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What do I have to do to become a forensic psychologist?

I have this obsession with how different people's minds work and how life events affect their mind set. I enjoy hearing about how different childhood or life events can in turn set in motion decisions they may make later on. I am going to college in the fall and I do not know what classes or courses I need to take in order to become a forensic psychologist.

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Thank you comment icon Hi Sydni, forensic psychology is a specialty under clinical psychology. You will start with basic psychology so you have a good foundation. Look for criminology classes that fulfill general education. Once you have a BA in psychology, you can go straight to graduate school for a PhD or PsyD in clinical psychology. Make sure your program is APA (American Psychological Association) accredited as some are not. You’ll have an opportunity to specialize in graduate school. Your masters thesis and doctoral dissertation can focus on forensic work. Forensic psychology is really broad. Most forensic psychologists get their early experience in corrections to learn the population first. Do this in your practicum in graduate school, don’t wait until after graduation. Best of luck! Sabina Correa, Psy.D.
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Daniela’s Answer

Hi Sydni,

Choosing a psychology major and then taking classes related to forensic psychology can better prepare you for graduate school, and good grades in your classes can make you a more attractive grad school candidate.

Daniela recommends the following next steps:

Particularly if you want to investigate crime scenes, the biological sciences can help you gain the skills you need. Even if you plan to work solely in a clinical setting as a therapist or adviser to the courts, you'll need to understand basic human biology. Take a few classes in biology, as well as courses in biological psychology. Chemistry and biochemistry classes can help you understand the ways psychiatric medications work.
Forensic psychologists need a strong understanding of the ways social setting can affect behavior, particularly when they're developing treatment plans for inmates and people recently released from prison. Introductory-level sociology classes can be helpful, and classes in the sociology of criminal behavior can give you strong preparation for working in the criminal justice system. Criminal justice classes frequently have a strong sociology component, and can also help you understand the inner workings of the court system.
Courses in abnormal psychology can help you understand deviant behavior, and social psychology can help you master the ways society affects behavior. If your school offers courses in forensic psychology, this can give you a preview of graduate school, and classes in behavioral and cognitive psychology can help you understand and treat problematic behavior.
Forensic psychologists need to be able to read scientific studies and compile data of their own, particularly when they're establishing guidelines for courts and prisons. Courses in algebra and calculus give you the basic math background you need to understand scientific studies, and courses in statistics and data analysis can help you ensure you know how to properly formulate and analyze scientific studies.
Source: https://classroom.synonym.com/college-courses-become-forensic-psychologist-3912.html
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