Top 10 Online Master's in Forensic Psychology for 2019

Between its Ft. Lauderdale, FL campus and distance education classes, NSU enrolls more than 24,000 students. Digital learners can pursue an online master’s degree in forensic psychology. In this 36-credit program, students explore the intersection of law and psychology. NSU’s master’s of science in forensic psychology is a non-clinical degree. It serves as the foundation for a doctoral program or advances a career in criminal justice, child welfare, or law enforcement.

The program includes 24 credits of core courses, including evaluation, methodology, and psychological research, and ethical concerns & multicultural issues in forensic psychology. Students select one of two nine-credit specialization tracks - forensic psychology in the legal system or forensic psychology for mental health workers, first responders, and disaster teams. Students choose between field experience or a thesis to conclude the program.

Located in Lynchburg, Virginia, Liberty is the nation’s largest non-profit, private university. The school offers a master’s of science in criminal justice in forensic psychology completely online. Students learn to apply psychological principles to criminal justice administration in this 36-hour program. Courses include fundamentals of forensic psychology and crisis intervention in law enforcement. The coursework is offered asynchronously and the program concludes with a mandatory 6-credit thesis.

This master’s in forensic psychology online allows digital learners to transfer in a maximum of 50% of their coursework. Public safety professionals may be eligible to receive up to 12 credits through prior learning assessment. Acceptance into the program requires a bachelor’s degree with a minimum GPA of 3.0. Liberty may admit students with less than a 3.0 on a case by case basis. It also offers preliminary acceptance to qualified students who have not yet finished their undergraduate degrees.

Students looking to advance their careers in psychology and law can enroll in UCI’s online master’s of legal and forensic psychology. The school considers applicants with a bachelor’s degree in any field, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and an interest in solving social problems. Cohorts begin in the fall and the spring, and students typically complete the 52-credit graduate degree in two years.

UCI’s forensic psychology online master’s program begins with an on-campus, accelerated 5-day course entitled introduction to legal and forensic psychology. All other coursework is offered online. Topics include forensic assessment, legal reasoning, and eyewitness testimony. Students conclude the program with a capstone project instead of a traditional thesis.

Boasting 15,000 students in more than 200 degree programs, UND offers a 35-credit online master’s degree in forensic psychology. Students in this program take two or more years to earn their degrees. They enroll in semester-long online courses and a one-week on-campus capstone course. For admission, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in a social or behavioral science field with a minimum 3.0 GPA or a 3.5 GPA in graduate-level coursework.

Digital learners complete required classes on their own schedule since the program is asynchronous. Students complete fieldwork in the local community, and credits earned at other institutions may transfer in. Online students in the master’s in forensic psychology program pay in-state tuition no matter their state of residence.

Students pursuing a career in criminal justice and psychology can enroll in SNHU’s master’s of science in psychology with concentration in forensic psychology. This 36-credit program invites applications from students with a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related field. The school requires students who do not have a background in psychology to complete courses in basic psychology, statistics, and research prior to beginning the program.

SNHU’s program requires a two-course sequence in research methods as well as a capstone project. Taking two courses per 10-week term, digital learners complete the entire master's in forensic psychology online in about 15 months. SNHU offers tuition discounts to U.S. service members and the spouses of those on active duty.