Key takeaways
- Several colleges and universities across the United States offer forensic psychology programs.
- Forensic psychology is a relatively new but growing field with abundant employment opportunities.
- It is a branch of psychology that applies psychological principles to the legal system and criminal justice setting.
- Criminal Psychology Uni or Forensic Psychology schools include Walden University, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, and Columbia Southern University.
- You can also pursue forensic and criminal psychology online programs and benefit from the ability to undertake an accelerated program.
- Online schools for criminal psychology and forensic psychology include Grand Canyon University and Maryville University.
Including psychology in the legal system brings a humane element to criminal trials. Some people might argue that criminals are not worthy of such consideration. However, not everyone is a cold-blooded murderer. Accidents happen, people act out of self-defense, and remorse over their actions, and multiple other factors should be taken into consideration. Considering the psychological aspect allows criminal justice professionals to do that and more.
This guide is for aspiring forensic psychologists. Here, we list some of the best forensic psychology programs in the USA. You will also get a glimpse of what you will study in the program and what a career in the field will look like for you.
What is forensic psychology?
Forensic psychology applies psychological principles and theories to criminal investigations and court proceedings. It is a field of psychology that includes criminology, victimology, forensic science, criminal justice administration, and the legal system. The field is vast, taking into account not just the mental health and condition of the criminal, but also the impact of a criminal activity on the victim, witnesses, and community as a whole, and that is where it differs from criminal psychology.
Criminal psychology is the study of the criminal mind, behavior, and the factors contributing to the development of criminal instincts. In comparison, forensic psychology is a broader field, and thus, forensic psychologists undertake many more responsibilities. Given that the two fields are interrelated, you can pursue a criminal psychology major in a Bachelor of Psychology degree.
You can even pursue a criminal psychology degree for a career in forensic psychology. However, forensic psychology programs are the ideal programs for aspiring forensic psychologists. Additionally, it is important to note that at the bachelor’s level, forensic psychology degrees or criminal psychology degrees online or on campus are not enough for a career as a forensic psychologist.
You will need not only a license to practice clinical psychology but also a master’s degree to become eligible for employment as a forensic psychologist. Thus, at the bachelor’s level, you can also pursue a criminal psychology degree online or on campus.
Related: What do forensic psychologists do?
What do forensic psychology programs entail?
Essentially, forensic psychology applies psychological principles and theories to cases, specifically those involving legal proceedings. Thus, the program combines multiple fields, namely:
- Psychology
- Criminal Justice
- Criminology
- Forensic Science
Here, you will undertake a blend of courses covering not only psychological theories and principles but also the legal system, justice administration, and human behavior. Through forensic psychology courses, you will develop a deeper understanding of how to apply the knowledge gained to legal proceedings and individual cases.
Forensic psychology classes you can expect to take
Whether you pursue a forensic psychology degree online or on campus, you will cover 120 – 135 credit hours to complete your program; the exact number varies by college. The credit hours are distributed between general education, core-specific, and elective courses. Even though the exact courses available to you will depend on the college and faculty expertise, here are some core-specific courses you may come across in forensic and criminal psychology programs.
- Psychology of Learning
- Theories of Personality
- Developmental Psychology
- Statistics for Organizational Analysis and Research
- Social Psychology
- Psychology of Adjustment
- Criminal Behavior and Victimology
Additionally, you will need to cover general education courses. These, too, vary by college but generally aim to build foundational skills needed across multiple professions. Moreover, you will develop skills such as research, analytical thinking, criminal profiling, and others, which can lead to some high-paying jobs in criminal justice. In fact, you can even join the FBI as a Special Agent employed in the Behavioral Analysis Unit for criminal profiling.
Related: What is the purpose of forensic psychology?
5 great forensic psychology programs you can explore in the USA
If you have decided to pursue forensic psychology as a profession, here are some forensic psychology degree programs online and on campus that you can explore. Make sure to explore the program curriculum and educational requirements of each option in detail before making a final decision.
Columbia Southern University
Columbia Southern University offers a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. The program features 120 credits and covers topics in psychology, forensics, and criminal justice. Here, you will get a chance to learn the practical applications of psychological principles and theories within the legal system. Moreover, you can expand your knowledge base by choosing relevant electives and taking forensic psychology classes.
