What college major(s) should i enroll in to become an FBI Criminal Profiler?

Question

Thats my -ultimate- career goal, any tips? Thanks!

Basket Weaving is a major? Awesome! I'll be sure to look into that.

Brandon- Great answer, very helpful, thanks alot!

Your on top for best answer so far ;)

Answer 1

Honestly, all the self-proclaimed "criminal profilers" that come from academia suck.

Your typical Ph.D. is a researcher and a teacher, but usually not a good "profiler" and hardly knows anything about criminal investigation.

If you want any chance of becoming a "profiler," it would be doing homicide/sex crime investigations with your local police agency as a detective. No, there aren't really positions titled "criminal profiler" (except in a few places like the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit and in the Virginia State Police). Most places just don't have jobs with that job title.

Anyway, a good degree would be in the social sciences, like psychology, sociology, or forensics. Good experience would be working as a patrol officer, then becoming a detective (detectives aren't hired as detectives, they are hired as patrol officers). As you gain knowledge of investigative techniques, you will be better able to "profile" individuals.

Most of the time, profiling isn't a science, it is more of an investigator's experience and intuition, but then the great lord threw all these psychologists with Ph.D.'s and highly prestigious degrees from these highly prestigious universities into the mix and they try to make it more of a science with statistics that determine the probability that an offender has certain characteristics and whatnot.

Bottom line, mix in both worlds. Get a Master's or Doctorate in psychology/forensics and get plenty of real-world experience. Then over time, become an expert in your field and start labeling yourself as a "criminal profiler."

But don't expect to have that as a job title. You will most likely need to settle for professor, detective, clinical/counseling psychologist, special agent, or so on.

Good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 2

Psychology/Behavioral Science

Answer 3

I suggest majoring in Psychology or Socialology and minor in Criminal Justice

Answer 4

What an interesting career choice! Criminal justice is the major you want. Oh and keep in shape, FBI boot camp is tough. Good luck!

Answer 5

Psychology
Criminology
Forensic Sciences
Law Enforcement

ect.

Answer 6

Philosophy, psychology, logic, criminal justice.

Answer 7

major in history or basket weaving.

Answer 8

try psychology and law enforcement. i know you have to do some major schooling though.

Answer 9

forensic psychology