How Do I Choose the Best Forensic Psychology Degree?

Forensic psychology incorporates psychology with law and related investigations. Choosing the best forensic psychology degree usually means setting goals for your career and then selecting accordingly. A bachelor's degree may prove the best choice for an entry-level position, especially if you don't aspire to advance in this field, and a master's degree may translate into more responsibility and higher pay. If you want to become a licensed psychologist, however, or would like to have a wide range of opportunities with high levels of responsibility, you will likely need a doctoral-level forensic psychology degree instead.

If you want an entry-level job in this field, earning a bachelor's degree will usually suffice. This type of degree program generally includes the study of such subjects as abnormal psychology, deviant behavior, patterns involved in violence, social justice, and rehabilitation. You might also study personality, family counseling, and juvenile delinquency in this type of program. People with bachelor's degrees in this field often find jobs in prison systems, hospitals, mental institutions, and correctional facilities for minors.

If you want the opportunity to have more responsibility and earn more pay in this field, you might find earning a master's degree in forensic psychology a better option. This degree may open doors to many more employment opportunities, including higher-level positions in medical and mental health facilities and correctional centers. Since many jurisdictions require licensed psychologists to have doctoral degrees, however, you may not have the opportunity to work without the supervision and guidance of another psychologist.

The classes you will have to take in a forensic psychology master's degree program will depend on the school in which you enroll. These programs usually provide advanced courses in subjects such as trauma, eating disorders, psychology and the legal system, substance abuse and treatment, and sex offenders. This type of program may also expose students to problems facing certain minority groups and include clinical experiences and internship opportunities.

Earning a doctoral-level forensic psychology degree may prove the best choice if you hope to progress as far as possible in this field. In many jurisdictions, you will need this degree if you want to become a licensed physiologist, and earning this high-level degree might allow you to have more responsibility and an attractive salary. You can typically work in a wide range of facilities with this degree, including correctional institutions and mental health facilities, and you may even have the opportunity to work for a law enforcement agency. In many cases, this degree also means you can supervise individuals with bachelor's or master's degrees in this field.

If you choose to earn a doctoral degree in forensic psychology, you will typically take a range of advanced courses that build on the knowledge you gained in your bachelor's and master's programs. You may continue to study abnormal psychology as well as psychology as it relates to various age groups and the law. You might also study personality, experimental psychology, forensic evaluation and assessment, and ethical considerations. Your coursework will typically include clinical practice and internships as well, and you will likely have to complete a dissertation to earn this forensic psychology degree.