Interview With A Psycology Major With A Minor In Ecology

A psychology major involves the scientific study of human behavior and mental processes which can lead to many unique career paths. Psychology is considered a social science as it studies human behavior, cognition, and emotions in the context of society while utilizing scientific methods. An ecology minor provides students with specialized knowledge in the study of interactions between organisms and their environments. From a career as a clinical psychologist to a career as an environmental consultant, this degree and minor can take you far. To dive deeper into the intricacies of this major, I interviewed an ophthalmologist who interacts with patients frequently. I asked this doctor a series of questions regarding their chosen undergraduate major and minor and current career path, and here are their responses:

What school did you attend for your undergraduate degree?

"University of Arizona."

What was your undergraduate major?

"Psychology with minor in Ecology."

What is your current occupation, and how did your undergraduate major prepare you for your career?

"Ophthalmologist. Psychology helped to better understand the human mind and relate better with people/patients."

What does a regular day in your occupation look like?

"I work two days a week now. The days I'm in the office, I see patients 8-4:30. I complete charting at the end of the day. Before I adjusted my schedule to two days, I worked four days per week. Three and one half days in clinic and one half day operating."

Did you do any additional schooling after undergraduate school for your occupation? (If so, then what school/program and how long did it take?)

"After undergraduate, I went to medical school for 4 years, research fellowship for 1 year, internship for 1 year and 3 years of residency."

What was your favorite aspect of your undergraduate major?

"I found Psychology fascinating and I still do. It is so interesting to learn about how the human mind works and adapts. I also found the similarities with primates very interesting."

What was the most challenging part of your undergraduate major?

"Psychology in itself wasn't the most challenging part of my undergraduate studies. It was challenging to fit all of the Pre-Medical classes in my schedule."

What made you choose your undergraduate major?

"I selected Psychology because I found it interesting, not to strengthen my application to medical school. I think it's important to choose a major that truly interests you. I also think it's a great time to explore subjects outside of STEM/STEAM."