Certificate in Criminal Psychology

2 modules

200 hours

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Turn your passion for crime and forensics into a meaningful career.

Expand your knowledge in this diverse and exciting industry. This course has been designed specifically to give you a broad introduction into criminal psychology and forensics and how they are key factors into solving crime and working with people suffering from a life of criminal activity, aggression and mental disorders. During this course you will learn about topics such as gender, youth and crime, psychology and the police, and crime prevention. You will also take a deeper look into forensics, gathered evidence and forensic science.

This course is the perfect pathway into a diverse array of career options such as legal services, law enforcement, social work, crime writing and more.

Course overview

Payment options

This course can be paid off through an interest free payment plan for $25 per week. It also qualifies for a discount for upfront payments.

Course duration

This course is made up of 2 in-depth modules. The amount of study time required to complete this course is approximately 200 hours.

Tutor support

You are studying online – but you are not studying alone. Our tutor support service comes with all of our courses and is available to you 24 hours, 7 days a week.

Certification

A Certificate of attainment will be issued upon completion of your course.

Equipment

You will need a computer, tablet or other device to access the course work and submit your assessments. If you do not have one a tablet can be provided for you.

Download course brochure
An investigation officer showing a picture to murder suspect | Careers Collectiv
A detective examines the evidence on the clothe | Careers Collectiv

Course details

This course is ideal for:

This course is a beginner level course and is aimed at anyone who has a passion for crime and psychology or wants to support others through personal growth and life changes.

100% Online

This is an industry leading course that has been delivered completely online for over 15 years.

Career prospects

Where could you work?

  • Law Enforcement

  • Crime Prevention

  • Social Work

  • Welfare Officer

  • Youth Worker

  • Counsellor

  • Support Worker

  • Rehabilitation Officer

  • Prison Guard

  • Legal Profession

  • Security Officer

Course modules

This course is comprised of 2
modules:

  • Criminal Psychology
  • Forensic Science

Assessments

Each lesson in your course modules culminate in an assignment which is submitted online, marked by the tutors and returned to you with suggestions and feedback.

Topics that will be covered in the Criminal Psychology module include:

  • Introduction to Criminal Psychology

    • Definitions of Crime

    • Consensus View of what Crime is

    • Conflict View of Crime

    • Interactionist View of Crime

    • Scope of Criminal Psychology

    • What Criminal Psychologists do

    • Case Study

    • Profiling

    • Courts

    • Correctional System

  • Psychological approaches to
    understanding crime

    • Biological explanations of Crime

    • Phrenology

    • Eugenics

    • XYY Chromosome Model

    • Genetics

    • Twin Studies

    • Adoption Studies

    • Nature, Nurture

    • Environmental Explanations of
      Crime

    • Family Influence

    • Agency Explanations

    • Rational Choice Theory

  • Psychology and understanding serious
    crimes

    • Aggression

    • Types of Aggression

    • Terminology

    • Drive Theories

    • Freudian Theories

    • Social Learning Theories

    • Biological and Evolutionary
      Theories

    • Types of Aggression

    • Aggression and against Outsiders

    • Aggression in Species

    • Aggression in Humans

    • Environmental Influences on
      Human Aggression

    • Imitation or Modelling

    • Familiarity

    • Reinforcement

    • Aggression and Culture

    • Other Factors in Aggression:
      Alcohol, Pain, Frustration

    • Murder

    • Sexual Assault

    • Stalking

    • Pursuit Behaviour

    • False Stalking Syndrome

  • Learning disabilities and crime
    • Meaning of Learning
      Disabilities
    • IQ Testing
    • Crime and Intelligence
    • Modern Intelligence
      Testing
    • Learning Disabilities
      and Crime
    • Sex Offences and
      People with Learning
      Disabilities
    • Courts
  • Mental Disorder and Crime 2
    (Psychopathy)
    • Scope and Nature of
      Psychopathology
    • Personality Disorder
    • Psychopath
    • Heartlessness
    • Emotionless
    • How do People become Psychopaths
    • Treatment
  • Gender and Crime

    • Scope and Nature of Gender and
      Crime studies

    • Rates of Crime

    • Murder and Violence

    • Prostitution

    • Case Study … Women Offenders

    • Victims

    • Murder

    • Domestic Violence

    • Sexual Abuse

  • Youth and Crime

    • Age of Criminal Responsibility

    • Risk Factors

    • Mental Health Risk

    • Conduct Disorders

    • ADHD (Attention Deficit
      Hyperactivity Disorder)

    • Cumulative Effect of Risk Factors

    • Prevalence and Offending

    • Case Studies

    • Young People as Victims

  • Psychology and the Police
    • Social Construction of Reported
      Crime
    • Eyewitness Testimony
    • Early Research
    • Schemas and EWT
    • Police Line Ups
    • Everyday Uses of Psychology by
      Police
  • Psychology in the Courtroom
    • Social Cognition
    • Behaviour
    • Appearance
    • Expectations

    • The Primacy Effect

    • Attribution

    • Schemas and Social Perception

    • Central Traits

    • Stereotypes

    • Social Inference and Decision Making

    • Psychology and the Law

    • Guilt Bias

    • Media Effect

    • Defendant Attributes

    • Attorney Attributes

  • Psychology and Crime
    Prevention

    • Punishment

    • Types of Punishment

    • History of Punishment

    • Reasons for Punishment

    • Deterrents

    • Punishment and Impartiality

Topics that will be covered in the Criminal Psychology module include:

  • The Nature of Forensic Science

    • What is Forensic Science?

