Best Master's in Forensic Psychology Online

Arizona State University Digital Immersion offers 48 master's programs in an online format, including the master of science in forensic psychology.

The program boasts robust academic and career learning outcomes. Enrollees can access a supportive online learning community and institutional resources geared toward student success. Degree-seekers can pursue research opportunities and internship opportunities with the help of their faculty advisor and professors. Students complete foundational courses as well as advanced classes relevant to the field.

To determine their eligibility and discuss funding opportunities, learners can speak with the financial aid office.

National University offers an online master of science in forensic psychology. The private, nonprofit, four-year institution's forensic psychology program often appeals to working professionals and busy students who want to learn at their own pace.

Enrollees with an interest in forensic psychology careers benefit from the rigorous program curriculum. The program requires foundational and advanced courses. Students can work with their academic advisor to adjust their courses to suit their goals. Online enrollees gain access to institutional resources and can communicate with faculty and staff through the virtual learning platform. Degree-seekers can often collaborate with faculty on research, pursue internships, and explore other experiential learning activities relevant to their field.

Prospective applicants can speak with the financial aid office to discuss funding opportunities. Eligible learners can benefit from scholarships, fellowships, and federal financial aid. Other opportunities, such as employer-sponsored tuition remission, may be available in some cases.

Looking to advance your career without sacrificing your schedule? Consider enrolling in Walden University's online master's in forensic psychology program. The program provides students interested in the forensic psychology field with a top-tier education and supportive online learning community.

Enrollees and faculty connect through a virtual classroom environment. The curriculum, which consists of foundational and advanced coursework, equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed in a forensic psychology career. Students can modify their coursework in consultation with faculty and academic advisors.

The college connects learners with numerous internal and external funding opportunities, such as scholarships and fellowships. Additionally, the school's accreditation status allows degree-seekers access to federal financial aid.

Saint Leo University's online master's in criminal justice - forensic science may appeal to students interested in advancing in the forensic psychology field. In addition to supporting in-person study on its main campus, the private, nonprofit school offers 21 online master's programs to 9,089 remote learners. The forensic science program boasts an impressive curriculum and connects enrollees with a robust online community and supportive institutional resources.

Degree-seekers participate in a virtual classroom environment where they interact with peers, faculty, and staff. Students complete core classes to build baseline knowledge of the field and later pursue advanced coursework and forensic psychology-specific electives. Students can work with faculty members and academic advisors to ensure their course schedule complements their career goals.

Depending on their eligibility, students can apply for internal and external funding opportunities to defray educational costs. Students at the accredited institution can discuss federal aid opportunities with the office of financial aid.

The University of North Dakota's online master's programs attract learners from all walks of life. The institution delivers 67 master's programs, 21 of which run online. Students seeking a flexible education in forensic psychology often find the institution's master of arts in forensic psychology especially attractive.

The program prepares students for careers in the field through rigorous academic studies. The program curriculum includes foundational classes and advanced coursework that students can customize in consultation with their academic advisor.

Prior to enrollment, learners discuss application requirements with the admissions office. Of all applicants, 87% are accepted to the school. The forensic psychology program's online community is a supportive place for students to engage with colleagues, faculty, and institutional resources such as career services. The college reports the average cost per credit is $726. Degree-seekers can pursue internal and external funding opportunities to ease the cost of education.

The Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology (MLPF) is offered as a collaboration of the University of California, Irvine’s Departments of Psychological Science and Criminology, Law and Society. It is a structured, two-year program that is offered entirely online, with the exception of a one-week, required orientation class given on campus in the first quarter of instruction, offered in the fall. Students take six courses each academic year. There are two online courses per quarter. The MLFP combines instruction in psychology, forensics, and the law. It does not prepare graduates for licensure in counseling. Graduates are prepared for careers such as jury consultants, expert witnesses, court liaisons, and advocates for victims or law enforcement. Classes include Children and the Law, Forensic Assessment, and Clinical Interviewing and Treatment. A capstone project is required at the end of the program. Program applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Other application requirements include three recommendation letters, a statement of purpose, a statement that describes personal history, and a resume. GRE scores are not required.

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Net Price: $13,944

Arizona State University Online Master of Science in Forensic Psychology, as the name implies, can be completed entirely off-campus and at the student’s pace. There are 11 courses totaling 33 semester credit hours. Each class lasts 7.5 weeks. The degree is offered through the ASU Program on Law and Behavioral Science. However, the degree doesn’t prepare students for professional clinical practice and doesn’t lead to licensing as a psychologist. Core classes include Psychopathology and Advanced Legal Psychology, and electives include Quantitative Analysis and Statistics & Methods. A capstone project pulls everything together and takes three credit hours. Program applicants must have a bachelor’s or master’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, social science or a related discipline. A cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 is necessary. Application materials include a personal statement and two recommendation letters.

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Net Price: $12,947

The Forensic Psychology MA program at the University of North Dakota consists of 30 semester credit hours and can be completed in two years entirely online while taking classes part-time. The master of arts degree gives graduates the tools to apply psychology principles to civil and criminal justice systems. Graduates can fill roles such as assisting lawyers in jury selection and trial preparation. Online students can watch recorded lectures and get remote-learning support such as tutoring, academic advising, and tech support. Core courses include Behavior Pathology, and Psychology and Law. Students can elect to do supervised field placement in a real-world clinical or community setting. They also can choose to perform an intensive study in areas such as interrogation, eyewitness testimony, and psychology in the classroom. Program applicants should have an undergraduate GPA of at least 3.0, plus a bachelor’s degree in behavioral or social science major that includes psychology instruction. Other application items include a personal statement and three recommendation letters. GRE scores are not required.

