Forensic Psychology

• Accredited by the British Psychological Society and confers Graduate Basis for Registration - your first step towards becoming a Chartered  Psychologist.

• Psychology at Staffordshire has received high rankings from numerous league tables.

• Our students consistently tell us how satisfied they are with our courses.

Forensic psychology is concerned with understanding human behaviour and its underlying thoughts, feelings and motivations, with particular reference to criminal behaviour. It enables you to begin to understand psychological perspectives on the nature of criminality and the investigation of crime and to consider the roles of forensic science and psychology in the criminal justice system.

You will need to have a great interest in investigating and analysing how humans, especially those who act outside the law, think, feel and behave. You will develop the expertise to collect and assess evidence about human behaviour and you will develop a wide range of skills in relation to forensic investigation.

Students must recognise that training in Forensic psychology is acquired through postgraduate education and supervised practice, not through an undergraduate degree. On completion of this programme students are not qualified to practice as a forensic psychologist without further training in  psychology.

At Levels 1 and Level 2 you study core elements in psychology including social psychology, research methods, cognitive psychology, biological psychology and individual differences. You will also study forensic modules such as Crime Scene Investigation, Methods of Crime Detection and specialist psychology modules such as The Psychology of Criminal Conduct.

At Level 3 you extend your study of core psychology modules in Developmental Psychology, Dealing with Difference, Psychology in the Justice System and Forensic Psychology Applications, along with forensic modules in Investigating and Reporting Crime Scenes. You can choose to look at a range of applied areas such as counselling, The Psychology of Drugs and Forensic Science in the Legal System. You will also undertake a substantial piece of research in the form of an empirical project during your third year, where you have the opportunity to contribute your own findings to existing research and theory.

Many of our graduates have been very successful after completing this course. They pursue careers in organisations such as the Police, the Probation Service and Prison Service or Home Office. A number have become professional psychologists in the area of forensic psychology.

We currently have graduates who are responsible for gathering and analysing statistical crime related data for the Home Office, and graduates who work as Forensic Psychology trainees, working with offenders on an individual basis, as well as organising and delivering assessments, parole board recommendations and managing group-based interventions and therapies.

• Psychology
• Psychology and Criminology
• Psychology and Counselling

For more information about Forensic Psychology (C890) please contact: