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Wisconsin Psychology Schools – WI
By an allied health world contributing writer
Published: February 19th, 2010
Entry-level psychologists in Wisconsin need a minimum of a master’s degree; a one-year psychology internship facilitated by one of the psychology schools in Wisconsin, APA accreditation, and a state-approved license to hold the title of “psychologist.” Psychology majors with a bachelor’s degree can find employment in the mental health field or at a public institution after graduation, but the opportunities for advancement are limited. Multiple universities and psychology schools in Wisconsin offer master’s programs for psychology majors. A person with a master’s degree who is not certified as a “psychologist” has greater opportunities to work for clinics and state agencies than those with only a bachelor’s degree. Employers from different career fields value the social skills that psychology majors learn in college.
Competition for professional jobs in psychology is intense, so candidates are increasingly pursuing doctoral degrees through psychology schools in Wisconsin, which take five to seven years to complete. Two of the major campuses in Wisconsin’s public university system have psychology departments with Ph.D. programs. Psychologists with a Ph.D. in psychology or a Doctor of Psychology (Psy.D.) have more employment opportunities and earn higher salaries than colleagues with only a master’s degree, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Experienced psychologists with doctoral degrees who study a specific area are often required to be “board certified” in their specialty. The American Board of Professional Psychology recognizes 13 specialties for certification.
Through campus based and online programs, aspiring Psychologists in Milwaukee, Madison and Green Bay, Wisconsin may be able to prepare themselves for the possibility of employment in some of the largest hospitals and healthcare facilities in the state including the Aurora Saint Luke's Medical Center, Saint Joseph's Hospital, University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics and Saint Mary's Hospital.