Top Online Criminal Justice Schools
- Click for Recommended Degree Strayer University
- Click for Recommended Degree Everest University Online
- Click for Recommended Degree Liberty University Online
Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs
Forensic psychology graduate programs occur after a student has earned a bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology. Undergraduate programs take roughly four years to complete, but graduate programs can take an additional five to seven. That means that you may be in school for a full decade before becoming a certified forensic psychologist. For some students though, the career is well worth the wait. Here is a look at what goes on during forensic psychology graduate programs so you can determine if you want to go through one.
Courses for Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs
The specific courses you attend in your degree program will be based on the school you go to. Some schools offer more extensive programs than others, but all of them provide courses that focus on psychology and the law. Some of the classes you may take include:
- History of Psychology
- Developmental Psychology
- Abnormal Behavior
- Court Processes
- Ethical & Legal Issues in Psychology
- Advanced Physiological Psychology
- Cognitive & Affective Aspects of Behavior
- Forensic Electives
- Diversity
- Forensic Populations
- Drugs and Society
- Comparative Psychotherapies and Therapeutic Techniques
- Criminology
- Death and Dying
- Psychopharmacology
- Personality Functioning
- Victimology
- Forensic Interviewing & Evaluation
- Human Sexuality
- Social Psychology
- Intellectual & Cognitive Functioning
- Psychology and Law
- Psychometric Methods
- Research Methods & Design
- Introduction to Forensic Psychology
- Psychopathology
- Therapeutic Interventions in Clinical Psychology
You have to look over the specifics for your degree program to find out what courses you will actually take. Most online colleges have degree sheets online that you can use as an outline for your future education. If you refer to these degree sheets, you will be able to see what the next few years will look like for you.
Tuition Rates for Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs
It is hard to say exactly what you will pay in tuition, fees, and books in the future because every school charges different rates. You can expect to pay $19,000 to $38,000 a year for your school, but you may spend less or more based on the school you go to. Online colleges tend to offer the best rates, but public schools offer comparably low tuition rates as well. The most expensive school you could attend would be a campus-based private school, so keep that in mind as you start searching for schools to attend.
Getting into Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs
Some schools have stricter requirements for entrance than others, so you may have to explore different options to see exactly what you will need to get into grad school. Forensic psychology is a very specialized field, but it is rapidly growing at the moment. Thus you may have a high level of competition to get through before you can gain acceptance into a learning program. If you maintain good grades in your undergraduate program, you should be able to get into the school of your choice for grad school.
What Happens after Graduation?
When you have completed your 10+ years of education to become a forensic psychologist, you will have an array of opportunities to look forward to. Forensic psychologists can work in many areas of the criminal justice system, such as courts, prisons, law enforcement offices, investigative offices, juvenile detention centers, and more. You may go on to become a victim counselor for a local courthouse, or you may run a private psychology practice all your own. That just depends on what your goals are and how much effort you put into meeting those goals.
Your salary rate will vary by year and by project, so it is difficult to predict exactly what you will make in this line of work. Most forensic psychologists earn anywhere from $34,000 to $140,000 a year, but there are those that make upwards of $245,000 annually. You just have to explore different job opportunities when you get out of school to see what your earning potential may be.
Final Thoughts
Forensic psychology graduate programs are time consuming, costly, and at times, incredibly stressful. Nevertheless, they are the only gateways you have to the career of your dreams. If you have a passion for psychology and an interest in the criminal justice system, these educational programs should be the ideal opportunities for you. Look for financial aid to help you get through school, and then you can devote your time solely to your studies. In a few years’ time, you will be able to graduate with your degree in forensic psychology. Then all you have to do is look for a place to work in.
