Psychology is the academic field that studies behavior-both human and animal. It is a broad field with many areas of specialization. At Iowa, the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences offers course work in five areas: behavioral and cognitive neuroscience, clinical psychology, developmental science, cognition and perception, and personality and social psychology.
Many vocational opportunities in psychology require advanced professional training through a master's degree (typically two years of graduate study) or a doctoral degree (typically four or five years of graduate study), so some undergraduates choose to combine a psychology degree with a second major in education, social work, business, journalism, or nursing.
Clinical psychologists work in clinics, hospitals, or in private practice, where they diagnose and treat psychological disorders. Clinical psychology is sometimes confused with psychiatry, but psychiatrists are medical doctors (MDs) with specialized training in the treatment of mental disorders.
Psychologists in academic settings teach and conduct research designed to increase our knowledge about behavior. They also work in governmental and industrial organizations, carrying out basic and applied research and providing professional advice.