      Origins and Principles of Forensic
      Science

  • Forensic Science and Law

    • Scientific Principles

    • Use of Evidence

    • Relationship with Law

    • What is Evidence?

    • Types of Physical and Biological Evidence

  • Evidence Collection

    • Crime Scene Investigations

    • Chain of Custody

    • Assessing a Scene

    • Processing a Scene

    • Collecting Samples

  • Analysis of Evidence

    • The Purpose of Analysis

    • Principles of Underlying Analysis

    • Statistical Analyses

    • Types of Evidence

    • Use of Laboratory Evidence

  • Specialist Forensics

    • Civil vs Criminal Courts

    • Types of Forensics Used

    • Digital and Electronic Forensics

    • Forensic Pathology

    • Forensic Anthropology

    • Forensic Psychology

  • Criminology

    • Psychological Theories

    • Psychodynamic Theory

    • Behavioural Theory

    • Social Learning Theory

    • Cognitive Theory

    • Moral Development

    • Personality and Crime

    • Children and Crime

  • Psychological Disorders & Crime

    • Mental Health

    • Mental Health and Criminal Offences

    • Types of Disorder and Crime

    • Mental Health in Children and Crime

  • Criminal Profiling & Intelligence

    • Criminal Profiling

    • Problems with Profiling

    • Intelligence

    • Intelligence Gathering

  • Presenting Evidence in Court

    • Burden of Proof

    • Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt

    • Other Standards of Proof

    • Admissibility of Evidence

    • Evidence

  • Ethical Issues

    • Legislation vs Legislature

    • The Purpose of the Law

    • The Purpose of Ethics

    • Ethical Practice and Forensic Science

    • Forensic Practice and Ethics

Criminal man with handcuffs being interviewed | Careers Collectiv
Criminal man with handcuffs being interviewed | Careers Collectiv

“I started this course out of curiosity and couldn’t stop. It’s well-structured and genuinely interesting. Special thanks go to the staff and the tutors that were always there to offer help when required”

Franklin

“FINALLY a course that properly teaches you criminal psychology! All the lessons were super interesting and the tutors were really helpful.”

Chris

“I’ve always had a fascination with mysteries and criminals. This course allowed me to go beyond what I see in TV or books and study it as a subject. Easily the best course I’ve ever done!”

Jade C.

Gain the Certificate in Criminal Psychology for only $25 per week

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Course for Criminal Psychology From Careers Collectiv.

Whether you have a passion for solving crimes or are looking for a career in law enforcement, you can change your life with the right Criminal Psychology course.. Read More

Here at Careers Collectiv, we specialise in 100% online short courses that allow our students to study when it suits them – with the 24/7 support of an expert. Whatever course you choose, you will have access to knowledge and skills in a practical way that is relevant to real life. We have carefully chosen the courses we offer so that they can be used to develop a new career, pursue a hobby, deepen knowledge, or explore a passion, in the way that suits them best. With courses ranging from photography to animal welfare, to beauty, to bookkeeping, there is something suitable for you. 

One of our most popular courses is the Criminal Psychology Course, and we can help you learn everything you need to support a career change or develop more skills.

Other courses including: 

Youth and Crime, Psychology in the Courtroom, Analysis of Evidence, Criminology

Course for Criminal Psychology: Protect, serve and learn during your criminal psychology studies

Making the decision to take on a learning opportunity can make juggling your time difficult – but with Careers Collectiv you can take advantage of our 100% online, self-paced learning. What this means for you is that you can choose when you study, fitting it around your home and work life in the way that suits you best.

During our criminal psychology course, you will be taken through a comprehensive series of lessons designed to take a student from complete beginner to a competent law enforcer; making sure that once you have completed the course, you will be in an ideal position to create a new career or just serve and protect other human beings.

