College Experiences That Helped An Assistant Professor Of Organizational Psychology At William James College Succeed
For undergraduate students interested in organizational psychology, the most insightful career paths involve gaining research experience by working in professors' labs and pursuing internships in HR or organizational development to gain practical experience. A "nice soft launch" into graduate studies, potentially progressing from a bachelor's to a master's degree before pursuing a PhD, is also recommended to improve acceptance rates into doctoral programs.
Graduate School, Research Experience, Internships, HR, Organizational Development
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Dr. Neesha Daulat
Assistant Professor of Organizational Psychology
William James College
University of San Diego, 2013
Masters in Education - University of Nevada, Las Vegas; Masters & PhD in Positive Organizational Psychology - Claremont Graduate University
Biology & Related Sciences
Education
Education
Scholarship Recipient, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Gain research experience by working in professors' labs to understand the research process and the field of organizational psychology.
2. Pursue HR internships or organizational development internships to gain practical experience in the field.
3. Consider a Master's degree as a stepping stone before pursuing a PhD in organizational psychology to increase the chance of acceptance into doctoral programs. Entry-level HR positions can also serve as a good starting point.
Transcript
What entry-level positions can an undergraduate college student consider in this field?
For students who want to be professors, their main goal in undergraduate education should be to work in research labs with professors. This is especially true in the field they want to pursue.
This experience will give them a sense of what the research process looks like. It offers a window into what they might be doing in graduate programs later.
They should also gain experience in the field where they wish to become a professor. If that's their undergraduate major, they should take more classes and do more research.
To become a professor, graduate school is necessary. The focus should be on positioning oneself for acceptance into a graduate program.
Ideally, one could go straight from a bachelor's to a PhD. However, a better route involves pursuing a master's degree first, then a PhD.
Going from a master's to a PhD was beneficial for me. It served as a good transition into graduate school.
There's also a better acceptance rate into a PhD program after completing a master's degree. For organizational psychology, undergraduates should explore HR or organizational development internships.
Large companies often offer internships in these areas. Gaining this experience is key.
Entry-level HR positions are also an option with a bachelor's degree, which can be a good starting point. However, HR work may not always encompass everything within organizational psychology.
These are the two paths and the key focus areas for undergraduate students in this field.