Forensic Psychology, MS
Advance your understanding of psychology and law. Study criminal behavior, psychological assessment and the justice system while gaining research experience that prepares you for career growth or further graduate study in work that bridges science and justice.
Quick facts
Locations
Credits
Additional facts
STEM-OPT extension eligible: No
International students (F1), this program is not eligible for the STEM-OPT extension.
Accreditation
Accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
Degree description
In the Master of Science program in forensic psychology, you gain a strong foundation in psychological theory and research as well as legal decision-making and criminological theory, and you develop a basic understanding of forensic assessment. You grow an understanding of mental health issues and human behavior with respect to crime and the criminal justice and legal systems.
The program curriculum involves specialized coursework in criminal law, criminal behavior, the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders, and legal decision-making. You learn about the various roles psychologists play in the legal system, helping you discover roles you might wish to pursue through careers in mental health or criminal justice, or through additional graduate training.
The program does not make you license-eligible for clinical practice, but you will be well prepared to pursue advanced degrees and continuing education programs in counseling and related fields.
Curriculum
This graduate degree includes courses focused on a specialized topic, so you can advance your skills for further professional opportunities. Explore all courses below.
33 credit hours - course-based master's
Required Core (15 credit hours) Electives (12 credit hours) Statistics and Methods (3 credit hours) Criminal Justice System Courses (3 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
PSY 544 Advanced Psychology of Criminal Investigation (3)
PSY 545 Advanced Legal Psychology (3)
PSY 546 Advanced Forensic Psychology (3)
PSY 547 Advanced Correctional Psychology (3)
PSY 573 Psychopathology (3)
PSY 514 Fundamentals of Forensic Psychology Research (3)
Choose one of the following:
CRJ 501 Seminar in Criminal Justice (3)
CRJ 513 Seminar in Courts and Sentencing (3)
This master's degree is a course-based program.
Admission requirements
Here are the admission and application details
All students are required to meet general university admission requirements.
U.S. applicants (opens in new window) | International applicants (opens in new window) | English proficiency (opens in new window)
Applicants must fulfill the requirements of both the Graduate College and the New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences. Applicants must have earned a bachelor's or master's degree in psychology, criminal justice, social science or a closely related field from a regionally accredited institution. Applicants must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in the last 60 hours of their first bachelor's degree program or a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 (scale is 4.00 = "A") in an applicable master's degree program. All applicants must submit: Additional Application Information Applicants must provide evidence of successful completion of an undergraduate or graduate social science statistics and research methods course. The statement of purpose should be a concise and well-written response that describes the applicant's academic or career goals and how a master's degree in forensic psychology will help them achieve those goals. The statement should also address which forensic psychology area is of interest and why. It is preferred that the letters of recommendation come from faculty members who know the applicant's work well; if these are not available, recommendations should be from individuals in supervisory or professional roles.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Explore expanded study opportunities
This program allows you to obtain both a bachelor's and a master's degree in as little as five years. As a high-achieving student, accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree programs are designed for you to share undergraduate coursework with graduate coursework to accelerate completion of your master's degree. These programs feature the same high-quality curriculum taught by ASU's world-renowned faculty.
This program is offered as an accelerated bachelor's plus master's degree with:
Approval to pursue the accelerated master's is typically granted during the junior year of your bachelor's degree program. If you are interested, you can learn more about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
ASU offers formally approved and coordinated degree programs at the graduate degree level. These programs include a designated number of approved credit hours that are shared by two degrees. For most concurrent degree programs, you apply once through the ASU graduate application. However, if you want to pursue a concurrent program that includes a law degree, you must submit both the ASU graduate application and the law school application.
This degree is also offered as a concurrent program with the following:
Paying for college
Use our calculator to estimate your full-time or part-time tuition fees for this program prior to any financial aid. Keep in mind that most of our students recieve financial aid, which can reduce out-of-pocket costs.
Get an estimateCareer opportunities
The MS program in forensic psychology opens the door to a wide variety of careers. The field of forensic psychology offers career options as varied as consulting on public policy and working within the criminal justice system. Many forensic psychologists work in the court system to help lawyers, judges and juries better understand the motivations behind criminal behavior. Some graduates choose this path to advocate on behalf of underserved populations, including African Americans, Latinos, those from lower economic areas, children or those with mental illness. Additionally, the program provides a foundation for graduates pursuing doctoral degrees, which are required to become a forensic psychologist, and continuing education programs in psychology, criminology and related fields.
Career examples include:
- correctional counselor
- crime analyst
- forensic research psychologist
- forensic social worker
- investigative journalist
- jail supervisor
- jury consultant
- police consultant
- probation officer
- victim advocate
Contact information
Use the contact information below to get in touch if you're a current student or have general questions.
Prospective students should fill out the Request for Information form.
School of Interdisciplinary Forensics
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FAB N101
NCGradOnline@asu.edu
602-543-3000
Admission deadlines
Frequently asked questions about degree programs
Accelerated programs allow students the opportunity to expedite the completion of their degree.
Accelerated master's
These programs allow students to accelerate their studies to earn a bachelor's plus a master's degree in as few as five years (for some programs).
Each program has requirements students must meet to be eligible for consideration. Students typically receive approval to pursue the accelerated master's during the junior year of their bachelor's degree program. Interested students can learn about eligibility requirements and how to apply.
Concurrent degrees allow students to pursue their own personal or professional interests, earn two distinct degrees and receive two diplomas. To add a concurrent degree to your existing degree, work with your academic advisor.
Joint programs, or jointly conferred degrees, are offered by more than one college and provide opportunities for students to take advantage of the academic strengths of two academic units. Upon graduation, students are awarded one degree and one diploma conferred by two colleges.
ASU adds new programs to Degree Search frequently. Come back often and look for the "New Programs" option.
ASU Online offers programs in an entirely online format with multiple enrollment sessions throughout the year. See https://asuonline.asu.edu/ for more information.
The Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP) provides a reduced tuition rate to non-resident graduate students who qualify. Visit the WRGP/WICHE webpage for more information: https://graduate.asu.edu/wiche.
