Best Doctoral Degrees in Criminal & Forensic Psychology

There are a number of admissions requirements of criminal psychology doctoral programs. In addition to filling out the individual university application, it may be necessary to provide transcripts from previous educational institutions, as well as GRE scores. It is also common to have letters of recommendation, a resume, and a pre-admission interview. Some universities may also require passing special preparatory courses.

There are also certain educational and professional prerequisites for criminal psychology doctorate students. Students must first obtain a bachelor's degree and a master's degree in a similar field. While it is not required that the degree is in criminal or forensic psychology, it is necessary to have completed coursework in psychology, as it will be reviewed on transcripts, and the knowledge will be needed in order to pass preparatory courses. There are no specific professional prerequisites, but it is necessary to have some professional experience as a resume will be needed with relevant job information upon applying.

There are a number of accreditations to look for in criminal psychology doctorate programs. The most common program-specific accreditation is the American Psychological Association (APA). Degree programs that are accredited by the APA meet the minimum standards required to be considered a high-quality education in psychology. Other accreditations that are important when looking for a criminal psychology program is the national accreditation Council For Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). This organization assures students that the university itself provides high-quality education. Both of these organizations are recognized by the Department of Education, and programs that are not accredited have a much lesser value.

A doctorate in criminal and forensic psychology is very intensive and therefore takes a significant amount of time. The average length of the program is about five years, but students generally have up to eight years to complete it. This consists of approximately 110-134 credit hours, as well as a residency or internship program. The length of the program depends on the university chosen and how many courses are taken each semester. There may also be fast-track options to complete the degree in a shorter amount of time.

There are many standard criminal psychology courses within the doctoral program. These courses may include:

• Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology
• Police Psychology
• Psychology in the Courts

Advanced Topics in Forensic Psychology allows students to examine current trends and emerging issues in forensic psychology to develop their expertise within psychology and the law. Students develop skills as forensic consultants and expert witnesses and apply their learning to various cases and scenarios to promote justice and positive social change. Police Psychology discusses the way psychology presents itself within the law enforcement community. Students will learn about common issues faced such as crisis situations, psychological risks of police work, stress management, law enforcement culture, and psychotherapy and personality issues in police officers. Psychology in the courts offers students the opportunity to explore the relationship between psychology and the justice system. Students participate in practical exercises such as writing reports, planning evaluations, and preparing witnesses for testimony.

Preparing Your Criminal Psychology Dissertation

In addition to common coursework, students will also be required to complete a dissertation throughout their doctoral careers. The dissertation is the most important part of the program as it will take a number of years to complete; however, students will have dissertation courses worked into their program in order to have the proper amount of time and faculty support to complete this intensive project. After choosing a topic that will offer significant value to the academic community and is approved by the dissertation board, students will participate in extensive research, work with their dissertation chair to write the paper, and participate in a review of their work. The dissertation review may include a dissertation defense, which means the student will need to defend their work against any questions that arise from the dissertation board throughout the review of their work. Once the project passes through all of these aspects of the program, the student will receive their doctoral degree.

Within the field of criminal and forensic psychology, there are a number of doctoral concentrations that can be chosen. For example, students have the option of choosing to concentrate in areas such as Victimology, Crisis Response, and Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology. These concentrations will allow the student to focus their area of study on a very specific aspect of criminal psychology and provide the opportunity to become an expert in their chosen field.

Victimology

Victimology is a concentration that studies the psychology of victims of crimes. This allows the student to dive deeper into the experience of victims and first responders who may experience vicarious traumatization as a result of working closely with victims of crimes. Studying the behavior of victims can be helpful within forensic psychology because their behavior determines their credibility as witnesses within the court of law. It is important for an expert in the field to act as an advocate on their behalf. Studying the behavior of first responders is important because it may determine whether or not they need to seek clinical care in response to anything they may have witnessed.

Crisis Response

How people respond to a crisis is a very important aspect of forensic psychology because a lot of crime occurs in moments of crisis. A Crisis Response concentration in criminal psychology offers the student the opportunity to focus on discovering how psychologists can work with police departments and other law enforcement agencies. Psychologists can assist with things such as officer selection and training, stress management, critical incident stress debriefing, hostage negotiations, and selection of special operations officers. Crisis Response is also important because understanding the impact of post-traumatic stress on law enforcement and their families keeps the justice system safe and effective.

Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology

The legal system often requires criminal or forensic psychologists to act as witnesses and experts in their fields within the court in issues that intersect with psychology and the law. As such, a concentration in Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology is significantly important because the student will examine the justice system and how it interacts with psychology. Areas such as probation, parole services, and corrections will be explored deeper to understand this interaction. The student will learn how to best interact with the court system, understanding expert witnesses, jury selection, and eyewitnesses.

There are a number of other types of criminal psychology degrees other than doctorate degrees in forensic psychology that may be helpful to students who desire to study the field. There are associate degrees, bachelor's degrees, master's degrees, and various graduate certificates that can offer different career outcomes. Criminal psychology is a degree that requires specific expertise, so furthering education with multiple degrees is very important.

