How can a Psychologist help in the following areas?

Question

Social Work
Policy making (health related)
Conservation of animals and the environment
Disease Control ( like AIDS , Malaria etc)

I need to know whether a Major in Psychology would help me to do all the above ( it is kind of like a wish list! I want to acheive in my life time!).
What branches in Psychology would I have to look into?
and would a BSc in Zoology,Botany and Computer Science along with Psychology help in anyway?
I am currently studying Psychology, what other courses would I have to do?
Only serious answers please!
Thanks a million

Bev - thanks for your answer, but its a bit difficult to understand as it is just one long sentence without any stops. Thanks anyway

Answer 1

A BA in psych is a good background to go into an MSW program. There are MSW programs that focus on both clinical and Policy. You might consider a dual or joint degree in Social Work and public health. The animal piece can fit in through animal assisted work and /or environmental social work. You might look at the University of Denver I believe they have many of the elements you are looking for.

Answer 2

Nice list. It sounds like a career in Health Psychology may be appropriate. That would involve becoming a PhD level psychologist - so 4 years of undergraduate work, and probably 5 years of graduate work after that. Health Psychologists do both clinical & research work in regards to increasing our knowledge and field work on health related issues: prevalence, incidence of diseases for example. They also may do surveys for epidemiological purposes of advancing health.

A minor in social work in your undergraduate degree may be helpful. But, remember...if you want to become a licensed or a research Psychologist, we generally focus on the individual. Social workers tend to focus on family, group, and all social aspects of life in addition to the individual. Psychologists also mostly work with humans - but may do some indirect work with animals if it's in a research lab (which isn't what I think you're looking for). You could however do a twist on Health Psychology and Pet Therapy. This field encourages people who are healing to own a pet and describes the benefits that animals bring into people's lives. If you go that route...perhaps a minor in zoology may indeed be helpful.

Psychology overall is a very nice degree to mix and match other elements with it. But, remember...at the PhD level...your choices will be narrowed down. Don't worry though - because by then, you'll know exactly what you want to do!

Much, much luck to you!

IndyChic :D

Answer 3

are u on a guilt trip~u aren't going to make policy as a lay person ever, unless u understand sucking up really big~with words like aids, malaria~u don't get a second chance in life you are here make better decisions here before u think about going to a hospital for diseases if you are messed up now do it to stay close to aid for your self but to knowingly make a bad choice as a way of life sounds weird

Answer 4

Go into chemical dependency (as a specialist).

Chemical dependency can be linked with social work, the necessity of policy changes (especially in rehabilitative insurance coverage), animal abuse, and spread of disease.

If you can take the recovery process, this would make a noble endeavor indeed.