What follows is a slightly edited reading list originally prepared by Dr. Robert S. Daniel of the University of Missouri-Columbia, former editor of Teaching of Psychology. The readings below contain a wealth of information and are divided into references dealing with vocational and career issues and those dealing with graduate school issues.
Erdwins, C. (1980). Psychology majors in the paraprofessional role. Professional Psychology, 11, 106-112. This is a survey showing the employment locations of psychology major graduates and the relevance of undergraduate work to their job demands.
Erdwins, C., & Olivetti, L. (1978). Psychology related employment settings for graduates of submasters programs in psychology: A bibliography. Teaching of Psychology, 5, 38-39. A source of some slightly older, but still pertinent articles on this subject: 21 papers listed.
Keeley, S., & Kruetzer, J. (1981). A follow up evaluation of an undergraduate community mental health worker training program. Teaching of Psychology, 8, 28-31. One of quite a few articles available that describe programs to prepare students for jobs; this one tells what happens to those so trained in terms of employment.
Lunneborg, P. (1981). Why study psychology? Monterey, CA: Brooks/Cole. A good source of guidance for many facets of undergraduate work, including career planning.
Lunneborg, P., & Wilson, V. (1982). Job satisfaction correlates for college graduates in psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 9, 199-201. A survey of graduates reveals high rates of employment and high job satisfaction. Emphasizes the importance of finding the "right" job, one which matches the individual's goals and interests.
Matthews, J. (1982). Increasing the employability of the undergraduate psychology major. ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED 225 470, April. How a psychology department should be preparing its majors for careers.
McGovern, T. (1980). Development of a career planning program for undergraduate psychology majors. Teaching of Psychology, 6, 183-184. Some of the things this teacher offers students in a course you can do on your own to prepare for a career.
Prerost, F., & Reich, M. (1984). Factors affecting evaluation of undergraduate job applicants: Urban vs. rural human service delivery systems, Teaching of Psychology, 11, 218-220. Results of this study have implications for how you might prepare for a career, depending upon the setting.
Titley, R. (1978). Whatever happened to the Class of '67?: Psychology baccalaureate holders, one, five, and ten years after graduation. American Psychologist, 33, 1094-1098. Psychology majors rise rapidly "in the ranks" of a variety of jobs within a few years of graduation.
Ware, M., & Meyer, A. (1981). Career versatility of the psychology major: A survey of graduates. Teaching of Psychology, 8, 12-15. Shows that psychology majors have a wide choice of jobs in which they can be successful.
Wise, P., Smith, G., & Fulkerson, F. (1983). Occupations of psychology majors receiving undergraduate degrees from Western Illinois University, Teaching of Psychology, 10, 53-54. Only one of 183 respondents (over a 15 year period) was unemployed. Discussion focuses on the diversity of types of employment found. Compare this with the study of Hanover College graduates also in the appendix of this handbook.
Woods, P. (Ed.). (1979). The psychology major. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. A collection of many short papers, most of which are designed to help students prepare for and find a psychology-related job.
Woods. P. (Ed.). (1979). Career opportunities for psychologists. Expanding and emerging areas. Washington, DC: American Psychology Association. Primarily for doctoral level psychologists seeking employment in non academic settings. Of interest to undergraduates seeking bachelor level employment, perhaps, because it may encourage them to expand their views of acceptable job opportunities.
Blanton, J. S. (1983). Midwifing the dissertation. Teaching of Psychology, 10, 74-77. Written from the advisor's point of view, but good to let you know what to expect from the dissertation experience. Blashfield, R. (1975). Graduate admissions: A case study of a department of psychology. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 5, 225, MS#914. Analysis of a large number of applicants suggests that acceptance reliability is low and consequent attrition is high.
Bloom, L., & Bell, P. (1979). Making it in graduate school: Some reflections about the superstars. Teaching of Psychology, 6, 231-232. Beyond being good students, what intangible qualities do superior students exhibit?
Blume, G., & Perlman, B. (1981). Perspectives of master's level clinical psychology training coordinators on major issues of subdoctoral education. Teaching of Psychology, 8, 38-40. An important article if you are debating whether to apply to a masters program or a doctoral program.
Cole, D. Undergraduate preparation for admission to professional schools of psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 6, 179-180. Read this if you are debating whether to apply to a professional school or a standard psychology department in a university.
Couch, J., & Benedict, J. (1983). Graduate school admission variables: An analysis of 1980-81 students. Teaching of Psychology, 10, 3-6. Some things students want to know, but can't otherwise find out, about graduate admissions.
DeCato, C. (1975). Manual for the admissions rating scale. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 5, 177, MS #834. You might want to examine this to see how your application to graduate school might be assessed.
Fretz, B., & Stang, D. (1980). Preparing for graduate study in psychology: Not for seniors only. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. A practical guide for majors that emphasizes planning over several years.
Fox, D. (1983). The pressure to publish: A graduate student's personal plea. Teaching of Psychology, 10, 177-178. (See also a critique and rejoinder in the Dec. 1984 issue, pp.238-241). An interesting case study about research attitudes, partly covered in Perl & Kahn (1983).
Harper, R. (1976). Where is CAMUS for GPIPs now that we need one? Teaching of Psychology, 3, 134-136. Read this if you get frustrated from the wide variety you find in graduate school application forms.
Henderson, D. (1982). On advising undergraduates about graduate schools in professional psychology. Teaching of Psychology, 9, 184-185. If you hope to be licensed in clinical/counseling or industrial psychology eventually, you should read this article before graduate work.
Holmes, C. B., Wertz, P. J., & Waln, R. (1982). Psychology requirements for admission to counseling and counseling psychology programs. Professional Psychology, 13, 871-875. Typically they require more undergraduate psychology than do other programs.
Keith-Spiegle, P. (1991). The complete guide to graduate school admission: Psychology and related fields. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum. All you wanted to know about how to get into graduate school. This is must reading if you are thinking of psychological studies on the graduate level.
Korn, J. H., & Lewandowski, M. E. (1981). The clinical bias in the career plans of undergraduates and its impact on students and the profession. Teaching of Psychology, 8, 149-152. This article may be of considerable help to you if you are applying to the highly competitive fields of clinical or counseling psychology.
Mendenhall, M. (1983). Overcoming obstacles in the dissertation requirement: Advice to the doctoral candidate. Teaching of Psychology, 10, 210-212. Author's hope is that this article will make the experience more satisfying.
Murray, R. E., & Walsh, R. P. (1976). Personality differences between levels of psychology majors. Psychological Reports, 39, 215-220. Findings about the personality variables related to graduate work.
Perl, K. G., & Kahn, M. W. (1983). Psychology graduate students' attitudes toward research: A national survey. Teaching of Psychology, 10, 139-143. Research is given great emphasis in most graduate departments--what do the students think about it?
Perlman, B., & Lane, R. (1981). The "clinical" master's degree. Teaching of Psychology, 8, 2-77. All about the politics and policy issues involved if you elect a master's program rather than a PhD program.
Scherirer, C. J. (1983). Professional schools: Information for students and advisors. Teaching of Psychology, 10, 11-15. You need this guide if you choose to pursue the PsyD rather than the PhD.
Scott, W. C., & Davis-Silka, L. (1974). Applying to graduate school: A perspective and guide. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 4, 33, MS #597. An older, but still quite useful guide similar to Fretz & Stang (1980).
Woods, P. J. (Ed.). (1979). The psychology major. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. Must reading for all psychology majors.