Louisiana Psychology Schools

Guide to Louisiana Psychology Degree Programs

Louisiana can be a unique experience for those that go to school there as well as those that live in its borders. There is more to the state than just New Orleans. But that is a unique haven as well. Although devastated by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, the city is slowly coming back. Other areas of Louisiana were not as hard hit by the hurricane and continue to be economic producers. The entire state is rich in natural gas and petroleum. Production can be found onshore as well as off. Agriculture is another major player with seafood and crawfish being big. The Port of South Louisiana is one of the largest ports in the world accepting cargo from both the Gulf and Mississippi River.

For psychology degree seekers, major universities can be found in the urban centers of Baton Rouge and New Orleans as well as in other sites around the state. There are both public and private education options. The state is a unique cultural mix of old world and modern life. Originally the colony was held by both French and Spanish governments. This gives much of the state an original flavor not found anywhere else in the nation. The population of the state took a hit after Katrina and is currently about 1% less than what is was in 2000.

Louisiana Psychology Job Outlook and Salary

In the next few years, Louisiana is projected to have demand grow for psychologists faster than the national average. By 2014, it is projected that the state will see a 22% demand growth according to Louisiana Department of Labor. According to Payscale, a clinical psychologist in Louisiana after a couple of years practice will average $59,800 annually. Those beginning practice will start around $40,000 - $42,000.

Louisiana is a moderately populated state with some densely packed urban areas mixed with sparsely populated rural parishes. Most job opportunities will require an applicant to have a PhD. They will find opportunities in many sectors of the economy including schools, universities and private companies. Louisiana licenses those practicing psychology within the state limits. The Louisiana State Board of Examiners of Psychologists is responsible for regulating the practice of psychology. For those that hold lesser psychology degrees, the options are not as diverse. Research and data collection jobs can be found in some public and private agencies.

For those living in metropolitan areas, prospective jobs will have higher salaries than those in smaller communities. Schools and mental health clinics will continue to have a growing need for psychological services. Social services and drug rehabilitation centers are leading employers as well. Private industry positions will be available, but not as readily as others. The universities provide options for research but these are not as common as other opportunities.


Additional Louisiana Psychology Schools

Louisiana State University - Shreveport - http://www.lsus.edu/
Grambling State University - http://www.gram.edu/
Tulane University - http://www.tulane.edu/