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Net Price: $14,478

The MS in Forensic Psychology from Nova Southeastern University is designed to give graduates the tools needed to apply psychology skills in criminal justice settings, social service and child welfare agencies, national security offices, prisons, and treatment facilities. The program consists of 36 semester credit hours, which include two specialization tracks and a three-credit capstone that is either a thesis or a field experience. Many of the students who enter this program have professional backgrounds in law, mental health care or other health areas. Others use it as a stepping stone to a doctoral program. The program hosts webinars that provide information about the degree and how to apply for it. The degree does not prepare graduates for licensing in psychology; that requires a doctoral degree. In addition to a bachelor’s degree and some undergraduate psychology prerequisites, applicants need to provide two recommendation letters and a statement of professional goals.

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Net Price: $26,740

Oklahoma State University offers an MS in Forensic Sciences: Forensic Psychology degree that consists of 39 credit hours of coursework. It’s a two year program; the first year can be completed entirely online, while the second year has a few on-campus laboratory courses. Graduates can qualify for careers in local, state, or national law enforcement agencies. The degree can be wrapped up with a thesis or capstone project, depending on the student’s academic and professional goals. The program is not designed to prepare graduates for licensing as clinical or counseling psychologists. Students in the degree must maintain a 3.0 GPA. It is recommended that program applicants have a bachelor’s degree in related fields such as psychology or sociology. GRE test scores are required, as are three recommendation letters and a statement of purpose.

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Net Price: $14,513

Liberty University says it can take about 1.5 years to complete its Master of Science in Criminal Justice degree with a Forensic Psychology Cognate. It is offered through Liberty’s Helms School of Government. The degree can lead to careers as a crime investigator, intelligence analyst, or instructor in criminal justice and law enforcement. The program consists of 36 credit hours, and Liberty will accept half of that as transferred hours. Students can choose a thesis or non-thesis track. Classes include Fundamentals of Forensic Psychology, Crisis Intervention in Law Enforcement, and Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Offenders. Liberty notes that, as a nonprofit university, it has not increased tuition costs for this degree in four years. Program applicants must have a bachelor’s degree with a GPA of at least 3.0.

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Net Price: $26,954

The University of Louisiana at Monroe offers a Master of Science in Psychology that includes a Forensic Track. The degree can be completed entirely online and consists of 32 credit hours. A thesis is not required, but students who plan to pursue a doctorate in psychology typically complete one. Classes in the forensic track include Psychopathology, Sociology of Law, and Counseling in Criminal Justice. Program applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and a minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.0. Undergraduate work must include at least nine semester credit hours of psychology-based courses, including three hours of a statistics course. A lower undergraduate GPA could be accepted if GRE scores compensate for it.

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Net Price: $10,747

University of Central Florida’s Forensic Science MS degree is offered through the school’s chemistry department. Graduates can qualify for careers in crime scene investigation along with numerous forensics-based disciplines in areas such as toxicology, statistics, and pathology. Two paths - thesis and non-thesis - largely define the program. The thesis track consists of 32 credit hours and is research-based coursework. Students can choose concentrations in Analysis or Biochemistry. The non-thesis track consists of 34 credit hours and is designed for existing forensic analysts with at least three years of professional experience. The track includes a capstone project. Overall, program applicants must have a bachelor’s degree in forensic science or another physical science, such as chemistry, physics, or chemical engineering. Application materials include three recommendation letters and a statement of purpose.

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Net Price: $15,341

The University of Houston-Victoria places its graduate students in organizations throughout the Texas Gulf Coast community for practicum experience in its MA Forensic Psychology program. Many students go on to have careers at the practicum sites after graduation, UHV says. There are two practicums in the master’s program, which consists of 63 credit hours. One practicum focuses on treatment and the other on case assessment. Each requires a minimum of 150 clock hours of supervised work. The master’s program has 21 credit hours of core courses and 33 hours in specialization study. The program prepares graduates for licensing as counselors or psychological associates. Applicants must have completed undergraduate classes in statistics, research methods, and abnormal psychology. In addition to a bachelor’s degree, applicants must provide an essay about reasons for applying and career goals, a letter of recommendation, and GRE scores.

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Net Price: $11,305

The Master’s Degree in Forensic Science at the University of Florida is offered through the university’s College of Pharmacy. The full description of the degree is a Master of Science in Pharmacy with a major in Pharmaceutical Sciences and a concentration in Forensic Science. Graduates of the program work in crime labs, medical examiners’ offices, and hospitals, or they teach at a high school. The program consists of 18 credit hours of core courses and 14 hours of electives that cover numerous areas of forensic science. Florida will accept a maximum of 15 transfer credit hours to the master’s program. Elective courses include Forensic Genetics, Fingerprint Detection and Identification, and Blood Distribution and Splatter. Program applicants should have a bachelor’s degree in a science subject from an accredited institution, earned with a 3.0 GPA or better. GRE scores are also required.

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Net Price: $12,527