental health in a constantly evolving world.
  • Organizational Psychology — Focusing on human behavior in the workplace.
  • Abnormal Psychology — Introduction to major psychological disorders, including depression, anxiety, OCD, mood disorders, and neurodivergence.
  • Lifespan Development — Understanding developmental changes during different life stages from birth to adulthood.
  • Relationships in Psychology — Analyzing friendships, family dynamics, and romantic partnerships.

2. Expect Research-Heavy Coursework

The course content offered will challenge your inquisitive mind and let you explore parts of human behavior that may have always fascinated you. But your psychology degree will be more than exciting discussions, learning curious facts, and taking deep dives into mental health conditions.

Psychology is a research-heavy science that evolves daily. As such, it’s vital that you can carry out research and understand trends and how to interpret data from both quantitative (measurable and objective) and qualitative (subjective and descriptive) sources to accurately formulate evidence-based insights. This is how psychologists and other human service professionals create new and innovative strategies to enhance mental health outcomes.

3. Emotional Readiness Matters

Studying psychology means engaging with sensitive topics, including trauma, mental illness and human suffering. While deeply meaningful, this work can be emotionally demanding.

Successful students learn how to balance empathy with healthy boundaries. Compassion fatigue is a common occurrence amongst psychology and human service providers and can lead to burnout if left unchecked. While it’s human nature to empathize with other people’s difficult situations, it’s important that you don’t bear the weight of them in your personal life.

If you’re interested in pursuing a psychology degree but are unsure how you’ll cope with the emotional demands of the subject, talk to an enrollment counselor to learn what support is available to you, and help you decide if you are emotionally ready to take on this program.

At Cornerstone University, we offer a personal faith and church community that can help support you emotionally throughout your studies.

4. Your Learning Environment, Support, and Values Make a Difference

If you’re sure that psychology is the right path for you, your next consideration is where you’ll study. The experience you have while at university will shape not only your love of the subject, but also how you’re equipped to excel in your future career.

When narrowing down your psychology program options, make sure you choose a university that offers additional support outside of class hours and that offers courses and curricula that align with how you learn best. For example, a university that only offers large lectures may not work for students who thrive in smaller, more interactive learning groups. You may also prefer a program that allows you to earn your degree on your time, to give you more flexibility and better access to your course around your personal needs.

Beyond the classroom setting, it’s important to study at a school with values that align with your own. During your time studying psychology, you’ll be delving into sensitive, emotional subject matter that may feel a bit overwhelming at times. Studying at a school that aligns with your core values helps ensure you get support that’s relevant to you. Additionally, being part of a like-minded community ensures that you are prepared to address the questions of your field in a way that supports your values and beliefs.

For example, if you’re looking for a school that values and respects your faith, Cornerstone University offers a community rooted in biblical truth and academic excellence.

5. A Psychology Degree Sets You Up for Graduate Education

An undergraduate psychology degree provides a solid foundation to pursue multiple career paths. But if you’re more interested in one of the many highly specialized fields available, you may need more than a bachelor’s degree. Career specializations such as psychotherapy, mental health services, and counseling all require further qualification. In a graduate program, you’ll build upon your psychology foundation while specializing in a field that intrigues you.

The type of master’s degree you choose to pursue following your bachelor’s in psychology depends on the career trajectory you want to follow. For example, if you want to go into counseling or therapy, a master’s in clinical mental health counseling will teach you the tools and therapy skills needed to serve people. If you want to take your understanding of human behavior into the business world to become a better leader, a master’s in organizational leadership will help you confidently apply your skills to create a more efficient, mental health-friendly workplace environment where all your employees thrive.

Some degrees that might interest you as you continue to build upon that foundation from a bachelor’s in psychology include:

You can also continue past a master’s degree and pursue your doctoral studies. To become a licensed psychologist, you’ll likely need a doctorate, such as a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) or Psy.D. (Doctorate of Psychology). Professionals at the doctoral level are much more specialized and often linked with careers like licensed psychotherapists and forensic psychologists. You can check with your local psychology board to understand whether you’ll need a master’s or doctoral degree to become a licensed practitioner in your state.

