criminal psychology or pyschology degree?

so long story short, i studied forensic science at btec level in college i was thinking to go into criminal psychology at uni but would that narrow down my job options once i graduate? should i just study a plain psychology degree so i have a wider choice of job opportunities like child, adult therapist etc. i feel like if i just do a criminal psych degree i would only be able to work within the criminal system with only convicts.

also is it true that you have less opportunities with just a psych bachelors and you would have to do a masters in something more specific such as therapy etc?

for reference i live in london
please let me know what you guys think or if you can relate it would be nice to know im not alone lol

Reply 1

DataVenia

Volunteer Team, Clearing and Applications Advisor

21

Original post by hihihihihihi123

so long story short, i studied forensic science at btec level in college i was thinking to go into criminal psychology at uni but would that narrow down my job options once i graduate? should i just study a plain psychology degree so i have a wider choice of job opportunities like child, adult therapist etc. i feel like if i just do a criminal psych degree i would only be able to work within the criminal system with only convicts.

also is it true that you have less opportunities with just a psych bachelors and you would have to do a masters in something more specific such as therapy etc?

for reference i live in london
please let me know what you guys think or if you can relate it would be nice to know im not alone lol

The key thing to look for when compared Psychology degrees is BPS accreditation. If it is accredited then it covers all the basic areas of Psychology, regardless of what title they've opted to give the course. (A Criminal Psychology degree may be a BPS-accredited degree - covering all aspects of Psychology - where they've made all the optional modules focused on Criminology or Forensic Psychology.) If it's BPS accredited, you're fine.

You are right about the limited opportunities available to those with only an undergraduate degree in Psychology who want to pursue a Psychology career. You will also need a postgraduate degree. That will need to be a Master's or a Doctorate, depending on which branch of Psychology you want to pursue.

Reply 2

McGinger

18

Original post by hihihihihihi123

so long story short, i studied forensic science at btec level in college i was thinking to go into criminal psychology at uni but would that narrow down my job options once i graduate? should i just study a plain psychology degree so i have a wider choice of job opportunities like child, adult therapist etc. i feel like if i just do a criminal psych degree i would only be able to work within the criminal system with only convicts.

also is it true that you have less opportunities with just a psych bachelors and you would have to do a masters in something more specific such as therapy etc?

for reference i live in london
please let me know what you guys think or if you can relate it would be nice to know im not alone lol

Just having a Psychology degree does not make you a 'Psychologist' - you would need to then take a Masters and PhD and get years of experience.
Entry level jobs in Psych are thin on the ground and most Psych grads will end up in different areas. The degree is still worth doing - it is applicable in a hundred other career areas - but just be realistic about the potential for working with Psychology itself.

Have a look at degrees called Childhood Studies, Psychology with ....., Education with Psychology, Youth Studies, etc - these would all lead into work with children such as child welfare, education, student support etc etc.

Reply 3

bones-mccoy

19

Criminal psychology doesn't exist in the UK, it's forensic psychology over here. Criminal psychology is an American term.

You can do a straight psychology degree or one in forensic psychology, as long as it's accredited by the BPS, but many choose a straight psychology degree as it may provide more options later down the line. You'd have to then do a masters degree in forensic psychology regardless of your undergrad so specialising so early isn't generally necessary.

Forensic psychologists work in all different kinds of institutions, not just in prisons and not just with 'convicts' (or offenders, which is the preferred term). You can work in secure hospitals, in the community, within probation or the police, or go into research or academia. Lots of forensic psychologists work in clinical settings and vice versa.

(edited 6 months ago)

Reply 4

Lancaster Student Ambassador

Official Rep

15

Original post by hihihihihihi123

so long story short, i studied forensic science at btec level in college i was thinking to go into criminal psychology at uni but would that narrow down my job options once i graduate? should i just study a plain psychology degree so i have a wider choice of job opportunities like child, adult therapist etc. i feel like if i just do a criminal psych degree i would only be able to work within the criminal system with only convicts.

also is it true that you have less opportunities with just a psych bachelors and you would have to do a masters in something more specific such as therapy etc?

for reference i live in london
please let me know what you guys think or if you can relate it would be nice to know im not alone lol

Hi! Firstly, when looking at anything related to psychology it is important to consider potential future jobs and whether they require accreditation from the British Psychological Society. Not all jobs require this, for example working for the police. Jobs that follow a more specifically psychological path (counselling, therapy, etc) do tend to require this accreditation. Not all forensic psychology or criminology & psychology joint honours degrees will have this accreditation due to requirements set by the BPS.

Secondly, I recommend thinking a lot about whether you are completely set on that specific career path. Often people have a great idea what they want to do with their lives when applying to university, making it a great opportunity to get started on your goals! However, it is also very common to be a little unsure. If you begin to feel unsure, you may feel safer applying for a straight psychology degree, getting your BPS accreditation and then specialising at a masters level rather than undergraduate.

Lastly, it is possible to get plenty of jobs with just a psychology BSc or BA. Psychology opens up many avenues such as HR work, advertising, management positions, etc. A lot jobs within the field of psychology will require further education whether through training (teaching or counselling for example), or progressing to MSc or PhD level. It really depends what you want to do. It's definitely worth remembering that you don't have to set out all your life goals before you start undergrad, you may absolutely love studying and go straight into MSc or PhD after graduating, or you may decide that it isn't for you and that you want to go straight into working!

Best of luck with everything in the future, and feel free to ask any more questions.
-Kat (2nd year psychology student, Lancaster University)

(edited 5 months ago)

criminal psychology or pyschology degree?

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