Looking for Dual Degree Higher Ed/Psychology

[ChasingMavericks]

I thought this would be the best place to pose this question, so I hope a few of you could share your knowledge...if these programs even exist!

 

In the Fall I am actually attending a dual degree psychology/public health masters program, but I know that once that is completed I would like to move forward with my doctorate. I have an array of interests ultimately wanting to work on a college campus in student affairs as a psychologist, career services, student life, residence life, or health education specialist. I certainly will be obtaining my doctorate in psychology, but I really want some kind of higher education...in higher education.

 

As for the Higher Ed part I'm interested in the student affairs/leadership sector of things (obviously, but just clarifying!)

 

I've had a hard time searching for the program combinations I am looking for, but I would really like to hear of any programs that you have heard of that are dual doctorates for Higher Ed/Psychology or that are some variation of those sectors. I didn't really want a PsyD(orPhD)/MEd since I will already have two masters at that point, but I'm willing to look into it. I would be interested in any post masters or post doc certificates also. 

 

Any programs you know of would be great

[iphi]

Er, the only program I know of (and I don't know if it fits your criteria) is University of Michigan's PhD in Psychology and Education. I believe it is offered through the SoE.

[ChasingMavericks]

That's actually the one program I was able to find and it felt more teacher/classroom oriented than I was hoping for. I do see that they have a higher education PhD as well though. So far I've been pretty lucky in getting two degree that end up overlapping each other with courses in my undergrad then being able to find right dual degree for me for my masters, but it looks like I will just need to suck it up in the future for any future education.

 

Thank you for the suggestion!

[FeelGoodDoGood]

Hi ChasingMavericks!

 

I think you and I have very similar interests! I will tell you a little about my experience, and then ask some more questions to get more information.

 

This year I am post-baccalaureate research assistant in higher education working in institutional research. I really like it because I've gotten very savvy at data analysis and report writing...it's also shown me a great deal about how programmatic decisions are made in higher ed. I've loved this position, but similar to you, I like approaching things from a psychological standpoint. Next year I will be attending a master program in clinical-counseling psychology where hopefully I'll pan out my interests a little more. There is a faculty member I hope to work for who does research on career development/student populations/academic success, but I'm also hoping to gain research/clinical experience in other areas as well. I thought by doing a masters I will have a firm foundation in psychology while also developing ideas about how (and what) I would like to pursue a doctorate.

 

Ultimately I believe I will try for a doctorate in counseling psychology where I'll continue these interests. Many counseling psychologists work in career centers, campus counseling centers, and other areas of student affairs. For me personally, I like counseling psych because it tends to have a more holistic and developmental focus (although this can vary by program). I'm not sure of your current interests in psychology and public health--but, I will say that higher education seems to be a good place for many psychologists. Off the top of my head, I can think of my current supervisor who is a social psychologist. She got her degree in applied social psychology and now works in institutional research and assessment and has easy access to other areas in the university such as teaching intro courses and supervising students. Another person who comes to mind is the dean of our our particular school (first year programs) who is a developmental psychology and made her way into higher ed. Also one of my letter writers got his degree in experimental psychology and has had tremendous success both in the psychology department as well in other areas in student affairs. This isn't even mentioning the many psychologists I know working in career services/student health services (particularly the counseling center).

 

There is a possibility that I will start my masters program (which has a significant clinical aspects) and I will determine that I don't want to pursue a doctorate with clinical components (such as clinical OR counseling doctoral programs). In that case, I believe I will go for a degree in educational psychology where I can focus on higher education from a psychological standpoint. From what I've noticed ed psych programs tend to be quite varied--there are some that focus on more on childhood development/learning/teaching etc., while there are some that more focused on college and adult learning (which is more of what I'm interested in). Two programs that I'm looking into are University of Minnesota--Psychological foundations of education and then also Urbana Campaign--QUERIES (which stands for something about quantitative methods, evaluation, etc. etc. etc.). 

 

To answer your main question of "is there a combination of higher education and psychology" --I WISH, but I do not know for sure (and if you find out, tell me! ). What I do know is that you can approach successfully from several different angles.

 

I guess my question for you, is what are you hoping to do in higher education (and student affairs)--Are you hoping to do program evaluation type research, work directly mentoring and advising students/staff, work in a counseling/career center, do administrative higher ed work? What strikes your fancy? A combination of all of them? Also, what are your current interests that have led your to the masters in psychology/public health? That might be a better starting point to see how you could segue into a doctoral program that is a great fit.

 

-FGDG

[ChasingMavericks]

FeelGoodDoGood thank you so much for all of this insight and information! I haven't been lucky enough to be around many people in my field of interest or who have really had the same type of particular interest of degrees, so what you were able to tell me gave me a lot to think about. Just like you, I am hoping that through my masters program my interests will become even more clear and pan themselves out.

 

For all 4 years of my undergrad I worked in the Student Affairs/Student Development Department jumping from Career Services, Counseling, Student Life, and helping in the Deans office, as well as another activities office. I was also involved in Residence Life and I helped run a freshman mentoring program and I just absolutely loved what I did in all of those departments. I am not interested in the research side of things, I prefer working directly with students so a combination of all you described is really what I am interested in with the mentoring/advising and counseling/career center, as well as health centers/outreach. While I don't particularly want to do the administrative admissions type of stuff I would like to have a knowledge of everything. My public health focus is health education. One of my biggest reasons for mixing public health and psychology is because of my passion for mental health education. I think it would be good for colleges to have more actual staff members that have a background in psychology or a little more in-depth understanding of mental health. For me, I actually don't want to have one job for the rest of my life I really want to work in various areas of the Student Affairs department, namely the ones mentioned. I have really become interested in health outreach education on campus, as well as career services. I want the ability to be a psychologist on a campus too which is why I certainly want to receive my Psy.D.

 

As far as the higher education, I really want to have the understanding from a taught to me perspective to go along with my personal experience to mix in with my psychology. I just really like what I see mixing these two fields. I have also looked into Educational Psychology, but only a little bit. For me, I don't think it will give me the abilities I am looking for as it is more curriculum development based and there really is not emphasis on the student affairs sector or mental health. I had thought about an MEd in Student Affairs or the sort, but then I would have 3 masters and I think I feel more silly about that prospect than I do about two doctorates! 

 

Feel free to message me and we can chat more! I would love to talk more about this.

[FeelGoodDoGood]

Hi ChasingMavericks,

 

It's great to have met someone with similar interests. I feel like I am always having to explain myself to people who don't know what I want to do!

 

That said, I think you could definitely find a niche for yourself with public health and psychology. Especially in the area of mental health promotion....that seems to be kind of a hot topic on campuses at the moment as more and more students are presenting with mental health issues. I definitely know what you're saying about wanting to jump around a bit...I think it will be awhile for me to settle down on one specific area. Also, I think a psy.d would be a good fit for you (rather than ed psych). The areas I mentioned (ed. psych, social, developmental) tend toward more research (understatement), and if that's not your cup of tea, then grad school will be a major pain.

 

I don't know if you know about this website, but "Positions in College Counseling" is a great website for seeing what's available in counseling and career centers-- http://www2.kumc.edu/people/llong/picc/list.asp --Sometimes my strategy is to see what's out there in terms of jobs and see what training is required. There are also some great groups on linkedin that I'm a part of.

 

Also, I forgot to ask--is there any clinical training required for your dual masters?

 

Great talking to you, feel free to message me anytime!!