Quick Highlights:
- With a master’s in forensic psychology, job possibilities include clinical forensic psychologist, forensic consultant, expert witness, victim advocate, and juvenile offenders counselor.
- The demand for forensic psychologists is strong due to the ongoing mental health crisis and the need for mental health evaluations within the criminal justice system.
- Careers in forensic psychology are demanding but offer the opportunity to make a significant impact on the justice system and individuals’ lives.
There are many different ways to impact the justice system in a professional career. If you want to work in the legal system in some way but aren’t drawn to more traditional paths, forensic psychology careers might be appealing. But what is available for jobs with a forensic psychology master’s? That’s exactly the question we are going to be addressing on this page.
You’ll see below that forensic psychology job opportunities are many. With so much potential in this field for the right individual, it’s an exciting time to explore this line of study.
Related:
- The Ethical Dilemmas of Forensic Psychology
- Is a Degree in Forensic Psychology Right for You?
- What Are the Different Specializations in Psychology?
- Best Online Forensic Psychology Masters
- Top Computer Forensics Degrees
What is Forensic Psychology?
Before we can look at careers in forensic psychology, let’s first make sure we have a clear definition established. This is a field that involves applying psychological principles within legal contexts. That’s a rather general definition, and it’s intentional. It’s not possible to define this field too narrowly as it can go in many different directions.
A forensic psychologist is usually someone with a desire to contribute to criminal justice in a meaningful way. If you are looking into master’s programs, you already have a base level of education and want to open up new possibilities. As you’ll see below, those possibilities are wide-ranging and exciting.
Some of the activities that might be included in the work of a forensic psychologist are performing psychological assessments, doing criminal profiling, and serving as an expert witness. As such, the coursework you encounter during a master’s program in this area is going to revolve around those areas. You’ll have the opportunity to not only learn the fundamentals but also to develop the skills you’ll need to work in the field.
A Few Examples of Career Possibilities
You probably aren’t just pursuing a master’s for the fun of the courses – although they can be very interesting. More likely, you want to become qualified for master’s in forensic psychology jobs. These jobs can be rewarding both financially and in the impact you have on your community. Here are a few forensic psychologist roles that you might want to consider after graduation.
Clinical Forensic Psychologist
One of the primary roles of forensic psychology in the legal system is providing clinical work like assessing and treating offenders in the correctional system. You might be asked to create psychological treatment plans for these individuals, perform evaluations, and even deliver therapy.
Forensic Consultant
Of all of the forensic psychologist roles, this is likely the one that will get you closest to working in law enforcement. In this position, you may be asked by law enforcement agencies or other groups to be a part of the investigative process. That can mean everything from interrogating suspects to doing criminal profiling work and beyond.
Expert Witness
Criminal trials often result in the need for expert witnesses to speak on a given topic that impacts the case. You would be qualified to serve in this role as a forensic psychologist. Acting as an expert witness in forensic psychology might be nerve-wracking at first but it is a chance to play a meaningful role in how justice is delivered.
Victim Advocate
Forensic psychology and law enforcement are closely linked. When you work as a victim advocate, you help victims deal with the legal system by offering them valuable emotional support. Not feeling alone while going through this trying time can make all the difference for a victim.
Juvenile Offenders Counselor
If your focus is on rehabilitation and getting people back on track in life, this might be a dream job. Young people who have been drawn into criminal activities still have time to straighten out and succeed in life with the right guidance. You’ll use your extensive training to work with at-risk youth or juvenile offenders to achieve positive outcomes.
There May Be Other Opportunities
The list above is a great start to understanding what a forensic psychologist can do. But that list is far from the whole picture. Plenty of other non-traditional opportunities may be available to you with this master’s degree.
For instance, you might find yourself interested in performing academic research to further this field. At the same time, you could teach at the college level, developing the next generation of professionals.
To take on a major challenge, it might be exciting to pursue a role in a national agency. That means looking for positions at the FBI or in Homeland Security, for example.
A Promising Job Market
Trying to predict the future is tricky business. With that said, it looks bright in terms of job possibilities for forensic psychologists. There is a lot of work to be done in this area and often not enough trained professionals to do it.
This is a particularly important time for forensic psychology due to the ongoing mental health crisis. Many offenders in the criminal justice system are dealing with some type of mental health condition. No matter what role you wind up playing in your professional life, there is likely to be a strong demand for your services.
You will have the unusual opportunity in a law enforcement-related field to actually help everyone involved. You can work on behalf of the victims but also work to help offenders get the support and treatment they need to turn their lives around.
Is This The Right Fit for You?
It seems the more rewarding professions are also the most challenging. That’s the case with forensic psychology. Whether working as a criminal case consultant or serving in victim advocacy in forensic psychology, these are roles with a lot of stress but the opportunity to make a difference. Does that sound like a good fit for you?
Answering some tough questions honestly with yourself is going to be important. You want to be confident and go all-in on your master’s program if you go in this direction. After graduation, you can then look at countless different opportunities like offering forensic psychology consultation services, working as a correctional facility psychologist, and more.
Opening Up Countless Doors
You should have little doubt by now that forensic psychology employment opportunities are wide-ranging and interesting. This is not a field where you should find yourself bored with your day-to-day work. You’ll have a chance to make a real difference, whether in offender rehabilitation psychology or some other niche.
Knowing what you now know about the opportunities, a forensic psychology master’s should be an appealing track to pursue. Find the right program for your needs and get started as soon as possible!