Through the program curriculum, you will develop comprehensive knowledge of the field and its applications in the criminal justice system. Additionally, you will need to complete experiential learning requirements and secure an internship to get an idea of what the professional field entails. Additionally, you need to complete a capstone project, which can either be research or project-based; the choice is up to you.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Orange Beach, Alabama | 100% | 53.8% | $278/credit |
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
The BS Forensic Psychology program from Embry-Riddle University can prepare you for a successful career as a forensic psychologist. The program is specifically designed to train aspiring professionals with the skills and psychological training needed to excel in the field of forensic psychology. The program combines applied psychology, social and behavioral research, and forensic science.
Here, you will learn how to aid criminal investigations, enable informed legal decision-making, and help those affected by criminal activities (especially violent crime). Moreover, you can choose a minor area of study while pursuing forensic psychology courses, and prepare for a wide range of careers in law enforcement agencies, aviation, law firms, and so on.
Unfortunately, this program is not ideal for those looking for forensic psychology programs online.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Daytona Beach, Florida | 57.7% | 40.8% | $11,665 |
Walden University
Walden University offers a Forensic Psychology concentration in its Bachelor of Science in Psychology. The program focuses on enabling aspiring psychology professionals with the skills needed to make a positive impact on people’s lives. The Forensic Psychology specialization, in particular, will teach students what they need to know about the criminal justice system and how the application of psychology can make a positive impact in legal proceedings.
Here, you will get the chance to tailor your learning experience by choosing courses you are interested in from the list of psychology and general elective courses. Here, you can find criminal psychology courses, along with forensic psychology options. Choosing the right courses can make a great impact on your learning outcomes and help you get the most out of this criminal justice psychology degree.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Minneapolis, Minnesota | 100% | 32% | $350 per credit |
Grand Canyon University
Grand Canyon University offers one of the best online forensic psychology degrees in the United States. What makes the program even better is that those who wish to attend the online bachelor’s of forensic psychology can do so online, and those who wish to attend it on campus can do so the traditional way. The university offers both options.
However, a major advantage of pursuing forensic psychology degrees online is that you can learn at your own pace, and often that means learning faster. In this case, too, should you wish to, you can complete the entire range of forensic psychology courses online in half the time it would take to complete the program on campus.
An additional benefit of pursuing a forensic psychology program at GCU is that you will be encouraged to learn through an integrated learning environment. Here, an educated and well-guided discussion is prioritized just as highly as a theoretical class. Moreover, here you can also take criminal psychology courses online from the extensive list of available electives.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| Phoenix, Arizona | 77.9% | 47.2% | $17,450 |
Maryville University – St. Louis
Maryville University offers a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology/Criminal Justice that can be taken both online and on campus. On-campus students undertake the program at the St. Louis campus. Each student gets an iPad with access to over 200 learning apps, which can enhance their learning outcomes.
Moreover, they are put in touch with a career counselor to provide life coaching, which enables informed decision-making when it comes to career opportunities. So, if you are considering pursuing, let’s say, additional criminal psychology classes online, the coach can guide you as to how efficient that decision may prove to be.
Should you choose to pursue the online bachelor’s in forensic psychology, you will be able to take the accelerated track and finish your courses faster. Even when pursuing forensic psychology online, you will be able to access a life coach, and with their guidance, you can choose the right electives.
The program is designed to prepare students for the many in-demand career opportunities in the field of forensic psychology. Whether you want to go into the clinical side, pursue a desk job, or even go into research, you can do so with a forensic psychology degree from Maryville University.
| Location | Acceptance % | Graduation % | Tuition |
| St. Louis, Missouri | 94% | 73% | $24,766 |
Kickstart your career with the right forensic psychology programs!
Whether you want to go into criminology or criminal psychology, pursuing forensic psychology programs online and on campus is an excellent way to kickstart your career. While a bachelor of criminal psychology will not prepare you for a career in forensic psychology, a degree in the latter can prepare you for criminal psychology careers.
You may also be interested in:
If you want to take forensic psychology classes online or are searching for online colleges for criminal psychology, Grand Canyon University and Maryville University are excellent options. Other options for criminal psychology programs and forensic science programs are mentioned above. Do give the program curriculum a thorough read-through before making a decision.