Forensic Careers

Psy 476Dr. Alan Schramm

Definitions and tasks of different fields in Psychology

• Clinical Psychologists [Ph.D. or Psy.D.]• Counseling Psychologists [Psy.D. or Ph.D.]• Developmental Psychologists [Ed.D. or Ph.D.]• Educational Psychologists [Ed.D. or Ph.D.]• Experimental Psychologists [Ph.D.]• Forensic Psychologists [Ph.D. or Psy.D.]• Industrial/Organizational Psychologists [Ph.D.]• School Psychology [Ed.D. or M.A.]• Psychology [B.A. of B.S.]

Undergraduate Degree

• While those with an undergraduate degree do not have all of the job options available to those with a master's or doctorate in psychology, there are many entry-level jobs for college graduates with a bachelor's degree. These career options might initially appear to have little to do with the field of psychology. However, an undergraduate education in psychology helps students develop skills that are important in a variety of careers.

Typical Career Options with BA/BS

• The majority of students graduating with a bachelor's degree will work in some division of human or social services. Some common job titles in the area include:

-Case Management-Career Counselor -Rehabilitation Specialist -Psychiatric Technician

• Some important skills for those working in this area include the ability to assess client needs, keep thorough and accurate records, express care and empathy, and to act as an advocate for your client.

Other Options• In addition to social services, a bachelor's in psychology can

provide excellent training for many other types of jobs. One of the most important things you have learned during you undergraduate years are interpersonal skills. Your understanding of the human mind and behavior make you a good candidate for jobs that require good communication skills. Some examples of jobs in this area include those in sales, marketing, case management, and government welfare protection agencies.

• As an undergraduate, you have also done a considerable amount of research and writing. This skill would be useful in many jobs, such as a library assistant, probation officer, correctional officer, business manager, case worker, and many others.

Assessment of Skills• When searching for your first post-graduation

job, be sure to consider all of the skills you have acquired during your time as a student. Make a list of things you learned in various classes to help you assess your skills and talents in order to find a job best suited to your educational background and professional goals.

• “listening” is a very important skill that will serve well during interviews.

Potential Employers • Federal Government departments of Health &

Human Services, Veterans' Administration, and Justice

• State Government departments of Human Services, Mental Health, and Mental Retardation, psychiatric hospitals, community mental health centers, facilities for the mentally retarded, and probation/parole departments

• Local Government: senior citizens' centers • Non-Profit Organizations such as United Way,

Goodwill Industries, Boys and Girls Clubs, and YWCA/YMCA

Strategies• Obtain essential practical experience such as

residence hall adviser or camp counselor • Enroll in an internship or practicum • Perform volunteer services such as Special

Olympics, Big Brother/Sister, or crisis hotline • Learn foreign language for multi-cultural clients • Become familiar with government hiring procedures • Be willing to relocate • Be prepared to obtain a master degree or doctorate

for more substantive counseling work

Public Relations

• Public relations and advertising firms • Companies with in-house PR departments • Trade associations • Federal, state, and local government • Colleges and universities • Non-profit organizations

Clinical Psychologists - Definition

• Diagnose or evaluates mental and emotional disorders of individuals through observation, interview, and psychological tests, and formulate and administer programs of treatment.

Clinical Psychologists - Tasks• Observes individuals at play, in group interactions, or other situations to detect

indications of mental deficiency, abnormal behavior, or maladjustment.• Develops treatment plans, including type, frequency, intensity, and duration of

therapy, in collaboration with psychiatrists and other specialists.• Analyzes information to assess client problems, determines advisability of

counseling, and refers client to other specialists, institutions, or support services.• Conducts individual and group counseling sessions regarding psychological or

emotional problems, such as stress, substance abuse,and family situations• Responds to client reactions, evaluates effectiveness of counseling or treatment, and

modifies plan as needed.• Interviews individuals, couples, or families, and reviews records to obtain

information on medical, psychological, emotional, relationship, or other problems.• Selects, administers,scores,and interprets psychological tests to obtain information

on individuals’ intelligence, achievement, interests, and personality.• Utilizes treatment methods, such as psychotherapy, hypnosis, behavior

modification, stress reduction therapy, psychodrama, and play therapy.

Counseling Psychologists - Definition

• Assess and evaluate individuals’ problems through the use of case history, interview, and observation, and provide individual or group counseling services to assist individuals in achieving more effective personal, social, educational, and vocational development and adjustment.

