Law and Psychology, PhD
Interested in how law and psychology connect? Explore why people behave as they do and how those behaviors interact with the legal system. Gain advanced training in research, theory and practice that prepares you to shape justice, policy and society.
Quick facts
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
The Doctor of Philosophy program in law and psychology takes a broad interdisciplinary approach to train you to be part of a new generation of scholars. The program combines rigorous training in the law and psychology field with training in advanced research methodology and statistics, criminological theory, and contextual training in other subfields of psychology.
The goal is for you to use this knowledge to tackle the many important but understudied areas within the legal system that are in desperate need of empirical psychological research.
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.
84 credit hours, a written comprehensive exam, an oral comprehensive exam, a prospectus and a dissertation
Required Core (6 credit hours) Required Research and Methodologies Sequence (18 credit hours) Advanced Statistics Course (3 credit hours) Substantive Courses (9 credit hours) Theory Courses (6 credit hours) Legal Systems and Principles Course (3 credit hours) Professional Development (3 credit hours) Electives (24 credit hours) Culminating Experience (12 credit hours) Additional Curriculum Information
PSY 515 Quantitative Analysis I (3)
PSY 516 Quantitative Analysis II (3)
PSY 500 Research Methods (3)
PSY 792 Research (15)
Students select one from the following:
BDS 511 Behavioral Data Science I (3)
BDS 512 Behavioral Data Science II (3)
PSY 517 Quantitative Analysis III (Multivariate) (3)
PSY 533 Structural Equation Modeling (3)
PSY 537 Longitudinal Growth Modeling (3)
PSY 539 Multilevel Models for Psychological Research (3)
Students select three from the following:
PSY 598 Special Topics: Psychology of Forensic Decision Making (3)
PSY 621 Seminar on Psychology of Criminal Evidence and Investigation (3)
PSY 623 Seminar on Psychology of Legal Decisions and Processes (3)
PSY 625 Seminar on Mental Health and the Law (3)
PSY 627 Seminar on Child Well-being Across Legal Systems (3)
Students select two from the following:
PSY 506 Advanced Cognitive Science (3)
PSY 550 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
PSY 577 Advanced Developmental Psychology (3)
PSY 691 Seminar: Theory and Foundations of Intervention Science (3)
PSY 691 Seminar: Biopsychosocial Influences and the Law (3)
Students select one from the following:
CRJ 513 Seminar in Courts and Sentencing (3)
CRJ 537 Criminal Procedure of Investigations for Social and Forensic Scientists (3)
CRJ 538 Criminal Law and Social Control (3)
SIF 598 Special Topics: Legal Reasoning and Principles for Behavioral and Forensic Scientists (3)
PSY 691 Seminar: Professional and Ethical Issues in Law and Psychology (1)
PSY 691 Seminar: Pedagogy and Practice: Law and Psychology (1)
PSY 691 Seminar: Preparing for the Job Market (1)
PSY 799 Dissertation (12)
When approved by the student's supervisory committee and Graduate College, this program allows 30 credit hours from a previously awarded master's degree to be used for this degree.
What you'll learn
The following learning outcomes highlight some of the knowledge and skills you'll develop to support your future success.
- Plan original research grounded in the legal and psychological literature.
- Execute an original, independent scholarly contribution to the field of law and psychology.
- Employ professional and ethical research principles in their scholarly work.
Plan original research grounded in the legal and psychological literature. 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 are eligible to apply to the program if they 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 GRE General test scores are optional and recommended only if the applicant believe they will strengthen the application. GRE subject tests are not required. ASU does not accept the GRE® General Test at-home edition.
An applicant whose native language is not English must provide proof of English proficiency regardless of their current residency.
Application deadlines
| Session | Modality | Deadline | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Session A/C | In Person | 12/15 | Final* |
*A final deadline means that all applications and application materials must be received by Admission Services by the deadline date. Applications that are incomplete may not be considered after the final deadline. Applications that are submitted past the final deadline may not be considered.
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
Graduates are sought-after for their distinct skill sets that combine the complexities of law and justice with human behavior. Careers can be pursued in government, academia or private enterprise.
Career examples include:
- academic researcher or instructor as a college or university professor
- criminal justice data analyst
- government or nonprofit researcher and evaluator
- legal policy researcher and evaluator
- legal or trial consultant
- mental health policy analyst or consultant
- postdoctoral research fellow
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
|
FAB N101
NCGradAdvising@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.
