Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology
The Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology is designed for professionals or recent graduates who wish to further their education and gain skills that will help them obtain careers in the field of legal and forensic psychology. Students will be immersed in an interdisciplinary field devoted to advancing scholarship, testing theories, and engaging in public service relevant to individuals’ participation and experiences in legal contexts. For example, students will learn about interpretation of scientific evidence and psychological assessment, protection of child witnesses, the accuracy of human memory, assessment and treatment of juvenile offenders, and the role of human and organizational factors associated with miscarriages of justice.
Program Details
To achieve this goal, the program consists of six quarters (total of two years) and students are required to complete a 13-course curriculum (two online courses per quarter during the regular academic year and one mandatory week-long introductory in-residence course).
Course Requirements
| A. Complete: | |
| PSCI P200 | Introduction to Legal and Forensic Psychology |
| PSCI P202 | Data Analysis and Statistics |
| PSCI P208 | Research Methods |
| PSCI P215 | Psychology and Law |
| PSCI P222 | Forensic Assessment |
| PSCI P242 | Legal Reasoning and Jurisprudence |
| PSCI P253 | Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology Capstone |
| B. Complete six electives | |
In lieu of a thesis, students complete a capstone project, where they are required to synthesize the knowledge they obtained over the course of their studies and analyze an area where psychology can inform legal policy and/or practice. Graduates from the program will be well-prepared for careers as jury consultants, court liaisons, victims’ advocates, probation officers, law enforcement advocates, case managers, and program directors; able to secure employment in a wide range of settings, including correctional institutions, psychiatric facilities, community-based agencies, jury consulting agencies, mental health centers, child welfare agencies, social service agencies, and law enforcement; and, once employed, well-suited to advance in an array of related fields such that they ultimately become leaders in the field of law and psychology.
For more information, visit the Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology website.