Criminal psychology broadly refers to the study of the criminal mind. It is often included in the realm of forensic psychology but is in actual fact rather different.
Forensic scientists tend to use crime scenes as their major insight into a crime and the motivations behind it while criminal psychologists delve deeper into the human mind to try to understand what makes a criminal “tick”.
In order to become a criminal psychologist a student must attend one of the many criminal psychology schools and achieve the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Psychology although it is more usual – and better for their career prospects – if they continue on to the master’s and doctorate levels.
Who Employs Criminal Psychologists?
After a student has completed their studies at a criminal psychology school there are a number of different career paths they can choose to pursue. Law enforcement agencies routinely employ criminal psychologists, often to work in the field as a part of a larger investigative unit. Criminal psychologists are also often called upon to testify at criminal trials as expert witnesses, either for the prosecution or the defense. Others choose to remain in an educational environment and teach others after they have completed their own education.
Where are the Best Criminal Psychology Schools?
Universities up and down the country offer course in criminal psychology. Students can even complete their criminal psychology degrees at an online college – a choice that is growing in popularity all the time for students studying all kinds of different subjects.
One of the best known criminal psychology schools is John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. This is a school that is completely devoted to criminal studies of all kinds and as such provides a very focused education for those hoping to pursue a career as a criminal psychologist. The college is a part of the CUNY system though, which means that tuition costs are usually very reasonable compared to other private colleges – especially if you are a resident of New York State.
The University of Denver in Colorado is another school that is renowned for its fine criminal psychology degree programs. The focus of the programs at the University of Denver is on research and many of those who have graduated from their criminal psychology programs have gone on to be some of the best known in the field.
If you are looking for criminal psychology schools that offer online study there are a growing number of those as well. The University of Phoenix online has a good reputation and offers criminal psychology degree programs at the bachelor’s, Masters and PhD levels. Kaplan University is another respected online school that offers similar programs.
Whichever of the numerous criminal psychology schools you eventually decide upon, the course of study is not easy and the course of study is very grueling. The life of a criminal psychologist is certainly not for the faint of heart or the squeamish but for those who do pursue it, it is a very rewarding way to spend one’s days.
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