Forensic psychology is recognized as a specialty by the American Psychological Association (APA). Forensic psychology exists at the intersection of psychology and law; its practitioners are experts who provide psychological expertise in legal matters within the judicial system. Their most common responsibility is to provide psychological assessments of individuals in the legal system. They may also do the following:
The educational journey to becoming a forensic psychologist requires a major commitment. Forensic psychology isn’t customarily offered as an undergraduate degree. The first step is to complete an undergraduate education in general psychology, setting the stage for a master’s and then doctoral degree in psychology. It is during graduate work that students delve into the practices specific to forensic psychology. There are two major undergraduate avenues: associate degrees in psychology and bachelor’s degrees in psychology. An associate degree is generally a bridge to a bachelor’s degree, which is the typical minimum educational requirement for admission to a master’s degree program.
Forensic psychologists must get a doctoral degree in psychology (either a PhD or PsyD) from an APA-accredited institution. They must meet minimum requirements for professional clinical experience, pass a licensing examination from the American Board of Professional Psychologists (ABPP), and meet any additional licensing requirements of their state.
Before qualifying for licensing, candidates must complete at least 100 hours of continuing education after their doctoral program, and either accumulate 1,000 hours of direct professional experience over the course of five years, or complete a 2,000-hour postdoctoral training program in forensic psychology.
Associate degree programs in psychology are designed to prepare students for entry-level careers, as well as future study at the bachelor’s and graduate levels. They aim to provide students with a solid foundation in the liberal arts, and arm them with basic skills for beginning jobs in the field of psychology.
A major benefit of associate degree programs is the option to craft a curriculum that matches the student’s interests to their future educational and professional goals. Although no specific forensic psychology specializations exist at the associate degree level, community college can still serve as the starting point for future forensic psychologists.
Associate degree programs are largely aimed at students who are seeking more flexibility in course scheduling; who need less expensive tuition; or who prefer to satisfy their general education requirements prior to enrolling in a four-year institution. Typically, students complete between 60 and 66 credit hours of study to earn their degrees, a process that requires about two years of full-time study.
The curriculum is divided between general education requirements, core (major) courses, and electives, with the major designed to provide students with a solid overview of the central concepts and underlying principles of psychology. Students should be aware that classes are meant to be introductory, and in most programs students only take between nine and 15 credit hours of psychology classes.
With a grasp of the fundamentals, students should then be prepared to transfer to a bachelor’s degree program in psychology. Common courses at the associate level include:
Introduces students to the central concepts and theories of psychology. Students study topics including the history of psychology, human behavior and trends in psychology.
Provides students with an understanding of social psychology principles, focusing on human interaction within a social context.
Presents the fundamentals of research and the methods employed by psychologists to conduct studies and assessments, perform experiments, and report research.
Students learn about scientific literature review and experimental research designs, including how to collect, analyze, interpret and report research findings.
The American Psychological Association recommends that students take a wide selection of coursework at the undergraduate level, as graduate schools seek well-rounded students who are prepared for the rigors of graduate study. Although there are specialized forensic psychology programs at the master’s and doctoral levels, they do not exist at the undergraduate level. Instead, students should focus on taking classes in general psychology, as well as those related to a concentration in forensic psychology.
The bachelor’s degree in psychology is widely available, with more than 1,400 U.S. universities offering such programs, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. When selecting a program, students should find one that offers a comprehensive curriculum that covers research methods, experiment design, and statistics and data analysis, as well as one that includes a field experience component.
Two degree programs are available to students at the bachelor’s level
is a humanities-focused degree, and directs students into a broad base of courses that cover several areas of study.
puts greater emphasis on math and hard science, and is generally recommended for future clinical psychology practitioners.
Undergraduate education in psychology is not accredited by the APA, so instruction varies from program to program. Completing a bachelor’s degree generally requires four years of study, although students who hold an associate degree may accelerate the process by transferring credits. Students majoring in psychology with an eye to becoming a forensic psychologist should be focused on preparing for the next academic step: graduate school. That means they should take a range of preparatory coursework across the spectrum of psychology and general education subjects. Related fields of study include the following:
Psychology-specific courses consist of core major courses, electives and field experience requirements such as labs and internships. Following are a sampling of classes offered during the bachelor’s program:
Introduces students to the trends, specialties and concepts of psychology, as well as the development of the field of practice.
