What degree do you need to be a criminal psychologist?

Question

Justin Parker · Accepted Answer

You need a doctoral degree in psychology with a specialization in criminal psychology or forensic psychology to be a criminal psychologist. This is the most common educational path for criminal psychologists.

Criminal psychology seeks to enter the minds of criminals in an attempt to understand their motivations and behaviors. These efforts are pursued with the goal of developing criminal psychological profiles that can make it easier for law enforcement to apprehend criminals. Schooling for this field is intensive and challenging.

Forensic psychology is a broad field that applies the principles of psychology to the criminal justice system and law. Forensic psychologists consult with law enforcement to integrate psychology into both criminal and civil legal matters, and criminal psychologists benefit heavily from having knowledge and experience in these areas as well.