One can follow a few different paths to become a psychology lecturer based on one's geographic location and professional interests. In general, to become a psychology lecturer, one must have an interest in human behavior and a thorough understanding of the foundational concepts in psychology that he can communicate to students in a lecture setting. Psychology lecturers tend to work at universities and colleges and must, in almost all cases, have a higher education degree. One who wants to become a psychology lecturer also must often conduct doctoral and post-doctoral research before he will be accepted into a teaching position. Lecturers are, themselves, often expected to conduct psychological research in addition to delivering lectures, though some only work as lecturers based on their preferences and on the needs of the university.
The term "lecturer" refers to different things in different places. In the United Kingdom, for instance, "lecturer" is a formal title that refers to an academic position of less status than a full professor, comparable to an associate professor in many other universities. In the United States, on the other hand, the term "lecturer" is used in many different ways, such as to describe a professor without tenure or simply to describe anyone who delivers lectures at a university. It is important to keep these differences in mind when working to become a psychology lecturer.
Choosing an appropriate course of education is essential if one wants to become a psychology lecturer. In high school, a student should take a psychology class if one is available and work hard to get good grades in all other classes in order to get into a good college. It is important to research the psychology programs offered by different colleges, as some are based on preparing students for clinical work while others are more research based. One path is not necessarily better than the other, but they are very different, so one who wants to become a psychology lecturer should choose a college with the type of program that best fits his interests. Working hard for good grades and attempting to get internships in psychology while studying as an undergraduate can greatly help one to achieve his academic goals as well.
One must generally attend graduate school and get a doctorate degree in order to become a psychology professor. During this time, one will likely have the opportunity to conduct original research and to instruct undergraduate students. For the best chance to become a psychology lecturer at a good school, one should take advantage of any such opportunities that may arise.
