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 DegreeMaster’s DegreeGraduate CertificatePh.D. or PsyD
I am interested in gaining entry-level experience in forensic psychologyx
I want to get started in my forensic psychology career before I pursue more educationx
I want to pursue a non-patient-facing role in psychologyxx
I want to pursue or switch to a niche psychology specialtyxx
I already have a psychology degree and want to gain specialized knowledgexx
I want to conduct research in psychologyxx
I want to become a licensed psychologist and treat patientsx
I want to work in academiax

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

5345 Atlanta Hwy
Montgomery, AL 36109-3390
(334) 272-5820

Arizona

Bachelor's Programs
University Drive and Mill Avenue
Tempe, AZ 85287
(855) 278-5080

3700 Willow Creek Road
Prescott, AZ 86301-3720
(928) 777-6600

Graduate Certificate Programs
3300 West Camelback Road
Phoenix, AZ 85017
(855) 428-5673

California

3500 Mountain Blvd
Oakland, CA 94619-1699
(510) 436-1000

501 Aldrich Hall
Irvine, CA 92697
(949) 824-5011

Colorado

Master's Programs
2199 S. University Blvd
Denver, CO 80208
(303) 871-2000

Connecticut

Bachelor's Programs
300 Boston Post Road
West Haven, CT 06516-1916
(203) 932-7000

Florida

150 West University Blvd
Melbourne, FL 32901-6975
(321) 674-8000

Master's ProgramsPhD Programs
3301 College Ave
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314-7796
(954) 262-7300

Certificate Programs
4000 Central Florida Blvd
Orlando, FL 32816
(407) 823-2000

Illinois

1 University Circle
Macomb, IL 61455
(309) 298-1414

Iowa

Bachelor's Programs
518 W Locust St
Davenport, IA 52803-2898
(563) 333-6000

Louisiana

156 Thomas Boyd Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803-2750
(225) 578-3202

Massachusetts

Bachelor's Programs
588 Longmeadow Street
Longmeadow, MA 01106
(413) 565-1000

577 Western Ave
Westfield, MA 01086-1630
(413) 572-5300

Minnesota

225 South 6th Street, 9th Floor
Minneapolis, MN 55402-3389
(866) 808-4080

Graduate Certificate Programs
1282 Concordia Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55104
(855) 641-2525

1282 Concordia Ave
Saint Paul, MN 55104-5494
(651) 641-8278

Missouri

Bachelor's Programs
650 Maryville University Drive
Saint Louis, MO 63141-7299
(800) 627-9855

901 S National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65897
(417) 836-5000

New Jersey

PhD ProgramsMaster's Programs
1000 River Rd
Teaneck, NJ 07666
(201) 692-2000

Master's Programs
1000 Morris Avenue
Union, NJ 07083
(908) 737-5326

Graduate Certificate Programs
1 Normal Ave
Montclair, NJ 07043
(973) 655-4000

Certificate Programs
101 Vera King Farris Drive
Galloway, NJ 08205-9441
(609) 652-1776

New York

Bachelor's ProgramsAccelerated Masters Programs
524 W 59th St
New York, NY 10019
(212) 237-8000

Certificate Programs
8000 Utopia Pky
Queens, NY 11439
(718) 990-6161

North Dakota

264 Centennial Drive, Stop 8193
Grand Forks, ND 58202-8193
(800) 225-5863

Ohio

Bachelor's Programs
1 John Carroll Boulevard
University Heights, OH 44118-4538
(888) 388-2977

Oklahoma

100 N University Dr
Edmond, OK 73034
(405) 974-2000

Pennsylvania

Certificate ProgramsGraduate Certificate Programs
1400 Montgomery Ave
Rosemont, PA 19010
(610) 527-0200

Rhode Island

South Carolina

103 Tom Trout Drive
Conway, SC 29526
(843) 347-3161

Bachelor's Programs
2100 College St
Newberry, SC 29108
(803) 276-5010

Texas

FM 1098 Road & University Drive
Prairie View, TX 77446
(936) 261-3311

3007 N. Ben Wilson
Victoria, TX 77901
(361) 570-4848

Vermont

Bachelor's Programs
62 Alumni Dr
Castleton, VT 05735
(802) 468-5611

Virginia

Bachelor's Programs
1971 University Blvd
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.

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