Schools that Offer a Bachelor in Forensic Psychology
One school that offers a bachelor in forensic psychology is Arizona State University (ASU). ASU’s program is a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, but with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. In this program you are not only going to get bachelor’s level psychology training, but you are also going to be trained in criminal law, criminal behavior, legal decision-making, and the treatment/diagnosis of mental disorders. In addition, this bachelor in forensic psychology offered by ASU is completed 100% online.
Featured Programs:
Grand Canyon University - BS in Psychology: Forensic Psychology
Southern New Hampshire University - BA & MS in Forensic Psychology
Walden University - Online Forensic Psychology Programs
Another forensic psychology undergraduate degree offered by a respected institution is the BA in Forensic Psychology/Criminal Justice from Maryville University. American Psychology Association guidelines were strictly adhered to when putting together the psychology portion of this program. The criminal justice portion of the program will prepare you for all aspects of the legal side of the field. For example, criminal investigations is an area of emphasis. Maryville University offers this bachelor in forensic psychology online as well as on campus.
Bachelor in Forensic Psychology Tuition
Depending on where you decide to go to school, the cost of tuition will vary. For example, if you decide to go to a private college, such as Maryville University, the full-time tuition is $26,070 annually. Attending a public university is normally much cheaper to attend than a private institution. The public school we discussed earlier, Arizona State University, charges $12,870 per year for tuition. Unfortunately, tuition costs continue to rise. In fact, it is currently outpacing inflation.
Bachelor in Forensic Psychology Curriculum
Rather than listing a bachelor in forensic psychology program outline from a college, we will share an overview of what a typical program looks like. Most programs are broken into eight semesters or terms. Your freshman and sophomore years, or the first four semesters, will mainly consist of prerequisite courses. In other words, you are going to be taking courses in math, English, science, and other disciplines.
It is in the final four semesters where you are taking courses that focus on your major. Using Arizona State University as an example, the courses you will see as a junior and senior include neuroscience, abnormal psychology, psychology and law, criminal law, forensic psychology, and related electives. Many schools also have internships available. In the end, you will likely have to complete somewhere in the neighborhood of 120 semester hours while maintaining a GPA at or above 2.0.
Other Undergraduate Degree Options
You don’t necessarily have to earn a bachelor in forensic psychology to get started. Many people earn an undergraduate degree in another discipline before moving on to forensic psychology in graduate school. Maybe the college you plan on attending doesn’t offer a bachelor in forensic psychology. Or maybe you want to leave your options open. In any event, a psychology degree or criminal justice degree will serve you well if you plan on moving towards forensic psychology in the future.
Tips for New Undergraduate Students
College is a huge commitment of time and significant financial investment. However, it is one of the most significant achievements in a person’s lifetime. It is one of the only things in life that no one can take away from you. So, it isn’t something to be taken lightly. If you are planning on making the commitment to earn a degree, you may want to have a plan in order to ensure that you have a path to success while in school. Here are a few tips:
Time Management
Time management should always be on the top of your priority list. You may have a job while going to school and maybe even a family. So, you have to figure out how to go to work, get your homework done, and be there for your family obligations. It can be done. Many people have done it. It takes a plan. You have to be sure to schedule time for each and stick to that schedule. Support from your family members is important here. You have to explain to them your challenges and get buy in from them so they can support your plan.
Study Partners
You may want to get into a habit of forming strong “study partner” relationships with other students in the classes that you take. Most of us are going to struggle in a class or two and having other students that you can work with to understand the material is vitally important. I think many of you would agree that working through a problem with a study partner is oftentimes preferable to knocking on the professor’s door.
Proficiency with Technology
Make sure you work on your technology skills. Let’s face it; you have to understand how to use a computer if you are going to go to college. Completing assignments, doing research, communicating with faculty members and classmates, etc. is all done electronically nowadays. So, do you want to save yourself a great deal of time and headaches? Work on your typing proficiency. Learn how to use a computer. Discover cloud storage. Technology is there to make you life easier. Utilize it.
There are so many other great tips out there for college students. You may want to consider visiting mbanogmat.com and collegeinfogeek.com to see some other great tips from people who have lived through the college experience.
Careers for a Bachelor in Forensic Psychology
Many people who choose forensic psychology as a career decide to pursue a master’s degree or PhD in the field. However, there are those who earn their bachelor in forensic psychology and want to get right to work. Some people need a break from school and want to start earning some money. Some people want to gain some experience in the field before going to graduate school. Maybe both reasons are true or maybe there are other reasons. Regardless, you can have a fine career after earning a bachelor in forensic psychology as Psychology Today points out. They list court liaison, crime analyst, forensic case manager, psychological assistant, victims advocate, and investigative researcher as the top careers for someone with a bachelor in forensic psychology. Of course, there are many other job possibilities to consider as well.