What Can You Do with a Psychology Degree?
KU Alumna Emilee Girard Found Her Path in Advising
A psychology degree can lead to meaningful careers in education, healthcare, business and more. University of Kansas academic advisor Emilee Girard shares how her studies and curiosity led her to a role where she helps students find their path.
When Girard came to KU, she wasn’t exactly sure what she wanted to study. In fact, she had an overwhelming amount of interests and struggled to narrow her focus.
“I came here for basketball. I’ve been a Jayhawk basketball girl for life,” she said, laughing. “KU was the only school I applied to. I didn’t come for student life or academics. Luckily, KU has a great psychology and WJSS {Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies} program, which is where I ended up.”
She initially entered through the LEAD program for prelaw students and considered an accounting major. But once she got into her freshman classes and met with her advisor, her plans began to shift.
“I didn’t know what major I wanted or whether I even wanted to go to law school,” she reflected. “My advisor made me six different grad plans based on everything I was considering. When I saw what each semester would look like, that helped me decide what felt right.”
Eventually, Girard double-majored in psychology and WJSS, and added a minor in social justice in the U.S. The combination gave her a strong foundation for working with people and systems, and it sharpened her skills in communication, writing and advocacy.
What can you do with a psychology degree?
“Honestly, my psychology degree has been so helpful in this career,” Girard noted. “Especially when it comes to student support, I feel like my students trust me. I feel comfortable asking the questions that matter, and I understand the issues they’re facing.”
Today, Girard works as an academic advisor in the KU School of Engineering, supporting students in majors like electrical engineering, computer science, mechanical engineering and more. Many of her students are in the Honors Program. Some are international students, and others are from a variety of economic and cultural backgrounds. Her degrees help her understand each student’s situation and advocate for their needs.
“These can be higher-stress majors. They have a lot going on,” she said. “Psychology and mental health knowledge really help in those conversations. And because of what I studied, I’m able to recognize where students are coming from. If someone needs a course substitution or extra support, I’m comfortable pushing for that.”
She encourages her students to explore their options, just like her advisor once encouraged her. “One of my students told me they had five different majors in mind. I said, I’ll make you five different plans,” she shared. “That’s what helped me when I was in their shoes.”
How a KU psychology degree helped her prepare
Girard credits her KU experience with giving her both the flexibility and the clarity she needed. Her classes taught her how to make connections across disciplines, and her advisor helped her see what was possible.
“I’ve always known I wanted to help people. Psychology helped me explore different ways to do that,” she said. “KU has so many programs students don’t even know about. It’s always worth doing the work to see what’s out there.”
Now pursuing a master’s in public administration, Girard continues to lean on the skills she gained in her undergraduate studies.
“My bachelor’s degrees helped me understand current issues in a stronger way, and helped me learn how to communicate and get people the resources they need,” she explained. “You also just get so many soft skills from these classes. My reading and writing skills improved so much, and I really felt prepared for a career.”
Psychology degree careers
A psychology degree opens doors across industries. KU graduates with a psychology background work in:
- Academic advising and student services
- Counseling and mental health
- Human resources and organizational behavior
- Social work and case management
- Market research and user experience
- Education and outreach
- Healthcare coordination and administration
Because the degree focuses on human behavior, communication and problem-solving, psychology degree jobs often involve helping, leading, analyzing or connecting with people.
Advice for future psychology majors
Girard’s advice for new students is simple: Talk to people, especially your professors and advisors. Get involved. Stay open to change.
“I think having an advisor that said, ‘Let's take a look and see what happens,’ made such an impression on me,” Girard shared. “Having that no-boundary, no glass ceiling, sky’s-the-limit impression that my advisor gave me ultimately was what made me realize that ‘You know what? Actually, I have so many options.’ She helped me see that, and it made me want to help students. I want them to realize what they can do, and that there is no limit to what they can do at KU.”
Girard also wants students to understand that psychology is not a narrow path. “A psychology degree can lead to so many different careers. You’re not boxed in,” she emphasized. “That’s what makes it exciting.”
So what can you do with a psychology degree? If you’re like Emilee Girard, you can turn a passion for understanding people into a career that helps others succeed, one conversation at a time.