Forensic Psychology Degree: a rapidly growing Discipline

Over the past 2 decades, the field of Forensic Psychology has maintained a stable growth rate. By year 2018, a 14% employment growth rate for this category will be expected. This is according to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It is predicted that the positions working with lawyers, lawmakers, and the courts will be highly in demand. It also includes the jobs working in the teaching and research industry, and universities and colleges. At present, the American Psychology-Law has about 3,000 members and this group continues to grow. There is a rising demand to professionally assess the competency of criminal defendants to stand court trials.

Why?

With the rising crime nowadays that we see in the television, it attracts people by our growing absorption with all matters criminal and some fictional deceptions like the shows Criminal Minds and The Profiler. The investigations in the crime scene can be interesting and studying how the criminal thinks when he did a crime and if he’s competent. This is challenging to some.

We are living in a society who is very fascinated with people who seems to perpetrate easily the most heinous crimes imaginable.

What is Forensic Psychology anyway?

Forensic Psychology is a study of the combinations of criminal justice background and the principles of Psychology. When you become a Forensic Psychologist, you will work with police investigators and lawyers in the criminal justice system to build cases that go to court. They work with the prospective jury members to talk about their personal backgrounds and views. This is to know whether they are a good candidate for the jury selection. They give advice to offenders and those in the court system for possible penalties and sentencing. They are given the chance to give their testimony in court cases with their professional expertise in order to help cases. A Forensic Psychologist has a lot of daily duties and responsibilities with other professionals in the criminal justice system. 

When you graduate with a Forensic Psychology Degree, you can work in different settings like: law firms, mental health facilities, and correctional centers. Forensic Psychologist deals with legal issues like public policies and new laws. They determine the defendant’s mental state and competency at the time of the crime, and throughout the legal proceedings. The salary for this job ranges from $34,000-$100,000 depending on your experience. If you’ll push through a Masters Degree or Doctorate Degree, this will get you to a higher paying job for sure.

Is this something you think you can do?

Well, college degrees nowadays are very convenient. Forensic Psychology is offering online classes and flexible schedule. This is good for young people, or if you’re working or parenting. You don’t need to go to a traditional campus-based school. There are multiple online schools to choose from. Go ahead and get an online education. Fulfill your dreams. Be a Forensic Psychologist now!