Forensic Psychology Degrees

Those who are interested in this area of expertise either need a master’s or doctorate in psychology followed by additional courses in law and the criminal justice system. They also take classes related to the field of forensics.

So far, the three main forensic psychology degrees available in colleges and universities in the United States are:

1. Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology
2. PhD in Forensic Psychology
3. PsyD in Forensic Psychology

Bachelor’s degrees in forensic psychology are not offered in forensics, but you can get started in this career by enrolling in an accredited online university and obtaining your bachelor's degree in psychology. If you are interested in working forensic psychology jobs, then use these tips to learn more about the various forensic psychology programs offered. This information should help you prepare for a forensic psychologist career.

1. Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology: Obtaining a master’s degree in forensic psychology via the traditional method (attending a college or university) or by getting a forensic psychology online degree is one of the first ways to proceed. There are programs that are geared towards law enforcement, organizational consultation or legal consultation. Some schools offer programs that lead students to become mental health counselors. Having a master of arts in forensic psychology may limit your options since a doctorate degree is required for certain forensic science jobs in this specialized field.
2. PhD in Forensic Psychology: 
Some PhD programs in forensic psychology offer tracks in clinical licensure and in psychology, policy and law. The first, clinical licensure, will take you five years to complete. Since this is a doctorate degree, emphasis is more on research. Training in this track is geared towards developing forensic clinicians.
   
   Topics include the justice system (including law and criminology) and psychological issues and concerns. Information on the following subjects is stressed:
   
   • Domestic Violence
   • Serial Killing
   • Stalking
   • Sex Offending
   • Police Stress
   The second track is a four-year program in psychology, policy and law. Its focus is more on the in-depth examination of the link between law and psychology. Expect to study how the principles of psychology are applied to legal decision making.
3. PsyD in Forensic Psychology: 
The doctorate degree in psychology with emphasis on forensic psychology deals with the application of mental health principles and various scientific methods or techniques to specific legal questions. Students can learn about assessment and evaluation methods in forensics. This type of degree covers both academic as well as practical experiences.

   
   Students should expect to be exposed to juvenile halls, prisons, jails, group homes and other forensic settings. With this type of experience, students are able to learn and put into practice forensic psychological theory in both a group setting and on a one-on-one basis.
   
   Issues tackled in this course can include any of the following: stalking, domestic violence, different types of addiction, juvenile delinquency, serial killings and more.

Forensic Psychology Career Information

After you have completed your coursework and decided where you want to work, you will need to make sure you stay up to date on your licensure. This means checking with the state boards, and keeping up to date with continuing education credits. These will need to be taken on a yearly basis, and sometimes up to 32 hours per year.

Career Advancement and Salary

Since there are very few people who work in this field, there are quite a few job openings. Jobs are available within the FBI, police department, or in private practice. Salary is often scaled by experience with starting pay being around $50,000 per year, and upwards of established psychologists making around $90,000.

As the field of forensic psychology continues to grow, more and more educational institutions will offer this type of program. Expect to find variations in the curriculum of different academic institutions offering degrees in forensic psychology. It is best to scrutinize the course offerings of various traditional and online schools and choose the one that you feel best suits your professional goals.