Redheadedgirl:
Yes, you are pretty much correct, Karla would not likely be able to hang a shingle and start taking in clients as their psychologist with only her Psychology Degree....but there are other careers in and related to psychology. Below I found these career options online. I highlit those that would be especially interesting for Karla.
Following a BA or BSc degree in psychology, some students opt not to pursue a career in psychology while others do. For the former, many of the abilities and skills that one obtained as a psychology student can be used in careers that are not directly related to psychology. For the latter, there are three general paths a student can pursue.
1. Psychology as a career: A bachelor's degree (B.A. or B.Sc.) is the first step on the road to graduate-level training to become a psychologist. To call yourself a psychologist, you must complete at least a Master's degree and normally a PhD in psychology. This applies both to research careers (e.g., university professor) and becoming a practising psychologist. There are several areas of specialization for those who wish to pursue post-graduate training at the master's or doctoral level; within each area, one may choose sub-specialties in which to teach, conduct research, be a practitioner, or some combination of these three activities.
2. Careers open to Graduates with a B.A. or a B.Sc. and in which psychology is relevant: Both the skills and knowledge acquired through the baccalaureate programs provide preparation for a variety of career fields, including but not limited to personnel, labour relations, social services, technical writing, corrections, probation, parole, marketing and public relations, gerontology, health services, fundraising and mental health. A bachelor's degree in psychology often serves as a valuable preliminary step to other professional careers such as medicine, law, management, social work, and education.
3. Careers built on psychology skills and knowledge: Psychology graduates also sometimes pursue careers in, for example, law, journalism and business. This often requires further study.
Possible Employment and Careers
Presented below are many of the careers upon which psychology majors can embark. At first glance, some of these careers may appear unrelated to the discipline of psychology; however, a closer look highlights the importance of the "core competencies" and skills that psychology majors acquire during their studies.
Addictions counsellor, Administration, Advertising, Career/employment counsellor, Case worker, Child care worker, Child welfare worker, Community worker, Correctional officer, Counsellor, Cultural diversity consultant, Customs or immigration agent, Day care worker, supervisor, Educational counsellor, Entrepreneur, Fund-raiser or development officer, Gerontology, Government researcher, Health services, Hospice coordinator, Human resources, Immigration officer Labour relations specialist, Manager, Market research analyst, Marketing, Mental health worker, Motivational researcher, Personnel, Population studies researcher, Probation or parole officer, Professional consultant, Program coordinator, Psychiatric assistant or aide, Public health statistician, Public opinion interviewer, Public relations, Psychology professor, Recreation specialist, Research assistant, Sales representative, Social services, Social worker, Teaching, Technical writer, Travel agent, Youth worker
As for her psychology degree, I found this online:
Homolka took correspondence courses in sociology through nearby Queen's University which initially caused a media storm. Homolka was required to pay all fees, as well as her personal needs, from her fortnightly income of about $69, although, she told author Stephen Williams in a subsequent letter, "I did get some financial assistance". Homolka later graduated with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Queen's. News of Homolka's self-improvement courses was greeted in the media with disdain: "Nothing has changed. Concepts of remorse, repentance, shame, responsibility and atonement have no place in the universe of Karla. Perhaps she simply lacks the moral gene," wrote another Globe columnist, Margaret Wente.
So, not sure who supplied the $69 every other week (taxpayers I'd guess). And this would have to cover her toiletries. There is no way there is enough left over to pay for a degree at Queen's. My daughter took a psychology degree, it cost A LOT more than Karla's. Karla admitted to having financial assistance. In reality she's not employable ... except perhaps in an at-home job where nobody knows who they are working with.
