Are you passionate about studying how the human mind works? Have you always dreamed of pursuing a career in the field of criminal justice? If you want to combine both of your passions to pursue a single career, you may want to consider earning a Master’s degree in Criminal Psychology. If you have ever seen news about a horrific crime that was committed in the heat of passion, you might ask yourself why people do the things they do. This is a common question that is asked by the average individual, but when you study to become a criminal psychologist, you can answer this question through the process of profiling and analyzing actions.
If you already possess an undergraduate degree in psychology or criminal justice, the next step is deciding which Master’s degree is best for you. To make the best decision, prospective graduate students should find out what they will be able to do with their postgraduate degree once they earn it. Here is a straightforward guide to professions you can pursue with a degree in Criminal Psychology.
Understanding What You Will Study
You need to take time to learn the core curriculum you will cover in the average criminal psychology degree program before you learn which jobs you can apply to after graduation. As you might expect, a Master’s in Criminal Psychology program blends the fields criminal justice and psychology together to create its own unique field. In many instances, a criminal psychology degree at the graduate level is referred to as a MS with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. Some of the subjects you will be required to study include:
* Violence
* Juvenile delinquency
* Criminal minds and profiling
* Sex offenders
* Courtroom psychology
* Society and crime
* Ethics
* Abnormal behavior
* Development
What Types of Careers Can You Pursue With a Degree in Criminal Psychology?
You can specialize in a number of different professions if you have a Master’s in Criminal Psychology. The first thing you need to do is decide what type of individual you want to work with. If you want to become a forensic counselor on a criminal justice platform, you need to decide if you want to work on behalf of juvenile offenders or offenders who can be rehabilitated. Here are some of the options you have if you want a career in forensic psychology:
* A victim advocate who counsels victims of a crime and their family members
* Juvenile offender counselor to help young offenders to join society as a law-abiding citizen
* Rehabilitative counselor in jails and prisons
If you want to become a psychologist rather than just a counselor, you can take the Master’s degree and use this degree to propel you into a doctorate program in forensic psychology.
See our resource on the Top 10 Best Online Forensic Psychology Degree Programs for information about highly ranked programs you may want to consider.
You can earn your criminal psychology degree by completing a traditional degree program or an online program with an in-person requirement. Be sure stay motivated while you are in school, stay engaged in your courses, and you can develop your skills by completing intensive studies on crime, violence and the human mind so that you can enter a fulfilling field.