Counseling Psychologists - Tasks• Counsels clients to assist them in understanding personal or interactive

problems, defining goals, and developing realistic action plans.• Collects information about individuals or clients, using interviews, case

histories, observational techniques, and other assessment methods.• Develops therapeutic and treatment plans based on individual interests,

abilities, or needs of clients.• Selects, administers, or interprets psychological tests to assess intelligence,

aptitude, ability, or interests.• Advises clients on the potential benefits of counseling or makes referrals to

specialists or other institutions for non-counseling problems.• Analyses data, such as interview notes, test results, and reference manuals and

texts to identify symptoms and diagnose the nature of client’s problems.• Evaluates results of counseling methods to determine the reliability and validity

of treatments.

Developmental Psychologists - Definition

• Study and research the emotional, mental, physical, and social growth and development of individuals, from birth to death, to increase understanding of human behavior and processes of human growth and decline.

Developmental Psychologists - Tasks

• Formulates hypothesis or research problem regarding growth, development, and decline of emotional, mental, physical, and social processes in individuals.

• Selects or develops method of investigation to test hypothesis.• Studies behavior of children to analyze processes of learning, language

development, and parental influence on children’s behavior.• Analyzes growth or change of social values and attitudes, using information

obtained from observation, questionnaires, and interviews.• Administers intelligence and performance tests to establish and measure

human patterns of intellectual and psychological growth, development, and decline.

• Observes and records behavior of infants to establish patterns of social, motor, and sensory development.

• Formulates theories based on research findings for application in such fields as juvenile delinquency, education, parenting, and gerontology.

Educational Psychologists - Definition

• Investigate processes of learning and teaching and develop psychological principles and techniques applicable to educational problems

Educational Psychologists - Tasks

• Conducts experiments to study educational problems, such as motivation, adjustment, teacher training, and individual differences in mental abilities

• Conducts research to aid introduction of programs in schools to meet current psychological, educational, and sociological needs of children.

• Investigates traits, attitudes, and feelings of teachers to predict conditions that affect teacher’s mental health and success with students.

• Formulates achievement, diagnostic, and predictive tests to aid teachers in planning methods and content of instruction.

• Interprets and explains test results, in terms of norms, reliability, and validity, to teachers, counselors, students, and other entitled parties.

• Plans developmental classes and testing programs designed to meet needs of special students.

• Advises teachers and other school personnel on methods to enhance school and classroom atmosphere to maximize student learning and motivation.

Experimental Psychologists - Definition

• Plan, design, and conduct, laboratory experiments to investigate animal or human physiology, perception, memory, learning, personality, and cognitive processes. Conduct interdisciplinary studies with other scientists in such fields as physiology, biology, and sociology.

Experimental Psychologists - Tasks• Formulates hypotheses and experimental design to investigate problems of

perception, memory, learning, personality, and cognitive processes.• Selects, controls, and modifies variables in human or animal laboratory

experiments, and observes and records behavior in relation to variables.• Analyzes test results, using statistical techniques, and evaluates significance

of data in relation to original hypothesis.• Conducts research in areas such as aesthetics, learning, emotion, motivation,

electroencephalograph, motor skills, autonomic functions, and the relationship of behavior to physiology.

• Designs and constructs equipment and apparatus for laboratory study.• Writes scientific papers describing experiments and interpreting research

results for publication or presentation.• Studies animal behavior to develop theories on comparison of animal and

human behavior

Forensic Psychologists - Definition

• Professional psychologists within the areas of clinical psychology, counseling psychology, neuropsychology, and school psychology, when they are engaged regularly as experts and represent themselves as such, in an activity primarily intended to provide professional psychological expertise to the judicial system

Forensic Psychologists - Tasks

• Works with individuals who may present with a variety of mental illnesses and mental health issues within the context of the criminal or civil arenas of the law.

• Pleads insanity, raises issues of competency to stand trial, assesses future violence potential during sentencing, or treatment of sex offenders

• Assesses cognitive and mental abilities of the criminals to assists legal defense and determination of insanity

• Designs and provides treatment programs.• Evaluates the potential for violence and predicts the future behaviors

of criminals.• Creates and develops criminal profiles• Applies clinical technique, assessment, and therapy in both criminal

and non-criminal matters

Industrial/Organizational Psychologists - Definition

Apply principles of psychology and human behavior to personnel administration, sales, management, and marketing problems. Develop personnel policies, instruments, and programs for the selection, placement, training and development, and evaluation of employees. Conduct organizational analysis and programs for organizational development. Conduct research studies of leadership, supervision, morale, motivation, and worker productivity.

Industrial-Organizational Psychologists - Tasks• Develops interview techniques, rating scales, and psychological tests to assess

skills, abilities, and interests as aids in selection, placement and promotion.• Conducts research studies of physical work environments, organizational

structure, communication systems, group interaction, morale, and motivation to assess organizational functioning.

• Analyzes data, using statistical methods and applications, to evaluate and measure the effectiveness of program implementation or training.

