Specializations at IUPUI
The IUPUI Psychology Department provides its students with both a well-rounded education and the opportunity to explore specific areas of psychology in which they have special interests. Graduate education is a process of further refinement during which students become increasingly more proficient in and knowledgeable of an area of psychological specialization. The following three areas of specialization are available at IUPUI.
Clinical Psychology
Clinical psychologists assess and treat people with psychological problems. They may act as therapists for people experiencing normal psychological crises (e.g., grief) or for individuals suffering from chronic psychiatric disorders. Some clinical psychologists are generalists who work with a wide variety of populations, while others work with specific groups like children, the elderly, or those with specific disorders (e.g., schizophrenia). They may be found in hospitals, community health centers, or private practice.
Industrial/Organizational Psychology
I/O psychologists are concerned with the relationships between people and their work environments. They may develop new ways to increase productivity or be involved in personnel selection. You can find I/O psychologists in businesses, industry, government agencies, and colleges and universities. I/O psychologists are probably the most highly paid psychologists.
Psychobiology of Addictions Psychology
Psychobiology psychologists are concerned with research in the general area of behavioral neuroscience, with a particular focus on behavioral and brain sciences. They have developed a comprehensive understanding of the neural bases of behavior, with an emphasis on the behavioral neurobiology of drugs of abuse. Psychobiologists have a gained expertise in integrative neuroscience, and have learned to apply current methods of cellular and systems neuroscience to key problems of drug abuse and addiction.
The APA's Careers in Psychology booklet serves as an introduction for students who are pursuing careers that require graduate education in a specialized area of psychology. If you want to become a psychologist, these are some areas you should explore.