Careers in Psychology

Dr. Andrés Buxó-Lugo in an auditory chamber in his lab.

A degree that opens doors

Psychology majors graduate with a toolkit that’s in high demand across industries: critical thinking, data analysis, problem-solving, communication and a deep understanding of human behavior. Whether you plan to go to graduate school or straight into the workforce, a psychology degree gives you a versatile foundation.

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What can you do with a Psychology degree?

Our graduates have gone on to make a difference in labs, classrooms, clinics, startups and everything in between. Here’s just a sample of where a degree in psychology can take you:

Where are they now?
“My relationships with my advisors have continued even after I left UB, and one of the great perks of scientific research is building a large collaborative network of likeminded scholars. ”
9/13/23

Veronica Lamarche

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Senior Lecturer (Associate Professor), Higher Education

“While in graduate school, with the guidance and support of faculty advisors, I taught multiple independent courses, mentored undergraduate thesis students, gained hands-on experience managing and operating laboratory spaces, and collaborated with researchers across various disciplines. ”
9/13/23

Thomas Saltsman

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Lecturer, Higher Education

“Every day I get to do something fun and find creative solutions to problems on the journey to discovery. But there’s so much more than that! ”
9/13/23

Mauricio Suarez

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Research Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“If you are considering graduate study in Psychology at UB, know that you will be surrounded by some of the smartest, kindest, and most supportive mentors out there who are leaders in their respective fields of research. ”
9/13/23

Samuel Meisel

PhD in Clinical Psychology, Advanced Certificate in Developmental Science, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“As a graduate student at UB, I was able to participate in different collaborative research opportunities with multiple faculty members within the department. ”
9/13/23

Emma Greenspon

PhD in Cognitive Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“My faculty mentors were not only excellent models of scholarship, but consistently provided me with the encouragement and resources I needed to become a successful teacher-scholar. ”
9/13/23

Deborah Ward

PhD in Social-Personality Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“The excellent research and evidence-based clinical training I received helped me develop into a well-rounded researcher who is able to work with professionals across different disciplines. ”
6/20/25

Sarah Tonkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“One of the best things about my time at UB was the opportunity to expand my knowledge of psychology by taking courses and interacting with fellow graduate students and faculty who were outside of my domain of expertise. ”
9/15/23

Karen Chow

PhD in Cognitive Psychology, UB;
Senior Learning Scientist, Educational Technology Industry

“While there are many things I could list about what made my doctoral experience so great (such as classes or training opportunities), the most significant part of the program that shaped my experience was the mentorship model and mentor I worked with at UB. ”
6/20/25

Sarah Blakely-McClure

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Associate Professor, Higher Education

“The department is a collaborative and congenial environment, which enables students to thrive. ”
6/20/25

Tiffany Jenzer

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Research Assistant Professor, Higher Education

“All of the faculty were so welcoming and really cared about providing me with opportunities that would allow me to pursue my field of interest. ”
9/13/23

Allison Scagel

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Applied Animal Behaviorist

“I decided to attend UB because of its reputation for rigorous, high-quality research training. I received this and so much more. ”
9/13/23

Rebecca Etkin

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Postdoctoral Associate

“In addition to coursework and lab training, I was also able to gain teaching experience, write and publish peer-reviewed papers with my mentor, and present my research at several local and national scientific conferences. ”
9/13/23

Kelcie Schatz

PhD in Behavioral Neuroscience, UB;
Postdoctoral Fellow

“UB's Psychology MA program thoroughly improved my proficiency as a researcher. ”
9/13/23

Schuyler Lawson

MA in General Psychology, UB;
Doctoral student, Community Health and Health Behavior

“UB provides amazing research and clinical training by faculty who are always accessible and extremely passionate about what they do. ”
9/13/23

Lauren Rodriguez

PhD in Clinical Psychology, UB;
Advanced Postdoctoral Fellow

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What’s the typical salary?

Salaries in psychology-related fields vary by level of education, role and experience. Some examples, organized by degree, include:

BA in Psychology
BS in Psychology
MA in Psychology
PhD in Psychology

Design your next steps with confidence

The Career Design Center helps you explore options, build skills and take action on your goals. Whether you are starting your search or preparing for what comes next, you will find clear guidance and real opportunities to move forward.

What you can do here:

You can also visit the Career Design Studio any time to discover ideas, tools and resources that help you plan your path.

Six UB students holding Career Community pennants.

Career Design Center

Student Life

259 Capen Hall, Buffalo, NY 14260

Phone: 716-645-2231

Take the next step

A degree in psychology is more than a credential—it’s a launchpad. Whether you're driven to help others, dig into data, teach or research, you’ll graduate from UB with the knowledge and support to make it happen.

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