What can you do with a Psychological Science degree from UC Irvine?

First, some facts. Of the Psychological Science graduates from UC Irvine we've analyzed , here's how many have used (or NOT used) their degree in their career:


These are estimates based on AI analysis of 10 LinkedIn profiles (see below).

The verdict? Above average. Overall, with an average relevance score of 74%, Psychological Science graduates from UC Irvine have a higher likelihood (+7%) of finding work in this field compared to the average graduate across all fields:

Average score: 74%
Average relevance score across all fields: 67%

And for comparison, here's the chart for all profiles we've looked at across all degrees.

× Chart

Also, after graduating, 50% of these graduates have pursued further education other than another Bachelor's degree (such as a Masters degree or other), compared to the average across all profiles of 35%. This suggests you may need more than just a Bachelors degree to be competitive as a Psychological Science graduate.

See the details:

View a random Psychological Science graduate from UC Irvine and our analysis:


Relevance score: 53%

We think this person has gone into a career only somewhat relevant to their degree.

DEGREE INFO

Graduated in 2020 from UC Irvine with a Bachelor's degree in Psychological Science. No other secondary education since.

JOB HISTORY SINCE GRADUATION
Strive Intern
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County
Jan 2020 - Mar 2020
As a Strive Intern at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County, the job utilizes psychological principles in mentoring and understanding youth behavior, making it highly relevant to the Bachelor's degree in Psychological Science.

Shadowing volunteer
Aloha Dental
Aug 2022 - Present
The role of a Shadowing Volunteer at Aloha Dental provides some exposure to patient interactions, which may benefit from psychological understanding, but it does not directly require the specific knowledge and skills from the psychology degree.

ABOUT

No information provided.

What jobs can you get with a Psychological Science degree from UC Irvine?

The top 10 most common jobs done by the graduates we've analyzed (ranked most common to least) are:


So, when you look at the jobs that graduates in Psychological Science from UC Irvine have landed, there’s a pretty clear pattern. Many of them have found roles that directly apply psychological principles, especially in mental health settings. Jobs like Clinical Supervisor, Mental Health Counselor in Training, and roles within various nonprofit organizations really show how these individuals leverage their psychology knowledge to help others. Positions that involve direct client interaction, such as Peer Counselor or Community Education Specialist, are not only relevant but also essential for those wanting to work in fields that utilize psychological concepts daily.

On the flip side, not all positions seem to align perfectly with what you might expect from a psychology degree. Some grads took jobs in areas like logistics or customer service, which don't directly involve psychological science. For instance, being an Area Manager at Amazon or working as a Hostess/Busser at a restaurant doesn’t really tap into that psychological training. Overall, while there’s a significant number of jobs that are closely related to Psychological Science, especially in mental health and education, there’s also a noticeable chunk of roles that stray away from the core concepts of psychology, showcasing a mixed bag of outcomes from this degree path.

Here is a visual representation of the most common words in job titles for Psychological Science graduates (this is across all Psychological Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to UC Irvine):

What kind of career trajectories do Psychological Science graduates from UC Irvine have? What do they do 1, 5 or 10 years out?

Looking at the career trajectories of UC Irvine graduates with degrees in Psychological Science, it's clear that many have started off in roles that align with mental health, education, and social services shortly after graduating. For instance, recent graduates have taken positions like clinical supervisors, mental health counselors, and community education specialists—all roles that directly utilize their psychological training. Internships in organizations like Big Brothers Big Sisters and various mental health facilities also show a solid initial focus on gaining practical experience in fields directly related to psychology. It seems like many graduates are landing solid first jobs that are quite relevant to their studies, especially in clinical, counseling, and educational roles.

As we look five to ten years down the line, many of these graduates are progressing into more specialized or leadership positions within their fields. For example, some have moved into research roles or management positions in organizations focused on mental health and community services. Others have branched out into related areas such as occupational therapy, further enhancing their expertise and adaptability. Although a few graduates have taken more unexpected paths—like working as area managers at Amazon—this doesn't overshadow the overarching trend of having fulfilling careers that leverage their education in Psychological Science. Overall, it looks like these graduates are doing quite well, with a strong mix of relevant careers and opportunities to advance in the field.

How hard is a Psychological Science degree from UC Irvine?

Honestly, a Bachelor’s degree in Psychological Science at UC Irvine can be pretty challenging, but it's not impossible! Like most psychology programs, you'll dive into a mix of theory, research methods, and stats, which can get pretty intense, especially if math isn't your strong suit. The workload varies, with some classes requiring a lot of reading and writing, but there's also a lot of interesting stuff to learn about human behavior. Overall, it’s about the same difficulty level as many other social science degrees—definitely requires effort and passion, but if you’re genuinely interested in the subject, it can be a rewarding experience. So, be prepared to put in some work, but it's totally doable if you stay on top of things!

How long does it take?

Most commonly, in the LinkedIn profiles we've looked at, it takes people 2 years to finish a Bachelor degree in Psychological Science.

Do Psychological Science graduates from UC Irvine tend to make good money?

Looking at the job paths these UC Irvine Psychology grads have taken, it seems like they're still navigating the early stages of their careers, which usually means they’re not raking in big bucks yet. Most of them started with internships or entry-level positions, which often pay less. For instance, the ones working as interns or support staff likely aren’t earning much more than minimum wage. A few, like the Clinical Supervisor from 2023, may have hit a higher pay grade, but overall, it seems like they're mostly in that "building experience" phase. So, while they might not be making decent money right off the bat, they’re hopefully setting themselves up for more lucrative opportunities down the line.

What buzzwords do Psychological Science graduates use to describe themselves?

Here is a visual representation of the most common words seen in the "about" section of LinkedIn profiles who have a Bachelor degree in Psychological Science (this is across all Psychological Science graduates we've analyzed, not just those who went to UC Irvine). This may or may not be useful:

What are the best colleges for Psychological Science?

Here are all colleges offering a Bachelor degree in Psychological Science (ordered by the average relevance score of their Psychological Science graduates, best to worst) where we have analyzed at least 10 of their graduates:

College Score Count
UC Irvine 74 10