Forensic Psychology For Dummies (158 page)

In all these areas, bear in mind the legal, professional and ethical considerations that I discuss in Chapter 17.

Gaining a Master’s Qualification

The first serious step that commits you to developing a career as a forensic psychologist is obtaining a postgraduate qualification. The nature of this qualification varies considerably around the world, however: in some countries, it’s a 2-year period of study whereas in others a Master’s is more of a doctorate qualification, spread over at least three years (see the later section ‘Striving for a Doctorate’). It varies a little from state to state in the US but is typically part of a Doctoral level training. A useful starting point for finding out about such courses, especially in the US, is
www.forensicpsychology.net/
.

Master’s qualifications are intensive taught courses, often including some practical experience. They open up the range of topics that forensic psychology covers and allow in-depth study of many of them. A project is usually required that allows the development of research skills and the opportunity to make a contribution to the development of the discipline.

Master’s courses are usually accredited by a national or state organisation as a crucial step to achieving a recognised qualification. These organisations typically provide a framework of the minimum requirements of topics that the course needs to cover. This book covers the range of issues that I’d expect to be included in any Master’s course in forensic psychology (different universities may have different emphases that are worth exploring, such as ones that relate broadly to the contexts in which forensic psychologists operate):

Giving evidence, as an expert in court, on fitness to plead,
mens rea
and so on (the sort of things I discuss in Chapter 11).

Working with offenders in prison, as I describe especially in Chapters 13, 14 and 15.

Contributing to the investigative process that I introduce in Chapter 6 (a handful of places around the world emphasise this).

Providing an emphasis on the psychology of the court process that I outline in Chapter 12 (a few places in the US do this).

Working with extremely disturbed individuals who’ve committed very serious crimes, in secure treatment centres or ‘special hospitals’, or in the US ‘correctional establishments’.

Becoming an Intern

Opportunities for working as an intern within a forensic psychology setting usually open up during a Master’s course or immediately afterwards (see the preceding section), because people have developed the crucial skills, internalised the professional ethics and established stronger contacts. These internships have all the advantages of getting experience that I mention earlier in this chapter (in ‘Getting Direct Work Experience’), but now the person is much more part of the team rather than a lowly assistant. Many organisations survive because of the help given by people at this stage in their careers.

These internships are supervised by an experienced, qualified professional, and the supervised professional practice may cover a defined set of professional activities, so that the intern gets some contact with the major aspects of the discipline. Log books and other forms of assessment and recording of the experience are also a normal aspect of this professional training.

An internship can be just another way of gaining experience (and earning some money), whilst more direct opportunities for developing professional skills emerge. But for this experience to count as a formal step towards becoming a qualified forensic psychologist it needs to be properly supervised. I deal with that next.

Being Supervised

Usually, you need to undertake a 2-year period of supervised professional practice after your Master’s or Doctorate course before being regarded as a qualified forensic psychologist. So, after three years of an undergraduate degree, typically two years on a Master’s course and then these two years, seven years in total is needed for you to be able to stand up in court as a qualified forensic psychologist, or to get many of the jobs that advertise for a ‘qualified forensic psychologist’.

All established forensic psychologists see part of their role as giving guidance and support to those who aspire to emulate them. Such available support can include supervising, giving lectures as part of university courses and participating in research projects. Any well-established forensic psychology department in a university has a network of contacts for gaining supervision.

Striving for a Doctorate

A doctorate (PhD, DPhil, DClin Psych etc) is nearly always awarded for making ‘a contribution to knowledge’. This contribution is based on a major research project that takes about three years to complete and write up as a significant document. The topic of research is agreed between a supervisor (or supervisory team) and the student. These topics vary enormously and go into the chosen area in great depth. So, people who complete a Doctorate often become world experts in the topic of their thesis. In forensic psychology these will often be carried out whilst employed in professional practice. They can deal with any topic that is covered in the rest of this book, but will usually relate to the particular area of forensic psychology in which the person is engaged.

Various places are emerging that offer ‘professional doctorates’ that have a little less emphasis on contributing to knowledge. They have more concern with developing professional skills and understanding. In the future, these 3-year qualifications are likely to replace the Master’s degree.