What College Courses Do You Have to Take to Become a Forensic Psychologist?

Forensic psychologists spend more time in court than on crime scenes.

It isn't always sexy and glamorous like it is on television. The actual workday of a forensic psychologist is spent more in courtrooms and detention facilities than in areas roped off with yellow "Police Crime Scene: Do Not Cross" tape. Assessing individuals whose behavior has gotten them into trouble with the law can be challenging and occasionally dangerous. Forensic psychologists spend years studying at the bachelor's and master's levels before going on to pursue doctoral degrees and sitting for state and national licensing exams. There are only a handful of forensic psychology programs in the United States.

Psychological Foundations

Like all psychologists, forensic specialists must master psychological study fundamentals. These include courses such as history of psychology, theories of psychoanalysis, life span of human development, ethical and legal issues, multicultural psychology and counseling techniques. The content of these courses lay the groundwork for building a solid understanding of the discipline and its terminology. It also helps to acculturate students into the field and to start them in the process of becoming psychologists.

Personality & Behavior

Courses in personality and behavior are central to forensic psychology. For example, forensic psychologists often must establish the mental status of detained individuals at the time they committed a criminal offense. This requires, among other things, taking a history of multiple factors from the person's biological, medical, social, familial and psychological history. Classes in this category include social psychology, psychopathology, psychopharmacology, biological bases of behavior, cognitive and behavioral therapies and theories of personality.

Interviewing & Assessment

Knowing how to extract honest information from, for instance, inmates -- who may not have a history of being truthful -- is an art as much as a science. Additionally, forensic clinicians have to be able to administer, score and interpret tests that "measure" levels of information in domains such as intelligence or personality, and then accurately and concisely write reports admissible in a court of law. Forensic psychologists, then, must be trained in clinical and diagnostic interviewing skills, tests and measurement, personality assessment, cognitive assessment, projective assessment and advanced assessment.

Research Methods & Statistics

The ability to understand and soundly interpret scholarly and other case-related research is a central component of a forensic psychologist's work. Therefore, study of research methods and design, qualitative research, quantitative research and statistics is necessary. These courses generally are taken toward the middle to end of a student's study in preparation for the dissertation, a piece of original, independently produced research.

Forensic, Law Enforcement & Correctional Psychology

Finally, forensic psychologists work at the intersection of clinical psychology and law. For instance, they spend considerable time interviewing subjects in correctional facilities to determine their psychological health and ability to stand trial. These clinicians also serve as expert witnesses in court trials and administer court-ordered psychological treatment. As such, they round out their study in forensic psychology, forensic assessment, police and correctional psychology, trauma, treatment of juveniles, adults and sex offenders, and crisis and interventions.

References

• Massachusetts School of Professional Psycholgy; Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) In Clinical Psychology Program Forensic Psychology Concentration
• Carlos Abizu University; Psychology; Psy.D. Program Model Curricular Sequence
• Alliant International University; California School of Forensic Studies; Ph.D. in Clinical Forensic Psychology: Fresno Campus: Ph.D. Clinical Curriculum
• Chicago School of Professional Psychology; Psy.D. Clinical Forensic Psychology
• Forensic Psychology; A Day in the Life of a Forensic Psychologist"
• The Art of Manliness; So You Want My Job: Forensic Psychologist; Brett and Kate McKay; July 2009