Covers the fundamental principles of psychology, concepts involved with professional practice in the field, and research methods.
Explores the core foundations of social psychology, including how human behavior is influenced in social settings and how the field itself is researched and studied.
Examines the development of children from infancy to adolescence, including a review of the emotional, social, physical and cognitive factors that influence development.
Introduces students to research methodologies in psychology, including the study of qualitative and quantitative research.
Clinical experience and laboratory research are critical for undergraduate students preparing for graduate school, as they allow students to translate their classroom experience into real-world settings.
Although the requirements vary, research and supervised internships are components of most bachelor’s degree programs. Students usually complete between 120 and 150 hours in clinical practicums in either faculty research laboratories or in external volunteer internships.
Only a handful of institutions specifically offer forensic psychology as a concentration of a psychology degree. For the majority of students, the ultimate goal is to simply prepare for graduate school, which translates into getting a broad-based education that may also include coursework relevant to their future plans in forensic psychology, such as classes in law or criminal justice. Meanwhile, they need to complete courses that will prove critical at the graduate level, such as statistics and research methods. Students should be competent researchers when they enter graduate school and the emphasis shifts to clinical practice and forensic psychology as a specialty.
Both current and prospective students can benefit from myriad educational and professional resources in the field of psychology. A range of organizations and associations in forensic and general psychology provide educational assistance, scholarships and grants, student membership opportunities, conferences, and networking events. Below is a list of resources to help students identify support outlets and take advantage of opportunities:
Formed in 1947, the organization is responsible for certifying psychologists in advanced practice specialties, including forensic psychology.
Part of the American Board of Professional Psychology, this member board oversees the credentialing criteria, testing, and examiner training for certifications in forensic psychology and awards a Certificate in Forensic Psychology.
The psychology field’s largest professional organization, the APA’s members include a broad range of psychologists, educators, researchers, and students.
A division of the American Psychological Association, the 3,000 members of this society work in the fields of law and psychology. With annual conferences and a student committee, the group is student-friendly and supports the efforts of future professionals in the field.
A nonprofit organization dedicated to furthering the interests of scientific research, the APS offers a student caucus for undergraduate and student affiliates of the organization.
The organization serves behavioral science practitioners who conduct research in and provide treatment in the field of criminal behavior.
This membership-based organization is for professionals who study police and criminal psychology.
Membership in this private academic association is for psychologists who serve the criminal justice system as expert witnesses and evaluators.
This independent organization and credentialing board oversees nationally accredited certification programs for criminal justice specialists and forensic counselors.
The association’s psychological services section serves as a continuing education association and a resource in psychology-related issues in assessment and counseling.
Under the umbrella of the American Board of Professional Psychology, the organization oversees the board certification process in police and public safety psychology.
The council develops standards and procedures for the specialty practices in psychology and provides consultation services to a range of associations, including the American Board of Professional Psychology and the American Psychological Association.
Established nearly 90 years ago, this student-based association for psychology students has more than 500,000 members worldwide.
Members of this nonprofit organization are comprised of department heads and chairs of psychology departments at universities that offer accredited graduate degrees in psychology.
Student resources include membership opportunities, student committees, scholarships and networking events.
A service of the Association for Psychological Science, the funding database is a free resource with more than 130 funding sources for undergraduate and graduate psychology students.
The APA’s graduate student branch is open to student affiliates and is committed to ensuring students receive quality graduate training to develop the next generation of researchers and practitioners.
Student affiliate memberships are open to both undergraduate and graduate students in psychology.
The official magazine of the American Psychological Association of Graduate Students provides students with information about psychological careers, training and education, psychology practice trends, and professional preparation.
Founded in 1993, the organization is responsible for certifying psychologists who specialize in the fields of testing and assessment.
This service offers free MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) in forensic psychology.
The student-edited journal from the University of Alabama School of Law addresses issues that affect the disciplines of psychology and law.
Dedicated to the success of practicing psychologists, the organization offers memberships, accreditation programs, professional and continuing education development programs, and an annual symposium.
Founded in 1964 and dedicated to the study of law and the criminal justice system, the association’s members come from multiple disciplines.