A Degree of Difference
A law degree is the result of four years of undergraduate study followed by three years in law school, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A degree in psychology is not the same thing as becoming a psychologist. A psychologist must have a minimum of a master’s degree, although school psychologists may have a specialist’s degree and many psychologists have a doctorate. Clinical, counseling and research psychologists must have a doctorate. Those who have a master’s degree in psychology can work as industrial-organizational psychologists, while those with a bachelor’s degree in psychology often find work in a variety of other fields.
What's in a Degree
In addition to courses on topics such as constitutional law, contracts, property law, civil procedure and legal writing, some students choose courses in tax, labor or corporate law. Yale's law school, for example, offers five different programs that include specialized degrees for students who want to teach, perform research or become legal scholars. Law students also participate in practice trials, learn how to perform research, or participate in legal clinics to gain practical experience. In addition to courses related to psychology, students must also meet other educational requirements. At Michigan State University, for example, psychology students must complete courses in mathematics, writing, biological and physical sciences, arts and humanities.
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