The Advantages To Earning A Forensic Psychology Degree Program
A degree in forensic psychology provides students with the knowledge necessary to understand the motivation behind crimes people commit. Earning a degree in forensic psychology has never been easier for students with job or family responsibilities the opportunity to advance personal, career, and educational goals. Many colleges and universities have developed innovative online degree programs upon recognizing the demand for quality online courses. Most online degree programs offer virtually the same educational experience as their traditional, brick and mortar counterparts. Online courses generally offer 24 hour access to class materials, information, and instruction to groups of 25 students. Students enrolled in online courses often an increasing amount of flexibility in course scheduling and the added benefit of one on one chats via the Internet with instructors and other classmates. Online degree programs provide students with one of the best opportunities to advance knowledge and increase educational training from nearly any location to advance career goals.
What Students Learn Within A Forensic Psychology Degree Program
A forensic psychology degree program provides students with the skills and training necessary to assist legal professionals, judges, and attorneys in ascertaining, understanding, and presenting the psychological motivation within a case. Students enrolled within a forensic psychology degree program learn the principles of law, criminal justice, and psychology.
Courses at a bachelor degree level in the field of forensic psychology include: ethics and professional issues in forensic psychology; survey of forensic psychology practice and principles; psychology of the lifespan; psychopathology; socio-cultural issues in forensic psychology; basic interviewing skills; trauma and crisis intervention; mental health law; substance abuse treatment; evaluation and treatment of the adult offender; evaluation and treatment of the juvenile offender; writing and research for practice: professional proposals; writing and research for practice: information literacy; writing and research for practice: professional ethics; writing and research for practice: and overview of applied research methodologies. Graduates from a forensic psychology bachelor degree program may advance to employment or higher degree programs.
Courses at a master’s level include: survey of forensic psychology practice and principles; ethics and professional issues in forensic psychology; psychology of the lifespan; psychopathology; socio-cultural issues in forensic psychology; basic interviewing skills; trauma and crisis intervention; mental health law; substance abuse treatment; evaluation and treatment of the adult offender; evaluation and treatment of the juvenile offender; writing and research for practice: professional proposals; writing and research for practice: information literacy; writing and research for practice: professional ethics; writing and research for practice; and overview of applied research methodologies. Graduates may advance to employment or doctoral degree programs. Most colleges and universities require students pursue a doctoral degree in psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology.
Courses at a doctoral degree level include: statistical methods in psychology; research methods and design; psychometric methods; research practicum; psychopathology; assessment of intelligence and cognitive functioning; assessment of personality functioning; therapeutic interventions in clinical psychology; ethic, gender, cultural, and diversity issues; ethical and legal issues in psychology; history of psychology; personality and individual differences; developmental psychology; advanced physiological psychology; psychopharmacology; social psychology; cognitive and affect aspects of behavior; interviewing/forensic assessment; introduction to forensic psychology; experimental psychology and law; psychopathology of criminal behavior; and gender, psychology and law. Graduates from a doctoral degree program generally qualify as experts within the field and gain employment as researchers within facilities or as professors at colleges and universities.
Prospective Jobs For Forensic Psychology Degree Graduates
Graduates with forensic psychology degrees often qualify for a variety of jobs within the fields of criminal justice, psychology, and law. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics predicts job growth to increase by 12 percent through the year 2018 at an average rate in comparison to other occupations. Demands for qualified forensic psychology professions is predicted to increase in relation to growth within the criminal justice field, particularly within the rehabilitation and counseling programs. Employment for graduates who obtain masters or doctoral higher degrees is expected to be increasingly favorable.
Graduates who obtain a bachelor’s degree may gain entry level employment within family, civil, or criminal courts and work as expert witnesses assisting judges, attorneys, and other law professionals. Graduates with master’s degrees may work as assistants to experts within the field, providing second options, performing child custody evaluations, investigating reports of child abuse, assessing visitation risks, working closely with child witnesses, and assessing psychological competency. Graduates with doctoral degrees often provide therapy to victims of crimes, evaluate mental competency, and assess juvenile and/or adult offenders. Some graduates work within parole boards, probation agencies, jails, or prisons rehabilitating and treating offenders. Other doctoral degree graduates may work as researchers, trainers, or educators. Some graduates work as independent consultants within their own businesses.
Salary Range For Forensic Psychology Degree Graduates
Graduates with forensic psychology degrees generally have earnings in relation to the organization of employment, education level and degrees obtained, work experience, and areas of specialty. The U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics reports that earnings for most forensic psychology professionals range from $48,700 to $82,800 annually. Graduates with advanced degrees and those who work for state or local governments often have higher salaries than those with lesser degrees or those employed within other sectors. Additionally, graduates who gain work related experience or continue education often have higher earnings and are preferred candidates for most jobs within the field of forensic psychology.
Career Outlook And Advancement Opportunities For Graduates With Forensic Psychology Degrees
The demand for qualified professionals working within the field of forensic psychology is expected to increase in relation to the expansion of the criminal justice system. Job growth is predicted to rise by 12 percent through 2018 per reports from the U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Graduates who earn a forensic psychology degree are expected to have steady job opportunities with the ability to advance to jobs with increased responsibility. Job prospects are expected to be best for graduates who obtain a masters or doctoral degree and for those who specialize training within related fields like counseling, psychology, law, computer science, or criminal justice. Graduates who concentrate their degrees in quantitative research methods or computer science are anticipated to be preferred candidates over those with lesser training. Many graduates advance personal, educational, and professional goals by continuing education or completing certification programs accredited by the American Board of Forensic Psychology.
