Matt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Matt Whittle Education WriterMatt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Written By Matt Whittle Education WriterMatt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Matt Whittle Education WriterMatt Whittle has experience writing and editing accessible education-related content in health, technology, nursing and business subjects. His work has been featured on Sleep.org, Psychology.org and NurseJournal.org.
Education Writer Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Written By Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
Brenna Swanston Deputy EditorBrenna Swanston is an education-focused editor and writer with a particular interest in education equity and alternative educational paths. As a newswriter in her early career, Brenna's education reporting earned national awards and state-level accol.
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Dr. Temple is a professor and licensed psychologist and the associate dean of clinical research for the School of Behavioral Health Sciences at UTHealth, where he also holds the Betty and Rose Pfefferbaum Chair in Child Mass Trauma and Resilience. As.
Dr. Temple is a professor and licensed psychologist and the associate dean of clinical research for the School of Behavioral Health Sciences at UTHealth, where he also holds the Betty and Rose Pfefferbaum Chair in Child Mass Trauma and Resilience. As.
Dr. Temple is a professor and licensed psychologist and the associate dean of clinical research for the School of Behavioral Health Sciences at UTHealth, where he also holds the Betty and Rose Pfefferbaum Chair in Child Mass Trauma and Resilience. As.
Dr. Temple is a professor and licensed psychologist and the associate dean of clinical research for the School of Behavioral Health Sciences at UTHealth, where he also holds the Betty and Rose Pfefferbaum Chair in Child Mass Trauma and Resilience. As.
Updated: Apr 17, 2024, 11:01am
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Forensic psychology master’s degrees explore the behaviors, conditions and motivations of criminals and suspects. Psychologists in this specialty create offender profiles, which detail offenders’ thoughts and behaviors before and after crimes, to understand the events leading up to criminal acts.
This guide explores forensic psychology degrees at the master’s level. Read on for information on admission requirements, typical courses and available career paths for graduates in this field.
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A forensic psychology master’s degree considers human behavior as it relates to crime and criminal offenders. These programs typically require 30 to 45 credits, which full-time students can complete in one to two years.
Forensic psychology master’s programs explore the intersection of psychology, criminal behavior and the justice system, including coursework related to criminal psychology—the study of the criminal mind—and strategies for mitigating crime through psychology and counseling. Students may complete a thesis, a capstone course, a practicum, or either clinical or nonclinical fieldwork.
Forensic psychology may also appear as a concentration within a broader, related master’s degree, like a master’s in criminal justice, criminology or general psychology.
Admission requirements for forensic psychology master’s degrees generally align with standards for most master’s programs. Typically, candidates must submit a personal essay, a résumé and undergraduate transcripts demonstrating a GPA of around 3.0. Some schools require graduate exam scores as well.
Forensic psychology master’s programs consider the interactions between psychology and criminal behavior. Common courses for a forensic psychology master’s degree might include the following:
Individuals with forensic psychology degrees can pursue diverse professional roles. The following list overviews available career paths for forensic psychology master’s degree holders. Some positions may require additional licensure or education beyond the master’s level. We sourced the below career data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and Payscale.
Median Annual Salary: $90,130
Projected Job Growth (2022–32): +11%
Job Description: If you want to become a forensic psychologist, clinical psychology is one route you can take. Clinical psychologists treat patients living with emotional disorders and mental health conditions. They help clients overcome challenges by making diagnoses through interviews, patient assessments and consultations with other medical professionals.
Clinical psychologists work in various environments, including education, academia and healthcare facilities. They work within one of two sectors: applied psychology or research psychology. Applied psychologists typically work in patient care with hospitals or clinics, while research psychologists examine human behaviors in academic settings. A master’s in forensic psychology can help you qualify for a doctoral program in psychology, which you’ll need to complete to practice as a clinical psychologist.
For more information, check out our guide on how to become a clinical psychologist.
Average Annual Salary: Approximately $70,000
Job Description: Agents with the FBI monitor civilians to protect and advance the country’s political interests. These professionals may work domestically or abroad to surveil foreign civilians and political actors, as well. Their work typically includes surveillance, carrying out arrests and gathering information on people and organizations.
FBI agents can specialize their work in several fields. For example, they may focus on financial crimes or international issues to monitor the actions of civilians or businesses. The FBI maintains its headquarters in Washington, D.C., with offices across the United States. See our guide on how to become an FBI agent to learn more.
