I feel so dumb for not knowing the answer to this, but what are the differances in AA, BA or Masters. Not only what are the differances, but what can I do with a Psychology AA verses a BA verses a Masters. How long does one take to get in comparison to the others

AA- associate's- 2 years. BA- Bachelor's- 4 years. MA- Master's- I think usually takes people another year and a half or two years. as to what can be done with them, I don't know much of that but I think most really decent jobs want a graduate degree (Masters) although the others plus experience might help with entry level caseworker jobs. My hat's off to ya, just thinking about it makes me tired:)

An AA is an Associates Degree in Arts. This is usually a 2 year degree. A BA is a Bachelor's in Arts, which usually takes 4 years. A Masters can take up to 7 or 8 years to get and usually involves writing a Thesis and alot of other hoops to jump through. As far as possibilities and positions, the Master's would get you into alot of places the others won't.

Thank you both very much. Right now this is all such a learning process. Trying to make certain I know what I am going after and how to go about it. Certainly the last thing I want in another useless degree

...I have a B.S. in ED...Bachelors of Science in Education which lets me teach and as a teacher, I have to have 18 credit hours within 5 yrs. of Bachelors to keep my teaching license...so I am working on my Masters to get my 18 credit hours plus more to get my Masters in School Counseling, which could take me awhile because I am only going part time...

I have a Masters in Social Work. Actually I have known people with Masters in Psychology and the jobs are very limited. Most people go on to get a doctorate n Psychology. If you want to just go to the masters level i'd suggest a different degree. I know people who have Masters in Psychology and were sorry they did that.

What exactly is the differance in Masters in Social Work and Masters in Psychology. I have this idea for some reason that they are along the same lines.

Masters in Social Work would enable you to work as a social worker etc. Psychology would enable you to counsel, or see patients etc. however I do not think you could write prescriptions.

I am currently working on my Bachelor's degree in Social Work and plan to go on after that and work towards my Master's degree in the same field. Social Work gives you more opportunities. You can be guaranteed to work with all ages when you do Social Work. You can work with children, the elderly, the homeless, in emergency rooms, etc. The choices are limitless really.

What exactly is the differance in Masters in Social Work and Masters in Psychology. I have this idea for some reason that they are along the same lines. They are similar but different.

Very little can be done with a AA or a BA in psychology. To be a psychologist one needs a minimum of a masters degree (6 years of college min). This would allow one to sit for the clinican's licensing exam in their state. If they are a clinical psychologist they see patients, provide therapy and do psychological testing. They do not precribe meds.

A Bachelor's in social work allows you to begin work as a social worker. These are entry level jobs that do not pay well unless you work for the government (ie: children's services or the CJ system or hospital). Once you get a BSW (bachelors of social work) you can work as a social worker but you cannot go into private practice unless you are a LCSW (licensed clinical social worker). This usually means getting a masters and then sitting for the state exam. Some social workers are CSW's and can have a private practice...it depends on your state's laws. Once you are a LCSW you can have a private practice and see patients. You provide counseling and do not prescribe meds.

Sometimes one makes more $ than the other.

Having an associates degree in these fields is VERY limiting and there is very little you can do as far as work with that type of degree. (AA or AS)

If you want to start working with the smallest about of college, go the BSW route. This will take 4 or 5 years of college, depending on where you attend college.Then once you are working in the field ,finish your masters (additional 2 years).

The BASIC diff. between social work and psychology is this: social work deal with systems, usually family systems and how people fit into those systems and the world around them. Psychology deals more with the individual and his/her current coping mechanisms (very basic description here).

Here is info about becoming licensed in ID as a psychologist
http://adm.idaho.gov/adminrules/rules/idapa24/1201.pdf

Here it is for social workers
http://adm.idaho.gov/adminrules/rules/idapa24/1401.pdf

You can also find information about psychology throught the APA http://www.apa.org/ and about social work thru the NASW http://www.naswdc.org/

You might want to look at jobs http://www.dhr.idaho.gov/jobseekers.htm or http://www.dhr.idaho.gov/CurrentOpenings.asp?category=10 and see what kinds are available what level of education is needed.

Your state also have LMFT = licesned marriage and family therapists, masters required
and LPC = licensed professional counselor, masters required.

If all this college doesn't sound like something you want to do, do not go into this field. Look at maybe becoming a LPN, that's 2 years of nursing school (still helping people).

TNC did this help at all? Let me know if you have more questions.

TNC did this help at all? Let me know if you have more questions.
I actually did help a lot. I never really realized the two were so differant. I also was reading on a site today giving job position samples for the two. It amazed me how one could do one thing and and the other couldnt, but yet that one could do somethign else the other couldnt. It was actually a little backwards from what I expected. Quite honestly it has made my decision process a little harder.

I actually did help a lot. I never really realized the two were so differant. I also was reading on a site today giving job position samples for the two. It amazed me how one could do one thing and and the other couldnt, but yet that one could do somethign else the other couldnt. It was actually a little backwards from what I expected. Quite honestly it has made my decision process a little harder.I know. I think most people have NO idea of the differences between these disciplines so you are not alone in that area. Yes it doesn't make it harder. I would look online and find the job prognosis (future outlook for the next 10 years) of each one of these. Who gets paid the most? What job opportunities are most plentiful, that type of thing. That might help you narrow it down some.

Isn't it also that BS is more studies in Science and BA is if you take a foreign language? My guidance counselor is pushing me for BA because she said that not too many people go through with the foreign language and that it will open up a larger clientele if I go that route.

The whole foreign language thing is kind of scary actually...I've already taken Spanish 101, but had to cancel my 102 this semester because I'm in search of a full-time job and taking 5 classes just seemed like a little too much. So I don't really know which route I will take at this point. Anyways, if anyone has more insight into this that would be great. Otherwise I can talk to my mentor and find out for sure sometime during this semester.

i'm looking to get my ph.d in clinical psychology except i need to find a school that has a correspondance course for it. does anybody know of one? Im serving a 5 year sentence once i graduate from college and earn my bachelors in fine arts.

I am a college teacher. You really cannot do a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology by correspondence due to the nature of the coursework-clinical work, etc. If someone tells you otherwise, it will not be a credible degree! Beyond a four year bachelor's degree, you would have to also have a Master's Degree prior to entering (there are a few exceptions with a strong master's program) a Ph.D. program. I would suggest to you that if you are specifically interested in psychology, you look at a bachelor's degree in something other than fine arts so you "feed" that focus.