Criminal Psychology Associate Degrees

While associate degrees specifically in criminal psychology are not offered, there are a number of similar degrees that offer coursework similar to criminal psychology. For example, an associate degree in criminal justice offers coursework that studies the legal system and its operations. Conversely, an associate in psychology will allow the student to explore human behavior in general. These degrees may provide the graduate the opportunity to assist a criminal psychologist, or act as an advocate or law enforcement officer; however, if the student desires work specifically in criminal psychology, a bachelor's degree or higher is required.

Criminal Psychology Bachelor's Degrees

A bachelor's degree in criminal psychology will prepare the student for either a career in the legal system or to continue their education with graduate degrees. Careers such as a crime analyst, who works with law enforcement to come up with crime reduction strategies, or a jury consultant, who researches candidates to select the best prospects to serve on the jury for trials, are available to those with a bachelor's degree. However, if the student wishes to become a licensed psychologist or further their career, they must obtain a master's degree or higher.

Criminal Psychology Master's Degrees

Master's degrees in criminal psychology provide the student with the opportunity to work in the criminal justice system at a higher level or qualify for entrance into doctoral programs. Careers that may be available to graduates include court liaisons, jobs in probation departments, and juvenile offender counselors. First, court liaisons act as the go-between with courts and law enforcement. Next, jobs in probation departments assist those who have just recently been released from jail. Lastly, juvenile offender counselors work directly with juveniles in the criminal justice system to make sure they are on the path to success.

Criminal Psychology Graduate Certificates

Graduate certificates in forensic psychology equip students with the basic knowledge of legal issues, criminality, crime reduction, and criminal rehabilitation. A certificate may be helpful to those who are refreshing their memories for current criminal psychology degree holders. However, it may also be an option for those with other degrees who wish to expand their knowledge into new areas. For example, it may be helpful for those who hold doctorate degrees in clinical psychology, developmental psychology, mental health counseling, and homeland security. This may provide deeper connections with psychology and the legal system to refocus their career.

There are many career options for those with a criminal psychology doctoral degree. For example, a graduate could become a criminal psychologist, criminal profiler, or a criminal justice professor. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) careers in psychology offer a projected job growth rate of about 3% from 2019 to 2029.

Become a Criminal Forensic Psychologist

A criminal forensic psychologist is a highly trained individual who applies their knowledge of psychology and human behavior to various cases within the justice system. They may work closely with victims of crimes and provide expert testimonies in the court of law. According to the BLS, psychologists have an annual median pay of about $82,180, with those working in government earring a median pay of about $100,360. This is much higher than the annual median pay for all jobs, which is $41,950. Overall, this is a very positive job outlook for those interested in a career in forensics.

Become a Criminal Profiler

A criminal profiler, more professionally referred to as a criminal investigator, assists law enforcement professionals in creating a criminal profile to understand better the crime and why it was committed. They use physical evidence, witness testimonies, and other data to come to educated conclusions about the criminals they are working with. Criminal profilers need a minimum of a bachelor's degree in forensic psychology, criminal justice, or behavioral science. According to the BLS, criminal investigators have an average annual wage of $89,300. Criminal investigators also can work for the federal government, which has an average annual wage of up to $111,880.

Become a Criminal or Forensic Psychology Professor

A criminal or forensic psychology professor teaches the next generation of psychologists at the postsecondary level. It is generally required that professors obtain a doctoral degree; however, in special cases, a master's degree may be acceptable with the intent of working towards a doctoral degree. This is an important career because it influences the future of the forensic psychology field. Many professors also contribute to research and academia. According to the BLS, psychology professors have an average annual wage of about $85,050. There is very little difference in pay between junior colleges and colleges and universities.

One common criminal psychology professional organization is the American Psychological Association (APA), which represents psychologists in general throughout the nation and contributes to psychological research. There is exclusive content available through the APA for members and affiliates. Membership includes training, professional liability insurance, discounts at various retail sites, discounted access to an annual conference, and subscriptions to magazines. Another criminal psychology professional organization that is more specific to the profession is the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS). The (AP-LS) works to enhance well-being, justice, and human rights through the science and practice of psychology in legal contexts through applied research. Membership in this organization costs between $15-$50 depending on which package is chosen and offers exclusive access to materials that will be beneficial to forensic psychologists. Psychologists may join at a student level, early-career professional level, and at a full member level.

One aspect that is often important to students is the tuition costs of the program. A doctorate in criminal psychology is between about $585-$1,555 per credit hour, which means the total for a 110-134 credit hour program would be about $64,350-$208,370. The price range is due to which university program is chosen and how many credits are required to graduate. Different programs require different amounts of credit hours, and some students may be eligible to bring in transfer credits.

Despite the high tuition costs for the doctoral program in criminal or forensic psychology, there are a number of scholarships and funding opportunities available to students. The most prominent organization is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The FAFSA is a federal program that offers need-based and merit-based grants and loans to eligible students. The deadline for this application is the June prior to the Fall of enrollment. There are also a number of scholarships that the APA supports. For example, the Annette Urso Rickel Foundation Dissertation Award for Public Policy offers $1,000 to students contributing to public policy. This has the potential to improve services for youth in the criminal justice system and is therefore very relevant to any doctoral students in a criminal or forensic psychology program.