Median Annual Salary: $106,420
Projected Job Growth (2022–32): +5%
Job Description: These psychologists offer insights into criminal investigations based on their expertise in forensics. In court settings, they may provide expert testimony on topics such as treatment or sentences for offenders. Forensic psychologists help investigators interpret evidence to create profiles of potential suspects.
Forensic psychology research can lead to improved efforts in interrogation, rehabilitation and corrections. These psychologists can specialize their work in certain types of crimes, populations or settings.
Median Annual Salary: $63,740
Projected Job Growth (2022–32): +13%
Job Description: Forensic science technicians gather evidence at crime scenes, investigate DNA results and analyze findings in laboratory environments. Evidence may include fingerprints, weaponry, saliva or blood. These professionals also manage evidence preservation as it is transferred between labs and courtrooms.
Professionals in forensic science document crime scenes through photography, sketches and reconstructions. They may also perform digital forensics analysis to explore identity theft and other forms of fraud.
Median Annual Salary: $49,7120
Projected Job Growth (2022–32): +18%
Job Description: Mental health counselors treat patients living with mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety. These counselors treat children, adolescents and older individuals. They may work with families, couples or individuals, to identify and address mental challenges and disorders. Mental health counselors also educate patients’ families about behavior disorders and addiction to assist patients in ongoing improvement or efforts of sobriety.
Beyond forensic psychology master’s degrees, graduates can also earn terminal degrees at the doctoral level. Doctoral degrees prepare graduates for more advanced employment or research roles within academia.
Ph.D. and Psy.D. degrees in psychology allow students to explore academic research relating to civil and criminal law, corrections, incarceration and law enforcement through a concentration in forensic psychology. Common classes include social science, criminal justice and psychology as they relate to policing, law and corrections.
This degree suits individuals with a master’s degree in forensic psychology who want to work in research to improve legal systems or practice as clinical psychologists. Dedicated forensic psychology doctoral programs are also available, but the discipline is more commonly found as an emphasis within a general clinical psychology doctoral program.
This degree suits students who want to advance scholarly theory and research in criminology and influence criminal justice policy. Graduates often pursue careers in academia or leadership roles in the criminal justice field. Coursework typically covers topics such as criminological theory, psychological criminology, anthropology of law, research methods, data analysis and applied statistics.
Program titles may include criminology; criminology and criminal justice; criminology, law and society; criminal justice; and criminology and justice policy. A similar degree is the Doctorate in Criminal Justice (D.C.J.). A relatively new doctoral degree format, the D.C.J. caters to criminal justice professionals seeking to advance their careers and delve into specialized areas of the field. It may include more administrative and management-oriented coursework than a Ph.D.
Individuals with forensic psychology master’s degrees can join professional organizations to network with like-minded professionals, peers and thought-leaders in the field. The following organizations offer benefits to aspiring forensic psychologists and other related professions.
AAFP is a nonprofit organization of certified forensic psychologists that assists professionals through workshops, grants and mentorship opportunities. Its website features a directory filterable by state and area of focus to identify specialists for treatment or networking purposes.
IACFP is a nonprofit organization focused on maintaining humane and forward-thinking practices in criminal justice. Its research supports mental health services in correctional facilities. Members receive a subscription to IACFP’s Criminal Justice and Behavior journal, access to research tools and discounts on events and publications.
SPCP is a professional organization that explores human behaviors within the justice, law enforcement and corrections systems. Its annual conference explores the intersection of behavioral science and criminal justice, along with correctional strategies and probation. Membership provides access to the organization’s quarterly journal and networking opportunities with professionals in the field.
With a forensic psychology degree at the master’s level, individuals can pursue roles such as forensic science technicians, forensic psychologists and clinical psychologists. These positions may require additional certification or education. Forensic psychology master’s degree holders can also advance to doctoral-level degrees to work in academia.
Criminal psychology explores the behavior and intentions of suspects and criminals by gathering and analyzing evidence. This field exists at the intersection of applied psychology and criminology and may attract professionals from both fields. It is considered a subset of forensic psychology.
Like many academic paths, a degree in forensic psychology can be challenging. Students complete advanced coursework in psychology and criminology, along with classes in statistics and research methods. Depending on the program, a thesis, practicum, internship or fieldwork may be required. This degree best suits intellectually curious students with strong analytical skills and a compassionate mindset.
