Psychology/social work major

[Mahliah]

Is it possible to double major in social work/psych & do premed prereqs, while possibly minoring in a science? Is this realistic or no, to finish within 4 years? Open to suggestions

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[slatermd]

Depends on how many credits your school requires for each major and how whether or not any classes count toward both majors. You might consider a social work major/psych minor plus pre reqs, or vice versa.

It is far from necessary to have 2 majors and a minor.

 

[glasshalfMD]

psych and social work, at least in my understanding, overlap quite a bit - so this may be feasible. although, I would recommend just choosing one (like medzealot said) - you don't want to be burnt out before you even get to medical school!

 

[bananaz]

It depends on how much overlap there is between the requirements of the two majors at your school and whether the pre-med classes count for anything. At my school it would definitely not be possible because the social work program requires totally separate classes as well as community internships, but it may be different where you are. Is there a reason you want to do that double major? They are kind of similar so I'm not sure what the benefit would be of having degrees in both, especially when you're not planning on going into either field.

 

[Mahliah]

Depends on how many credits your school requires for each major and how whether or not any classes count toward both majors. You might consider a social work major/psych minor plus pre reqs, or vice versa.

It is far from necessary to have 2 majors and a minor.

Thanks, im still figuring out which combo I'd like.

 

[Mahliah]

psych and social work, at least in my understanding, overlap quite a bit - so this may be feasible. although, I would recommend just choosing one (like medzealot said) - you don't want to be burnt out before you even get to medical school!

Thanks, I thought they were overlapping/corresponding majors also, but if theyre not I just might pick one then

 

[Mahliah]

It depends on how much overlap there is between the requirements of the two majors at your school and whether the pre-med classes count for anything. At my school it would definitely not be possible because the social work program requires totally separate classes as well as community internships, but it may be different where you are. Is there a reason you want to do that double major? They are kind of similar so I'm not sure what the benefit would be of having degrees in both, especially when you're not planning on going into either field.

I am genuinely interested in it and would love a career as a social worker if my plan for med school doesnt work out, it's my fallback major. So hopefully med school works out

 

[rxlea]

If you are looking toward actual social work (which is usually very low paying and has limited opportunities right now, BTW) then I would just do the social work major with the minor in psych. Depending on your program, the psych major can be research focused or neuroscience focused. The psych major will also give you no added benefit to pursuing a Masters in social work (which would be necessary post grad to do anything worthwhile, anyway). The pre med requirements should count for something (they did for me) toward your degree so you can definitely do both within the 4 year time frame. But, like I said, the psych major is probably superfluous. My psych degree was no walk in the park when I got to upper division courses. They were time consuming and difficult. Of course, this varies by program and whether or not you are pursuing the B.S. or the B.A. If you are doing it solely "out of interest" you might want to rethink your strategy. You don't want to take away from your performance on your pre-reqs (which can be equally as draining especially in courses like O chem).

 

[Mahliah]

If you are looking toward actual social work (which is usually very low paying and has limited opportunities right now, BTW) then I would just do the social work major with the minor in psych. Depending on your program, the psych major can be research focused or neuroscience focused. The psych major will also give you no added benefit to pursuing a Masters in social work (which would be necessary post grad to do anything worthwhile, anyway). The pre med requirements should count for something (they did for me) toward your degree so you can definitely do both within the 4 year time frame. But, like I said, the psych major is probably superfluous. My psych degree was no walk in the park when I got to upper division courses. They were time consuming and difficult. Of course, this varies by program and whether or not you are pursuing the B.S. or the B.A. If you are doing it solely "out of interest" you might want to rethink your strategy. You don't want to take away from your performance on your pre-reqs (which can be equally as draining especially in courses like O chem).

Well im not dead set on social work, im still exploring my options in other related careers to a social worker. so you would recommend a major in social work & a minor in pysch plus prereqs? I was thinking about dropping pysch altogether and minor in a science for the recommended but non required sciences like genetics & biochem. Or can that be done without minoring in it?

 

[rhesuspieces]

Do you want to minor in a science because there's a specific area you're interested in and want to explore in depth, or do you just feel like you should?

In my experience, I've had no problem taking any science class I want--including biochem, physiology, etc. If I can do that at my enormous, red-tape filled big ten university, you can probably pull it off wherever you are.

 

[rxlea]

As the above poster noted, you don't have to minor in a science to take the pre-reqs. You just have to fit them in somewhere and, most likely, they will count toward credits for your major (as gen ed and science requirements). Career wise, a bachelor's in psych is just a roll of Charmin toilet paper in this economy and the available jobs will start somewhere around 12-13 bucks an hour. Without a masters+ degree, psych is probably not the way to go. If you are into social science beyond "oh that's really interesting" then social work with the goal of a Masters will afford far more opportunity than a BS/BA in psych. You could probably still do the MSW after a psych bachelors but, like I said, upper division psych isn't always fun depending on the program. Granted, any four degree will do to get you into med school provided you succeed and jump through all the hoops (EC's, shadowing, volunteering, LORs, etc). I suppose the only added benefit of doing psych is more access to research labs, particularly if the program is research focused. So that may be useful. Either way, make sure you pick something you actually like or you are really going to hate college. The pre-reqs are enough to make you want to pull your hair out if you're doing everything else. Us pharm people do the pre-reqs you do and then some + pharmacy experience, so I know your pain. Just try to get the biggest bang for your buck, here. If medicine doesn't work out, you need a stepping stone to a decent career. It is a real shame that the 4 year degree is the new diploma though 🙁

 

[slatermd]

If I can do that at my enormous, red-tape filled big ten university, you can probably pull it off wherever you are.

