Top 10 Forensic Psychology Masters Programs

California Baptist University offers one of the few dedicated master’s in forensic psychology programs in the country. And it’s very, very good. Students benefit from excellent faculty members and fascinating courses. CBU offers relatively affordable tuition, considering the quality of this program. Most students complete this 57-credit master’s degree program in two years.

Throughout the two-year forensic psychology master’s degree program, students take exciting courses, such as:

• Advanced Psychopathology and Criminality
• Criminal Profiling
• Qualitative Forensic Research Methods
• Advanced Criminal Law
• Advanced Social Psychology

Students also enroll in a three-part, nine-month forensic practicum. In this practicum, students receive practical experience in the field and gain skills they’ll use for the rest of their lives.

Students in this master’s in forensic psychology degree program choose between writing a thesis or taking a seven-hour comprehensive exam. California Baptist University encourages students to write a thesis paper: The research students do on their thesis will reflect and inform them in their later experience in postgraduate school and the field. 

California State Los Angeles is an excellent school. Being a public school, tuition rates are quite affordable, especially for in-state students. The school’s Master of Science in forensic psychology is the best program offered by a public university in the country. It focuses on coursework and a nine-month practicum in which students gain experience observing and practicing forensic psychology. 

Some notable forensic psychology courses in this program are:

• Principles of Research
• Seminar: Abnormal Psychology
• Analysis of Variance
• Advanced Statistical Methods
• Seminar: Developmental Psychology

All graduate students in this master’s in forensic psychology degree program must write a thesis based on original research. 

Are you interested in joining the ranks of one of the best graduate forensic psychology programs in the world? Applying students must submit:

• an online application
• a one-to-three-page statement of career goals
• three letters of recommendation
• unofficial transcripts from all universities attended
• GRE scores

Note that the GRE isn’t required—students may submit it, though, if they think it will strengthen their application. 

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is one of the most notable aspects of the City University of New York system. Graduates from this school have become leaders in all things criminal justice, from law enforcement to administration to forensic psychology. The John Jay College of Criminal Justice offers the best Master of Arts in forensic psychology in the Eastern United States.

The master’s in forensic psychology puts a significant emphasis on the intersection of social identity and peoples’ understanding of psychopathology. Some notable courses in this program are:

• Intermediate Statistics in the Social Sciences
• Clinical Interviewing and Assessment
• Objective Personality Assessment
• Social Science Evidence in Court

Students must write a thesis to graduate with their master’s in forensic psychology. Each student’s thesis must demonstrate their ability to:

• synthesize scholarly material
• critically analyze literature
• contribute to the field
• design a project with sound methodology
• demonstrate their aptitude for professional writing

Some schools for forensic psychology focus on the theoretical foundations and practices of forensic psychology. Holy Names University is one of these schools, but it also puts a special focus on the intersection of psychology, law, and social justice. Students here learn not just about the criminal justice system, but why crime happens and how systemic issues directly affect crime rates in the country. If you’re interested in the social justice side of forensic psychology, consider Holy Names University’s master’s in forensic psychology.

Some of the many notable courses in the master’s in forensic psychology at Holy Names University are:

• Foundations of Counseling: Models and Skills
• Forensic Psychology and the Law
• Psychology of Criminal Behavior

These courses focus on your role as a forensic psychologist and the background to the work you do.

Students who want to go above and beyond should consider the school’s dual Master’s of Arts in counseling and forensic psychology. This program is ideal for those who want to practice both professions and people who are torn between the two. 

Roger Williams University acknowledges that most of its students will continue on to earn a doctoral degree in forensic psychology and other psychology fields. Their master’s in forensic psychology prepares students for those programs and life beyond. If you want to attend a program that emphasizes academic achievement and education, consider Roger Williams University’s Master of Arts in forensic psychology.

This forensic psychology master’s degree program is 45 credits, and most students take two years to graduate. Students take around a dozen courses, complete a research practicum or directed research project, and write a thesis. Some classes students take are:

• Assessment in Criminal Law
• Adult Psychopathology
• Multicultural Competence in Psychological Practice
• Assessment in Criminal Law

Are you ready to apply to Roger Williams University? Let’s make sure you have the requirements. To be considered for admittance, forensic psychology master’s degree students must submit:

• official transcripts
• a statement of purpose
• GRE scores
• three letters of recommendation
• a completed application form

Forensic psychology is a complicated field. Sitting at the intersection of psychology and the legal system, gaining a full understanding of the field is challenging. But the University of North Dakota’s master’s degree in forensic psychology program does an excellent job of distilling the vital pieces of the puzzle. The master’s in forensic psychology program emphasizes psychological foundations, forensic-relevant knowledge, an understanding of our legal system, and the soft skills that forensic psychologists need to prosper.