If you want to take your psychology foundations further and take on a more specialized career path, a master’s or doctoral degree is a great next step.

Quick Self-Assessment: Is Psychology Right for Me?

By this point, you have all the information you need to understand the realities of pursuing your bachelor’s in psychology. The question is, is psychology a good fit for you? We’ve devised nine questions to help you evaluate your readiness to pursue an education in psychology.

  1. Am I interested in understanding human differences and how they influence individual behavior?
  2. Do I have a passion for helping people overcome barriers and challenges on an individual basis?
  3. Am I interested in studying the trends and patterns of human behavior across diverse populations?
  4. Am I willing to embrace the research elements of a psychology course alongside the more people-facing aspects?
  5. Am I motivated by the opportunity psychology offers to serve and make a difference in my community?
  6. Am I able to create an appropriate amount of separation between my life and career in a psychology-based helping profession?
  7. Do I feel ready to explore potentially sensitive topics to better understand the human mind?
  8. Do I have an emotional support system in place, or am I willing to research and find support at my university to help me both academically and emotionally throughout my degree?
  9. Am I willing to pursue a graduate degree to reach my career goals?

If you answered yes to most of these, psychology might be the degree for you. Regardless of your answers to these questions, if you’re still not sure or you want to delve deeper into how psychology could benefit your life and career goals, talk to a career counselor or reach out to our admissions team at Cornerstone University.

Should I Major in Psychology? Making a Decision About Pursuing a Psychology Degree

A degree in psychology offers you a wide variety of career opportunities that will help you serve others and improve people’s lives. While the course can deal with sensitive subjects and involve a lot of research, most students walk away feeling extremely fulfilled with their experience, knowing they have the tools to understand the people around them better.

So if you’re interested in understanding how individuals think and behave, or you’re committed to improving people’s lives, one mind at a time, a degree in psychology will provide you with the knowledge you need to make a big difference.

Take the next step toward your psychology degree. Connect with a trained enrollment counselor and start exploring your opportunities today!

Connect with an Enrollment Counselor

Common Questions About Majoring in Psychology (FAQ)

How Difficult Is a Psychology Degree?

As a member of the science subjects, psychology sits in an interesting position. While the subject is based on fact and research, unlike most sciences, psychology deals with the mind and thoughts, much of which we’re unable to see. That’s why so much of the coursework and research you will undertake will involve observing behavior, patterns, and scientific data to draw conclusions. It requires a nuanced approach of empathy and scientific rigor to understand individual human experience while using scientific methods to evaluate your findings. As long as you have a curiosity for understanding the complexities of human behavior and a willingness to keep an open mind, you’ll find the subject incredibly compelling, even with its challenges.

What Is the Difference Between Psychology and Sociology?

Many people confuse the two disciplines as they both focus on human behavior. The key difference between the two is the type of behavior and patterns they aim to understand. Sociology deals with the wider lens of society, exploring how structures, institutions, and groups interact to define behavior. This might include things like social norms, laws, and collective mentality.

Psychology breaks behaviors down into individual responses, exploring how each person’s unique upbringing and brain chemistry work together to determine someone’s mental health and understand why they act the way they do.

Is a Psychology Degree Worth It for My Career?

Truthfully, most careers where you will be working with other people will benefit from a degree in psychology, which is why people love studying the subject. While there are plenty of psychology-specific careers to explore, such as psychotherapy, counseling, and mentorship, a degree can empower most careers. In fact, according to an article from Career Profiles, only about 25% of undergraduates in psychology work specifically in the psychology field. You may find your psychology degree just as useful for employment in diverse fields like HR, education roles, and community leadership positions.

Other common psychology careers include:

  • Psychiatric technician
  • Childcare worker
  • Mental health worker
  • Child and family ministry leader
  • Case manager
  • Rehabilitation specialist
  • Volunteer services coordinator