A bachelor's degree in psychology provides solid preparation for work in many areas. The knowledge you gain about processes of human thought, motivation, emotion and behavior applies broadly to many fields.

According to an alumni survey, in the first year after graduating from Ithaca College:

  • About 40% of our graduates reported going to graduate school (sometimes in combination with working)
  • About 50% reported working.
  • The remaining 10% did a variety of things such as travel, volunteer, or conduct a job search.

What they have done since graduating, overall:

  • Most of our graduates (about 30%) are employed in the field of education.  This includes classroom teaching and support services.
  • The second largest percent (about 20%) work in human services.
  • This is followed by management, psychology, and medical (each about 10%).
  • The remaining alumni are spread across areas such as finance, research, computer related, government and law (for a complete list, see career options).

Jess Klausner, ‘16​ - Clinical Care Manager, Adult Acute Services, Community Behavioral Health

Jess Klausner, ‘16​

While at Ithaca College, Jess interned at the Southern Tier Aids Program in their syringe exchange program. This experience led Jess to pursue an MSW from the NYU Silver School of Social Work. She graduated with a focus in substance use disorder and co-occurring disorders. ​

Jess is currently a Clinical Care Manager at a behavioral health insurance company - a job that she was never exposed to in her studies or clinical trainings. She conducts utilization review activities which span from population management, cross-system consultations, to provider management and treatment quality monitoring. Jess advises current students to not be afraid to take a leap of faith. Be open to applying to a job you’re unsure about -- because it may be just the career that you’ve been searching for.​

Nate Harnett, '13 - Assistant Neuroscientist at McLean Hospital • Instructor at Harvard Medical School

Nate Harnett, '13

Originally from Binghamton, New York, Nate initially came to Ithaca College to pursue a career in music but fell in love with psychology and neuroscience after taking introductory courses. Nate dove into this newfound passion, working as a teaching and laboratory assistant for the Department of Psychology.

His training in the IC Psychology Department helped prepare him for his graduate education at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, where he obtained his PhD in Psychology. Nate currently uses multiple MRI techniques to investigate brain function, structure, and biochemistry in recent trauma victims with the hope of using this information to identify individuals susceptible to PTSD.

Kumar Yogeeswaran, '06 - Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Canterbury, New Zealand 

Kumar Yogeeswaran, '06

Although born in Massachusetts, Kumar did his schooling in India and moved to Ithaca in 2002. He declared a Psychology major without prior exposure to the field, but later fell in love with the discipline thanks to the exciting course content and dedicated teachers at IC. After completing his undergraduate studies at IC in 2006, Kumar went on to earn his MSc and PhD in Social Psychology at the University of Massachusetts - Amherst.

In 2012, Kumar took on a faculty position at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, where he teaches and researches social, political, and multicultural psychology. His primary research focuses on the psychology of diversity, group identity, prejudice, and intergroup conflict. This interest is motivated by a desire to understand how pluralistic nations can coexist despite their cultural, religious, and ideological differences.

Placements in Graduate School

Most students who are interested in careers within the field of psychology go on for further study in graduate school. An Ithaca College psychology degree, with its emphasis on research experience and/or professional practice, provides an excellent foundation for graduate study. Recent Ithaca College psychology majors have pursued further studies at many graduate and professional schools, including:

  • Albany University (PhD program in Counseling; PhD program in Social-Personality; PsyD program in School Psych; MS program in Mental Health Counseling; MS program in Early Childhood Special Education; MS program in Criminal Justice)
  • Alfred University (PsyD program in School Psychology)
  • Antioch University (MA program in Clinical Mental Health Counseling)
  • Baruch College, CUNY (MS program in I-O)
  • Binghamton University (MSW program)
  • Boston University (MA program in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine)
  • Bowling Green State University (PhD program in Clinical)
  • California Institute of Integral Studies (MA program in Drama Therapy)
  • Columbia University (EdM program in Counseling; MSW program)
  • Concordia University, Montreal, Quebec, CA (MA program in Drama Therapy)
  • Connecticut College (MA program in Clinical)
  • Cornell University (MS program in Environmental Science; Master's Program in Industrial and Labor Relations, Master’s Program in Health Administration)
  • East Carolina State University (MA program in School Psychology)
  • Emory University (PhD program in Neuropsychology)
  • Fordham University (MSW program, clinical concentration)
  • Gallaudet University (PhD program in Clinical)
  • Harvard University (JD program; M.Ed. program in Technology, Innovation, and Education)
  • Hofstra University (MS program in I-O)
  • Iowa State University (PhD program in Social)
  • James Madison University (MA program in School Psych)
  • John Jay College of Criminal Justice (MA program in Forensic Psych)
  • Loyola University of Maryland (PsyD program)
  • Marist College (MA program in Mental Health Counseling)
  • Marymount University (MA program in Forensic Psych)
  • Miami University of Ohio (PhD program in Social)
  • Michigan State University (PhD program in Marriage and Family Therapy)
  • Nebraska Wesleyan University (Master of Forensic Science program)
  • New York University (3 to the MSW program)
  • Northeastern University (PhD program in Social; MS program in School Psych)
  • Northwestern University (MBA program)
  • Northern Illinois University (MS program in Counseling)
  • Pacific Graduate School of Psychology (PhD program in Clinical)
  • Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (MS program in counseling and clinical mental health psychology)
  • Rochester Institute of Technology (MS program in School Psych)
  • Rutgers University (PsyD program in I-O)
  • Salem State University (MS program in Counseling)
  • Stony Brook University (PhD program in Clinical)
  • Syracuse University (MSW program)
  • Temple University (PhD program in Social; JD program)
  • Tufts University (MA program in School Psych; MS program in Occupational Therapy)
  • University of Akron (3 to the PhD program in I-O)
  • University of Alabama, Birmingham (PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience)
  • University of Connecticut, Storrs (MA program in Educational Psychology - Cognition, Instruction, and Learning Technology)
  • University of California, Santa Barbara (PhD program in Counseling-Clinical; PhD program in Development and Evolutionary Psyc)
  • University of Hartford (MA program in I-O)
  • University of Illinois, Chicago (PhD program in Behavioral Neuroscience)
  • University of Kentucky (PhD program in Gerontology)
  • University of Louisiana, Lafayette (MS program in Experimental Psychology)
  • University of Manitoba (MA program in Anthropology)
  • University of Maryland, Baltimore County (PhD program in Applied Developmental)
  • University of Massachusetts, Amherst (PhD program in Social)
  • University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth (MS program in Clinical)
  • University of Michigan (MSW program)
  • University of Nevada, Las Vegas (PhD program in Clinical)
  • University of New Mexico (PhD program in Clinical)
  • University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (MS program in Library Science)
  • University of Pennsylvania (MSW program)
  • University of Washington, Seattle (MSW program)