The course starts with an in-depth introduction to criminal psychology that makes understanding the judiciary system possible. This includes case studies and other psychological course material. After which, you will have an in depth course that includes;

  • Introduction to Criminal Psychology
  • Definitions of Crime
  • Consensus View of what Crime is
  • Conflict View of Crime
  • Interactionist View of Crime
  • Scope of Criminal Psychology
  • What Criminal Psychologists do
  • Case Study
  • Profiling
  • Courts
  • Correctional System

Psychological approaches to understanding crime

  • Biological explanations of Crime
  • Phrenology
  • Eugenics
  • XYY Chromosome Model
  • Genetics
  • Twin Studies
  • Adoption Studies
  • Nature, Nurture
  • Environmental Explanations of Crime
  • Family Influence
  • Agency Explanations
  • Rational Choice Theory

Psychology and understanding serious crimes

  • Aggression
  • Types of Aggression
  • Terminology
  • Drive Theories
  • Freudian Theories
  • Social Learning Theories
  • Biological and Evolutionary Theories
  • Types of Aggression
  • Aggression an against Outsiders
  • Aggression in Species
  • Aggression in Humans
  • Environmental Influences on Human Aggression
  • Imitation or Modelling
  • Familiarity
  • Reinforcement
  • Aggression and Culture
  • Other Factors in Aggression: Alcohol, Pain, Frustration
  • Murder
  • Sexual Assault
  • Stalking
  • Pursuit Behaviour
  • False Stalking Syndrome 

Learning disabilities and crime

  • Meaning of Learning Disabilities
  • IQ Testing
  • Crime and Intelligence
  • Modern Intelligence Testing
  • Learning Disabilities and Crime
  • Sex Offences and People with Learning Disabilities
  • Courts

Mental Disorder and Crime 2 (Psychopathy)

  • Scope and Nature of Psychopathology
  • Personality Disorder
  • Psychopath
  • Heartlessness
  • Emotionless
  • How do People become Psychopaths
  • Treatment 

Gender and Crime

  • Scope and Nature of Gender and Crime studies
  • Rates of Crime
  • Murder and Violence
  • Prostitution
  • Case Study … Women Offenders
  • Victims
  • Murder
  • Domestic Violence
  • Sexual Abuse 

Youth and Crime

  • Age of Criminal Responsibility
  • Risk Factors
  • Mental Health Risk
  • Conduct Disorders
  • ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
  • Cumulative Affect of Risk Factors
  • Prevalence and Offending
  • Case Studies
  • Young People as Victims 

Psychology and the Police

  • Social Construction of Reported Crime
  • Eyewitness Testimony
  • Early Research
  • Schemas and EWT
  • Police Line Ups
  • Every day Uses of Psychology by Police 

Psychology in the Courtroom

  • Social Cognition
  • Behaviour
  • Appearance
  • Expectations
  • The Primacy Effect
  • Attribution
  • Schemas and Social Perception
  • Central Traits
  • Stereotypes
  • Social Inference and Decision Making
  • Psychology and the Law
  • Guilt Bias
  • Media Effect
  • Defendant Attributes
  • Attorney Attributes

Psychology and Crime Prevention

  • Punishment
  • Types of Punishment
  • History of Punishment
  • Reasons for Punishment
  • Deterrents
  • Punishment and Impartiality 

Introduction to Forensic Science

The Nature of Forensic Science

  • What is Forensic Science?
  • Origins and Principles of Forensic Science 

Forensic Science and Law

  • Scientific Principles
  • Use of Evidence
  • Relationship with Law
  • What is Evidence?
  • Types of Physical and Biological Evidence 

Evidence Collection

  • Crime Scene Investigations
  • Chain of Custody
  • Assessing a Scene
  • Processing a Scene
  • Collecting Samples 

Analysis of Evidence

  • The Purpose of Analysis
  • Principles of Underlying Analysis
  • Statistical Analyses
  • Types of Evidence
  • Use of Laboratory Evidence 

Specialist Forensics

  • Civil vs Criminal Courts
  • Types of Forensics Used
  • Digital and Electronic Forensics
  • Forensic Pathology
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Forensic Psychology 

Criminology

  • Psychological Theories
  • Psychodynamic Theory
  • Behavioural Theory
  • Social Learning Theory
  • Cognitive Theory
  • Moral Development
  • Personality and Crime
  • Children and Crime

Psychological Disorders & Crime

  • Mental Health
  • Mental Health and Criminal Offences
  • Types of Disorder and Crime
  • Mental Health in Children and Crime 

Criminal Profiling & Intelligence

  • Criminal Profiling
  • Problems with Profiling
  • Intelligence
  • Intelligence Gathering 

Presenting Evidence in Court

  • Burden of Proof
  • Proof Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
  • Other Standards of Proof
  • Admissibility of Evidence
  • Evidence 

Ethical Issues 

  • Legislation vs Legislature
  • The Purpose of the Law
  • The Purpose of Ethics
  • Ethical Practice and Forensic Science
  • Forensic Practice and Ethics

This final part of the curriculum can make a real difference for you if you are planning to change careers upon completion of your criminal psychology course. 

Self-Paced With Full Support: Criminal Psychology Course

Although you will not have specific deadlines to meet, every part of the Careers Collectiv criminal psychology course will have an assessment to check your knowledge and skills – and at all times, you will be able to contact your tutor if you need further help. 

The tutors we choose are academics that are working successfully in their areas of expertise – we want to make sure that the skills and knowledge we are sharing with our students is relevant and practical for a career in real life. Whether you complete your course in a matter of weeks, or your schedule means you take much longer, you will have lifetime access to the course contents and 24/7 access to your tutor.

Whatever you want from your criminal psychology course, the Careers Collectiv approach will ensure you can get what you need.

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