Students at the University of North Dakota take excellent classes like:

• Behavior Pathology
• Forensic Assessment
• Cognitive Psychology
• Advanced Social Psychology
• Psychology and Law

These courses will give you the foundations you need to prosper in postgraduate school and beyond.

Forensic psychology master’s program graduates from the University of North Dakota have become successful, working in places like:

• prisons
• social service agencies
• probation services
• hospitals
• addiction services

Others have become acclaimed:

• researchers
• administrators
• law enforcers
• educators in the field

Are you at least as focused on criminal justice as forensic psychology? Perhaps you want to become a police detective, an investigator, or simply a police officer with an understanding of forensic psychology. If so, consider the University of New Haven’s Master of Science in criminal justice program with an emphasis on forensic psychology. One of the top forensic psychology schools in the country, the University of New Haven’s master’s program students have become successful working for public and private organizations as:

• police officers
• administrators
• forensic psychologists

Some notable courses that forensic psychology students in this program take are:

• Research Methods in Criminal Justice
• Theories of Criminal Behavior
• Mental Health Law
• Forensic Assessment
• Abnormal Psychology in Forensic Populations

These classes will equally prepare you for a future in forensic psychology and law enforcement.

To gain admission to this program, students must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. If students don’t have an academic background in criminal justice, they may have to take one additional class. Additionally, forensic psychology master’s students must submit:

• GRE scores
• letters of recommendation
• transcripts
• online application

Are you a high school student or somebody who hasn’t yet started undergraduate school? Or perhaps you have started, but you realize the program you’re in doesn’t suit your needs? If so, you might be in luck. Fairleigh Dickinson University offers an excellent dual Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts program in forensic psychology. This six-year program is long and challenging, but it rewards students well. 

Students take courses like:

• Experimental Psychology
• Juvenile Justice and Delinquency
• Theories of Personality
• Social Psychological Applications
• Criminal Practice in Forensic Contexts
• Ethical Issues in Forensic Practice

There is a clear line between the program’s undergraduate and graduate components. Students in the graduate school must also complete an externship in the field.

As one of the best forensic psychology programs in the country, it is highly selective. If you’re applying straight from high school, you must have a high school GPA of 3.5 or higher. Additionally, you must submit:

• official transcripts
• two letters of recommendation
• a personal statement expressing your academic and professional goals 

Do organizations like the CIA, NSA, U.S. Department of Justice, and FBI sound like ideal employers to you? Or are they organizations you otherwise greatly respect? Marymount University’s Master of Arts program in forensic and legal psychology allows students to:

• intern with these organizations
• visit their campuses
• attend lectures by the leaders of these organizations

Some notable courses in the forensic and legal psychology program are:

• Psychology of Criminal Behavior
• Wrongful Convictions: Case Analysis
• Issues in the American Legal System
• Psychology of Law Enforcement
• Victims of Interpersonal Violence

Students also complete a project and internship in this graduate program, which requires meticulous research and experience in the field.

To gain admission to this program, students must first submit a professional resume, official transcripts, the online graduate application, GRE scores, two letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. Marymount University is selective in its admissions, but with excellent academic and professional experience, there’s a good chance the university will invite you to be a student. 

The University of Denver is one of the better private liberal arts universities in the nation. It’s by no means the most affordable option on this list, but the small class sizes, excellent academics, and experienced faculty members make up for the cost. If you don’t mind paying a pretty penny for a fantastic education, consider the University of Denver’s Master of Arts in forensic psychology program.

Some courses students in this program take are:

• Psychology
• Public Policy, and Advocacy
• Psychopathology
• Evaluation and Treatment of the Adult Offender
• Criminal Evaluations

These classes offer students insight into the foundational theories of the field and the practices that forensic psychologists use every day. 

To gain admission to this program, students must have a bachelor’s from a regionally accredited college with a 2.5 or higher GPA. Additionally, applying students must provide:

• letters of recommendation
• meet the prerequisite requirement of the program
• complete the online application