• Advises management in strategic changes to personnel, managerial, and marketing policies and practices to improve organizational effectiveness and efficiency.

• Studies consumer reaction to new products and package designs, using surveys and tests, and measures the effectiveness of advertising media.

• Plans, develops, and organizes training programs, applying principles of learning and individual differences.

• Analyses job requirements to establish criteria for classification, selection, training, and other related personnel functions.

Careers in Psychology• With BA - can be teachers in high school, administrative staff, sales

persons, employment counselors, correction counselor trainees, correctional officers, interviewers, personnel analysts, probation officers, case managers, and writers.

• With MA - most work under the direction of a doctoral psychologist, especially in clinical, counseling, school, and testing and measurement psychology. They may handle research and data collection and analysis in universities, government, and private companies. Those in Industrial/ Organizational Psychology may do jobs for industries or governments in compensation, training, data analysis, recruiting, selection, and general personnel issues.

• With Ph.D. or Psy.D. - may be self-employed as licensed clinical counselors, school psychologists, consultants, faculty at universities and 4-year colleges, working in private or public sectors and/or in profit or non-profit organizations.

Correctional Psychology

• Psychologist, Correctional Facility• Salary: $85,392 – $107,160

• Senior Supervisor or Chief Psychologist• Salary: $115,392 - $141,576

• Director, Mental Health• Salary: $150,050 - $210,900

Where Do I Start?• CIA Operational Psychologist• Work Schedule: Full Time • Salary:$79,397 – $121,967 Location:

Washington, DC metropolitan area

• Responsible for providing behavioral science consultancy to the Intelligence Community, the major activities involved in this role include psychological testing and behavioral assessment; customized training/consultation on topics related to cross-cultural personality assessment; and applied research.

• CIA Contract Specialist - Entry Level• Work Schedule: Full Time• Salary: $50,025 – $65,912• Location: Washington, DC metropolitan area

• The Agency offers new college graduates, and applicants with very limited acquisitions experience, a comprehensive training and development program to qualify for Contracting Officer positions, which require greater responsibility. As a member of the Contract Specialist Program, you will receive a mix of on-the-job and classroom training that will give you the immediate opportunity to work on a variety of acquisitions activities and contract types. Under close supervision, you will work with a variety of skilled technical experts across the Agency as well as business counterparts in the private sector. Contract Specialists learn and use innovative acquisitions business practices as they gain contracting experience. Duties include: pre-award acquisition planning and documentation; soliciting, planning, negotiating, administration and closeout; acquiring products and services in an efficient, cost-effective manner; and providing administrative support on contracts while developing technical expertise.

• CIA Psychological/Psychiatric Analyst• Work Schedule: Full Time • Salary: $79,397 – $143,471• Location: Washington, DC metropolitan area

• The CIA's Directorate of Intelligence (DI) seeks experienced social, I-O, forensic, and clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, sociologists, and anthropologists to research, analyze, and write assessments of foreign leaders, societal impacts of disease and disaster, and decision-making groups for the most senior US Government policymakers. We have a particular need for experts in social psychology, psychological anthropology, and industrial/organizational psychology. These analysts would work closely with regional leadership and political analysts throughout the Intelligence Community, as well as other health professionals in government and academia to produce current and longer-term intelligence products. They also may pursue—and be sponsored for—additional studies in fields relevant to their area of responsibility. Opportunities exist for foreign and domestic travel, language training, analytic and management training, and assignments in other offices in the Agency.

Secret Service Agent Career DescriptionThe Secret Service, which is part of the Department of Homeland Security, is a federal law enforcement agency, headquartered in Washington D.C. The agency is searching for well qualified men and women who are ready for an exciting and rewarding career.

• Investigations: Special agents conduct a variety of criminal investigations involving fraud. These include: computer crimes, counterfeiting, false identification, telecommunications fraud, identity theft, telemarketing fraud, and electronic funds transfer fraud. Special Presidential Security section.

• Work Schedule: Full Time • Salary: $81,671 – $151,561Secret Service Agent Qualifications

• Must be a United States citizen • Must pass a medical exam - vision, hearing, cardiovascular, mobility of extremities • Must pass a drug screening • Must pass a report writing test • Must pass an extensive background investigation • Must pass a polygraph examination • Must pass an in-depth interview • Must pass an entrance exam • Must be able to obtain a Top Secret clearance • Must be over age 21 years and under age 37 years • Candidates hoping to become special agents must also have a four-year college degree from an

accredited university (or have at least three years of experience working in law enforcement or criminal investigative fields that necessitate an understanding and utilization of laws relating to criminal violations; or have an comparable combination of work experience and education).