Online Forensic Psychology Degrees and Programs

Forensic psychology involves the study and understanding of how the criminal mind operates. That means coming into contact with the legal system for the purpose of interacting with people who break the law. A reasonable comprehension of the law, forensics, and criminology is needed in order to become an effective forensic psychologist.
Choosing the Right Online Forensic Psychology Degree Program
The pathway to becoming a forensic psychologist requires anywhere from 10 to 15 years of education that begins with a bachelor’s degree and culminates with a Ph.D or Psy.D. Your undergraduate and post-graduate education can be in any type of psychology, as there are few degree programs for forensic psychology. However, if becoming a forensic psychologist is something you aspire to, you should focus your undergraduate and post-graduate education in the area as much as possible for the best possible educational outcome. Online programs in forensic psychology and general psychology are often available to help you complete your required education in a convenient manner.
As you look into online and traditional schools that offer forensic psychology degree programs, make sure the programs are accredited by The American Psychological Association (APA) at the doctoral level, the Psychological Clinical Science Accreditation System (PCSAS), and the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) certify undergraduate psychology degree programs. Accreditation ensures that you receive an education that’s in line with the commonly accepted standards of psychology, so you can become an effective practitioner.
Bachelor's Degree
A bachelor’s degree is the first step toward becoming a forensic psychologist. A student has the option to take a general psychology degree program or attend a program that has a concentration in forensic psychology. This helps prepare the student for earning their master’s degree in forensic psychology.
A bachelor’s degree in psychology takes an average of four years to complete and prepares the student to gain work experience under supervision, although it doesn’t allow for licensure. Online programs are very common at the bachelor’s degree level.
Master's Degree
Earning an online master’s degree in forensic psychology builds on what the student learned during their undergraduate studies as well as informs them of how to conduct themselves as a psychologist. The student that earns their master’s degree can obtain licensure from the state board and enter into practice as a counselor in a related field. However, the master’s degree does not qualify the student to work as a licensed forensic psychologist. It does allow a graduate to sit for licensing exams and work in the criminal justice system or in related areas. Students can choose to attend an online program where available.
Graduate Certificate
An online graduate certificate in forensic psychology certificate is aimed at students who have already earned their master’s or doctoral degree in psychology or a related field. The certificate typically requires 18 credit hours for completion and offers different educational tracks, many offered online. Some of the tracks include:
- Psychological Assessment and Forensic Psychology
- Family Violence and Victims
- Research in Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Counseling and Psychotherapy
An online graduate certificate builds upon a student’s existing knowledge of psychology and qualifies them to find employment in a role that relies on forensic psychology.
Doctorate
The doctorate degree enables you to become a licensed psychologist and work in a setting of your choice. You can earn a Ph.D. or a Psy.D., and work as an expert witness, find employment in a private law firm as a staff member, work for the government, in a correctional institution, and in clinical settings. Some doctorate coursework is available online, though there may be some required in-person courses and projects as well.
Which Forensic Psychology Degree is Right for Me?
Bachelor’s Degree | Master’s Degree | Graduate Certificate | Ph.D. or PsyD | |
I am interested in gaining entry-level experience in forensic psychology | x | |||
I want to get started in my forensic psychology career before I pursue more education | x | |||
I want to pursue a non-patient-facing role in psychology | x | x | ||
I want to pursue or switch to a niche psychology specialty | x | x | ||
I already have a psychology degree and want to gain specialized knowledge | x | x | ||
I want to conduct research in psychology | x | x | ||
I want to become a licensed psychologist and treat patients | x | |||
I want to work in academia | x |
Forensic Psychology Degree Program Curriculum
The curriculum for a forensic psychology degree program depends on the degree level you happen to be taking. For example, a bachelor’s degree program with a concentration in forensic psychology requires an average of 12 credit hours in classes that relate to the area of study. Online and traditional in-person forensic psychology coursework is often identical. They can include courses such as:
- Forensic Science
- The Psychology of Violence
- Law and Psychology
- Eyewitness Memory and Testimony
- Children, Psychology, and Law
A master’s of forensic psychology degree program may include classes such as:
- Psychological Issues in Dependency and Law Cases
- Assessment of Psychological Injury for Legal Cases
- Understanding Psychological Reports and Expert Witness Testimony
- Behavioral Criminology
The curriculum for a Psy.D. or Ph.D. in forensic psychology may include:
- Personality Assessment
- Human Development
- Psychological Assessment and Diagnosis
- Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
- Abnormal Behavior
Bachelor's: 120 to 130 credits
Master's: 30 to 48 credits
Graduate Certificate: 16 credits
Doctorate: 96 credits for Ph.D. and 131 credit hours for Psy.D.
