2 answers
Emma
Student
Shawnee, Oklahoma
1
Question
Asked
109 views
What are some possible career paths for me?
I am a sophomore psychology major with a Christian ministry minor! I love kids and want to work with children to some capacity, but I don't want to be a counselor. What other career paths would combine psychology, kids, and possibly ministry?
Login to comment
2 answers
Jeremy Sapia
Employee Experience
3
Answers
Houston, Texas
Updated
Jeremy’s Answer
Emma, you can find many ways to use your interests and skills to help others in your career.
Research: Developmental psychologists are very interested in how our minds grow and change over time. There are labs that focus on studying babies, kids, and teens. If this research matches what you like and are curious about, reach out to the professors or students involved. This could help you stand out and cultivate your interest in graduate school.
Social Work: Social workers do more than just one-on-one or group counseling. They can work in various organizations.
Teaching: There will always be a need for teachers in subjects like literature, social studies, and even religion if you're at a private school.
Research: Developmental psychologists are very interested in how our minds grow and change over time. There are labs that focus on studying babies, kids, and teens. If this research matches what you like and are curious about, reach out to the professors or students involved. This could help you stand out and cultivate your interest in graduate school.
Social Work: Social workers do more than just one-on-one or group counseling. They can work in various organizations.
Teaching: There will always be a need for teachers in subjects like literature, social studies, and even religion if you're at a private school.
Kim Larson
Human Resources
5
Answers
Omaha, Nebraska
Updated
Kim’s Answer
That’s such a great combination of interests—and there are definitely meaningful career paths that blend psychology, working with children, and ministry without going the counseling route.
A few ideas that come to mind include:
Non-profit work – Many nonprofits focus on supporting children and families, and your background in psychology and ministry could be a great asset. Roles might involve program coordination, volunteer management, or family outreach. Depending on the organization, you could work directly with kids or support the teams who do.
Children’s ministry – Working in a church setting is a great way to stay connected to both ministry and kids. My spouse actually does this! His role involves a lot of planning, coordinating volunteers, preparing for Sunday services, and organizing events for kids and families. It’s a rewarding path that blends faith, leadership, and impact.
Foster care or child welfare – While I’m not as familiar with all the specific roles in the foster care system, I know there’s a big need. This area would definitely allow you to work closely with children and use your psychology background to support their development and well-being.
There are also adjacent paths like working in education support roles, after-school programming, or family advocacy. You have a lot of meaningful options—and the good news is, you don’t have to figure it all out right now. Let your interests guide your experiences, and you’ll keep uncovering new possibilities along the way.
A few ideas that come to mind include:
Non-profit work – Many nonprofits focus on supporting children and families, and your background in psychology and ministry could be a great asset. Roles might involve program coordination, volunteer management, or family outreach. Depending on the organization, you could work directly with kids or support the teams who do.
Children’s ministry – Working in a church setting is a great way to stay connected to both ministry and kids. My spouse actually does this! His role involves a lot of planning, coordinating volunteers, preparing for Sunday services, and organizing events for kids and families. It’s a rewarding path that blends faith, leadership, and impact.
Foster care or child welfare – While I’m not as familiar with all the specific roles in the foster care system, I know there’s a big need. This area would definitely allow you to work closely with children and use your psychology background to support their development and well-being.
There are also adjacent paths like working in education support roles, after-school programming, or family advocacy. You have a lot of meaningful options—and the good news is, you don’t have to figure it all out right now. Let your interests guide your experiences, and you’ll keep uncovering new possibilities along the way.