Woot to Big 10. Anti-woot to red tape.

1.)...Career wise, a bachelor's in psych is just a roll of Charmin toilet paper in this economy and the available jobs will start somewhere around 12-13 bucks an hour. Without a masters+ degree, psych is probably not the way to go...

2.) You could probably still do the MSW after a psych bachelors...

3.)I suppose the only added benefit of doing psych is more access to research labs, particularly if the program is research focused. So that may be useful.

4.) It is a real shame that the 4 year degree is the new diploma though 🙁

1.) With a BA in psych, you will not be working in anything directly related to mental health. I worked in finance and then as personal trainer. You can make great money but it won't be because you have a psych degree, it will be in spite of your psych degree.

2.) You can go from psych into an MSW program, but if you had a bachelor's in social work and went on to an MSW, you could probably get it done in one year vs. 2 years coming from a psych background. I know some programs let you skip the entry-level classes if you already have something similar on your transcript (which you would have a lot more of if you majored in social work). The obnoxious thing about this is, with an MSW or some sort of psych masters (counseling, etc) you're still going to come out making 50K or less, after 5 - 6 years of school.

3.) At my ugrad institution this was definitely true. The pysch department had a lot more research opportunities than the rest of the social sciences.

4.) Yes. It also sucks that a lot of masters degrees aren't worth the tuition you pay for them after getting your diploma 2.0

 

[apumic]

Is it possible to double major in social work/psych & do premed prereqs, while possibly minoring in a science? Is this realistic or no, to finish within 4 years? Open to suggestions

Most BSW programs are pretty big programs (often 70+ credit hrs). Add that to a 50-credit psych major (and truthfully, VERY few classes will crossover -- the fields are related much the same way a bio major and nursing major are) plus a 30-credit science minor and you've got 150 credits of core courses before you even add in the general studies coursework they don't cover (probably at least another 20 credits). Assume all goes well with that, you've got probably 170 credits to complete to graduate. It's really not feasible, sorry. (At least it wouldn't have been at my UG.)

 

[neurogenesis]

1.) With a BA in psych, you will not be working in anything directly related to mental health. I worked in finance and then as personal trainer. You can make great money but it won't be because you have a psych degree, it will be in spite of your psych degree.

I disagree with point #1 here. I have a bs in psych and have had the oppurtunity for direct mental health experience. Sometimes it's the not the most desirable work, but hey- that's the name of the game. It does exist if you're looking for it.

And OP, here's my take- if the back up is MSW and med school is the main plan-- go with the psych degree and get yourself into a lab for some research experience for your MD app. You can easily take a psych degree to a MSW program if that doesn't work out. Yeah, you can't be an advanced standing student like you could possibly be with a BSW, but advanced standing student's only get out of school ~1 year faster. In the scheme of things, that's nothing.

 

[apumic]

I disagree with point #1 here. I have a bs in psych and have had the oppurtunity for direct mental health experience. Sometimes it's the not the most desirable work, but hey- that's the name of the game. It does exist if you're looking for it.

And OP, here's my take- if the back up is MSW and med school is the main plan-- go with the psych degree and get yourself into a lab for some research experience for your MD app. You can easily take a psych degree to a MSW program if that doesn't work out. Yeah, you can't be an advanced standing student like you could possibly be with a BSW, but advanced standing student's only get out of school ~1 year faster. In the scheme of things, that's nothing.

I think I'd have to second this. The BSW is really more of a professional/vocational (not an academic) degree. The BA/BS in Psych is going offer for more opportunities for research. In addition, you'll likely have a wider range of practicum opportunities (i.e., not all focused in the social work arena), which means you could use the Psych dept's connections to get into a rehab center or acute psych unit.

 

[slatermd]

I disagree with point #1 here. I have a bs in psych and have had the oppurtunity for direct mental health experience. Sometimes it's the not the most desirable work, but hey- that's the name of the game. It does exist if you're looking for it.

Yeah I definitely concede. It is possible to work in mental health with just a bachelors in psych, but not many people do it. I meant it more as a prediction than an absolute statement.

 

[apumic]

Yeah I definitely concede. It is possible to work in mental health with just a bachelors in psych, but not many people do it. I meant it more as a prediction than an absolute statement.

Psych tends to be a versatile degree and, really, only clinical psych-oriented folks would likely be interested in mental health anyway. Many end up in a variety of business positions, although typically this involves a masters in something (MBA, HR, etc.). For clinical psych w/ only a BA, your options are generally going to be low-paying ones such as residential counselor, psych tech, psych ED tech, etc.

 

[neurogenesis]

Yeah I definitely concede. It is possible to work in mental health with just a bachelors in psych, but not many people do it. I meant it more as a prediction than an absolute statement.

I absolutely agree with you there. its a popular degree, but not always a popular field.

 

[Mahliah]

thanks for all of the advice! ive decided against social work since its too vocational based, and decided instead on similar degrees like sociology or anthropology.Are there any others that are similar? Which would be better between the two? Ive searched and see there are a million "sub majors" under anthropology.