Last reviewed March 16, 2023 by PSY Staff

Criminal Psychology Degree Programs

Consider a featured online psychology program currently taking applications.
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University Program Admissions
East Central University Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Behavioral Health
delivers the essential communication skills and advanced technical expertise needed to succeed as a behavioral health professional.
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Concordia University - Saint Paul MAHS in Forensic Behavioral Health
Get the skills you need for a career at the intersection of behavioral health, criminal justice and the legal system.
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Criminal Psychology Degrees Online

Criminal psychology is a subfield of psychology that is growing in popularity among college students. The interest in criminal psychology may have sprung from an increase in crime awareness and the focus on the criminal rather than the crime.

The purpose of the forensic psychology or criminal psychology field is to help identify potential suspects and also prevent future crimes. The coursework of these psychology degree programs can help students gain skills in both criminal profiling and criminology.

Multiple Fields and Concentration Tracks

If you have an interest in law enforcement, human behavior, and investigation, this could be a great career for you to pursue. Since criminal psychology is a relatively new specialization for psychology programs, there are only a few universities that offer this specialization.

Students who are interested in pursuing this career may have different options for obtaining a degree that can provide an advantage in the field.

What Degrees Are Required to be a Criminal Psychologist?

The first step for criminal psychology professionals is the acquisition of a Bachelor's degree in Psychology. This is the foundation of a career working in psychology-related fields and provides the basic information needed to be a knowledgeable professional. After obtaining a Bachelor's in Psychology, students are encouraged to enroll in either a Master's in Criminal Psychology, Master's in Forensic Psychology, or a Master's in Psychology with a concentration in Criminology.

Any of the paths above can lead to a meaningful career that can blend the important components of psychology with criminal profiling, investigation, and law enforcement.

Example Coursework in Criminal Psychology Degrees

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University Program Admissions
Arizona State University Online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
100% online program. Develop a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s thoughts and actions. BS program also available.
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Maryville University Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
The online BA in Psychology from Maryville University will prepare you with a strong foundation in the theoretical frameworks of modern psychology. No SAT or ACT scores required.
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Butler University Online Master of Science in Mental Health Counseling
Cover topics like fundamental counseling theory, trauma and crisis response, and psychopharmacology. No GRE Required.
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Methodist University Online Bachelor of Science in Psychology
Gain the skills for diagnosis, clinical interview procedures, behavior analysis, and more.
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Our Lady of the Lake University Multiple Psychology & Counseling Programs
Online Bachelor of Social Work, Master of Arts in Counseling, and Master of Social Work degrees.
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Outline of Criminal Psychology Programs

Criminal Psychology Head ImageCriminal psychology programs can include different topics depending on the specific blend of degree specializations you choose. This field includes topics from criminology, psychology, sociology, and forensics, so a lot of the material that you will cover in your degree program will consist of courses on these topics.

Choosing a program

Most criminal psychologists choose a psychology degree program to start with, which can provide insight into the various psychological principles that can help analyze and interpret criminal personality and activity. If you are curious as to what to expect in degree programs of this nature, our team has provided some information about this path below.

Choosing undergraduate programs

Bachelor’s degree programs that prepare students for careers as criminal psychologists begin with introducing students to the theories and ideas regarding human personality and behavior. During the first 4 years of higher education, students will split their time between completing general education courses and degree-specific courses.

Since some bachelor’s programs require students to choose minors, a lot of criminal psychology students choose specializations such a forensics or criminology. This can assist with learning more about their field of interest in particular.

Licensure in Psychology

The minimum education requirement to receive a license in psychology is a master’s degree. Therefore, students may choose to move forward into a psychology-focused master’s degree program after finishing their bachelor’s degree. Criminal psychology programs are so new that they are not accredited by psychology organization like other psychology degrees. As a result, students may need to work with university official to design their coursework in order to obtain this designation as a professional.

Choosing a Master’s in Psychology with a specialization in Forensic Psychology or Criminology can assist students with achieving their goal of becoming a criminal psychologist. At the master’s level, students may be expected to blend their studies with hands-on experience. If you are seeking licensure as a psychologist, you may also take part in a supervised clinical experience that lasts from 2-3 years in total.

PhD programs in Psychology are another option for students that want to become part of research and identification in criminal psychology. PhD programs that focus on psychology specifically are a great choice, but students that have already obtained a Master’s in Psychology may choose to complement their degree with a PhD that focuses on Criminology, Forensic Psychology, or Human Behavior.

PhD programs typically last around 2 years after a master’s program or 4 years from a bachelor’s program. A majority of the work done in these programs is independent research, which can help you become a more knowledgeable professional in this field.

What do Criminal Psychologists do?

Criminal Psychology Word CloudOften confused with forensic psychology, criminal psychology is a unique subfield of psychology that focuses more specifically on a criminal’s behavior. It is up to the criminal psychologist to investigate the background, motive, and drive of criminals when a crime is committed.

This is achieved through investigating the crime thoroughly, looking at clues for premeditation, emotion, and reasoning. This information can help psychologists identify potential suspects through identifying their behaviors or personality. Criminal psychologists can be found working for law enforcement agencies, especially in areas with higher crime rates.

Who Do Criminal Psychologists Work With?

In addition to working directly with law enforcement, some criminal psychologists work independently and under consultation agreements. In the event that a police department requires the services of a criminal profiler or criminologist, they may contract these agents to assist during an investigation.

Criminal psychologists may then review evidence and provide insight into the personality of a criminal, which can be very useful to law enforcement during an investigation.

Criminal Psychologist’s Role in Rehabilitation

Criminal psychologists may also work with criminals that are in the process of rehabilitation. Having knowledge of criminology and sociology, criminal psychologists can assist ex-criminals with finding ways to improve their quality of life and avoiding a life of crime.

During the rehabilitation process, psychologists in this field may help offenders identify past trauma or occurrences that may have increased their probability of becoming a criminal offender. These professionals may be employed by detention centers, parole agencies, or even through the court.

In fields that provide data and research on criminal activity, criminal psychologists may play a large role in the development of prevention programs or rehabilitation programs for specified areas.

As a professional within this field, your insight into socioeconomic influence, environment, and statistics may assist cities and towns with developing improvement projects to help provide a more positive and crime-free environment.

Criminal Psychology Outlook

The field of criminal psychology is consistently growing throughout society. Psychology itself is a relatively new field when compared to other fields within health and medicine, so new specializations are regularly being created.

If you are considering entering into the field of criminal psychology, you should consider the growth within this field, as well as your earning potential, prior to becoming involved in a degree program. This is much faster than average when compared to other professional fields in healthcare.

List of Programs

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University Level Program Admissions
East Central University
Bachelor Bachelor of Science in Psychology - Behavioral Health Website
Concordia University - Saint Paul
Master MAHS in Forensic Behavioral Health Website
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