RJ asked:
"What is the "typical" and/or most constructive route toward such a degree?
" (i.e., forensic psych)
Has anyone else noticed the dramatic increase in students asking about
forensic psych lately? It seems to me that they all want to be "profilers"
for the FBI. I trace it all back to "Silence of the Lambs" and "The
Profiler" TV series.
But to answer the question: I first disabuse them of the notion that most
forensic psychologists are "profilers" and that most do lots of evaluations
for child custody cases. Then I tell them that it is my (admittedly poor)
understanding that gold standard in this area would be program that offers a
joint J.D./Ph.D. degree. There are a few..... but very few. Second best is
a clinical doctorate that advertises a forensic subspecialty. After that, I
usually tell them to get a clinical or counseling psych doctorate while
trying to get as much relevant internship and coursework as possible.
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Edward I. Pollak, Ph.D. Office (610)436-2945
Professor and Chairperson Home (610)363-1939
Department of Psychology FAX (610)436-2846
West Chester University [EMAIL PROTECTED]
West Chester, PA 19383 www.wcupa.ed
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Husband, father, biopsychologist and bluegrass fiddler........... not
necessarily in order of importance.
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