Are you getting ready to sign up for psychology courses for the summer or fall semesters? While your choices might be limited by the selection of courses offered at your college or university, there are still a few important questions you should ask yourself. The decisions you make today have an impact on long it takes to graduate as well as how well your coursework is aligned with your career goals.

Important questions you should ask before taking a psychology class.
Photo courtesy Vikki Hansen

Some considerations you should make before taking any class:

• How much time will you need to spend each week to class sessions and homework? Consider your current schedule and determine whether or not you have the time to devote your full attention to the class.


• How much will the class cost? If you are on a budget, tuition and fees should definitely be on your list of questions. Consider looking for different ways to fund your educations, such as grants, loans and scholarships.


• Is the course available online? Taking online classes is a great way to free up your schedule while still getting those credits that you need. Check your school's course schedule to find out which classes are available in an online format.

Learn more about some of the important factors you should consider before you take a psychology class.

• Sign Up for the Free Psychology Newsletter
• Follow Me on Twitter
• Become a Fan on Facebook

Psychologists have long speculated about the reasons for dreaming. Dreams can be so complex, vivid and surreal, which is why so many people have suggested that there must be some deeper purpose behind them.

Why do we dream? A new study suggest dreaming is exercise for the brain.

According to a new study by sleep and dream expert J. Allan Hobson, dreams might just be the brain's way of preparing for all of experiences it will encounter upon waking.

"It helps explain a lot of things, like why people forget so many dreams," Dr. Hobson told The New York Times. "It's like jogging; the body doesn't remember every step, but it knows it has exercised. It has been tuned up. It's the same idea here: dreams are tuning the mind for conscious awareness."

You can read more about the study in this article from The New York Times: A Dream Interpretation: Tuneups for the Brain.

• Why Do We Dream?
• The Characteristics of Dreams
• Dream Interpretation

If you're taking a class on personality psychology this semester, now is the time to start preparing for final exams. Test your knowledge by taking our latest quiz on personality and personality theories. Take the Personality Psychology Quiz!

Related:

• Personality Psychology Study Guide
• Theories of Personality

While earning a graduate degree is required for many psychology jobs, the fact is that approximately 75% of students who earn a bachelor's degree in psychology do not go to graduate school. According to one study, only about 25% of psychology undergraduates end up working in a field that is closely related to their major.

Learn more about what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.
_{Photo courtesy Rob Belknap/iStockPhoto}

Despite these numbers, it is important to remember that having a bachelor's degree in psychology is great preparation for careers in a wide variety of fields. Psychology undergraduate programs can vary considerably in terms of goals, but there are some very useful skills that these programs tend to focus on including:

• Communication skills: In addition to gaining a solid understanding of how people communicate, psychology majors also learn how to read, write and present information to others.


• Research skills: Psychology undergraduate spend a great deal of type researching, analyzing and synthesizing complex information.


• Interpersonal skills: Understanding the needs of other people, solving problems in a group and interacting well with others are skills valued by virtually all employers.

As you plan for your future career, start by making yourself aware of the many different options that are available. By carefully planning your future and being aware of the different opportunities that are out there, you can find a career that is perfectly suited to your educational background, skills and personality. Learn more about ten different entry-level career options in this article on what you can do with a bachelor's degree in psychology.