Forensic Psychology Degree Program Clinical Requirements
In order to earn a Psy.D. or Ph.D. and gain licensure as a forensic psychologist, a student has to complete at least 1,000 clinical hours over the course of five years. Some degree programs require as many as 1,500 hours of supervised field experience. Some of the hours are completed in a clinical setting on-campus, while other hours are completed off-campus in real-life settings. This is the case even if you choose to enroll in an online program, though clinical requirements are often able to be arranged in the student’s local area.
List of Forensic Psychology Degree Programs
Looking for an online or campus-based forensic psychology degree program near you? Browse our state-by-state school listings below.
Jump to Your State Listings
Alabama
Faulkner University
Montgomery, AL 36109-3390
(334) 272-5820
Arizona
Arizona State University Campus Immersion
Tempe, AZ 85287
(855) 278-5080
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Prescott
Prescott, AZ 86301-3720
(928) 777-6600
Grand Canyon University
Phoenix, AZ 85017
(855) 428-5673
California
Holy Names University
Oakland, CA 94619-1699
(510) 436-1000
University of California-Irvine
Irvine, CA 92697
(949) 824-5011
Colorado
University of Denver
- MA Forensic Psychology Campus
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-2000
Connecticut
University of New Haven
- Forensic Psychology Campus
West Haven, CT 06516-1916
(203) 932-7000
Florida
Florida Institute of Technology-Online
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
(321) 674-8000
Nova Southeastern University
- Forensic Psychology Campus
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796
(954) 262-7300
University of Central Florida
Orlando, FL 32816
(407) 823-2000
Illinois
The Chicago School of Professional Psychology at Chicago
Chicago, IL 60654
(312) 329-6600
Western Illinois University
Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 298-1414
Iowa
Saint Ambrose University
Davenport, IA 52803-2898
(563) 333-6000
Louisiana
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2750
(225) 578-3202
Massachusetts
Bay Path University
Longmeadow, MA 01106
(413) 565-1000
Westfield State University
Westfield, MA 01086-1630
(413) 572-5300
Minnesota
Capella University
Minneapolis, MN 55402-3389
(866) 808-4080
Concordia University St. Paul
St. Paul, MN 55104
(855) 641-2525
Concordia University-Saint Paul
Saint Paul, MN 55104-5494
(651) 641-8278
Walden University
- PhD in Forensic Psychology Criminal Justice Self-Designed specialization Online
- PhD in Forensic Psychology Crisis Leadership Management specialization Online
- PhD in Forensic Psychology Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology specialization Online
- PhD in Forensic Psychology Self-Designed specialization Online
- PhD in Forensic Psychology Victimology specialization Online
Minneapolis, MN 55401
(866) 492-5336
Missouri
Maryville University of Saint Louis
Saint Louis, MO 63141-7299
(800) 627-9855
Missouri State University-Springfield
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5000
New Jersey
Fairleigh Dickinson University-Metropolitan Campus
- Forensic Psychology MA Campus
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2000
Kean University
- Forensic Psychology (M.A.) Campus
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-5326
Montclair State University
Montclair, NJ 07043
(973) 655-4000
Stockton University
Galloway, NJ 08205-9441
(609) 652-1776
New York
CUNY John Jay College of Criminal Justice
New York, NY 10019
(212) 237-8000
St. John's University-New York
Queens, NY 11439
(718) 990-6161
North Dakota
University of North Dakota
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8193
(800) 225-5863
Ohio
John Carroll University
- Psychology: Forensic Campus
University Heights, OH 44118-4538
(888) 388-2977
Oklahoma
University of Central Oklahoma
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 974-2000
Pennsylvania
Rosemont College
Rosemont, PA 19010
(610) 527-0200
Rhode Island
Roger Williams University
Bristol, RI 02809-2921
(401) 253-1040
South Carolina
Coastal Carolina University
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 347-3161
Newberry College
- Psychology Major Campus
Newberry, SC 29108
(803) 276-5010
Texas
Prairie View A & M University
Prairie View, TX 77446
(936) 261-3311
University of Houston-Victoria
Victoria, TX 77901
(361) 570-4848
Vermont
Castleton University
- Forensic Psychology Campus
Castleton, VT 05735
(802) 468-5611
Virginia
Liberty University
Lynchburg, VA 24515
(434) 582-2000
Are we missing your school's program or need to update information listed? Please contact us so we can make the necessary changes.