Though TV may have overly glamorized it, there's no doubt that forensic psychology is an important part of the criminal justice process. Forensic psychologists perform the duties of clinical psychology -- observing, interpreting, assessing, experimenting with and recording how people relate to each other and their environments -- specifically as it pertains to crime. These professionals assess those who are involved with or commit crimes, usually reporting their findings in criminal proceedings. They often must evaluate defendants' competency and give testimony in court.
This area of psychology requires specialized postgraduate education, usually at the doctoral level. According to the American Psychological Association, unlike psychology -- which is usually an undergraduate major -- the practice of forensic psychology typically requires either a PhD or PsyD degree in the specialty, along with at least two years of supervised professional experience. The benefit of online degree programs for forensic psychology is that its convenience enables professionals working in the field who are interested in pursuing this specialization to do so from anywhere or while working full time.
To help guide the search for the programs that best meet students' interests and needs, we've used data from the National Center for Education Statistics' Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) to rank the best online colleges for this subject. Weighing factors such as number and types of related degrees offered, tuition, graduation data and more, we've developed this ranking of the 10 best online colleges for forensic psychology.
Visit our methodologies page to learn more about how we use official data to evaluate schools.
This public, comprehensive university emphasizes public affairs as part of its mission, incorporating ethical leadership, cultural competence and community engagement -- an emphasis that ties nicely to the profession of psychology. The school offers multiple fully online bachelor's and graduate degree programs, including the following:
Additionally, the school offers undergraduate minors in criminology/criminal justice, psychology and sociology. Completed in conjunction with a criminology or psychology degree program, these minors can be an extra source of skills and learning for students pursuing forensic psychology. Students should note that not all of MSU's online programs can be taken in all states.
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901 S. National,ODU prides itself on being "Virginia's forward-focused metropolitan research university." It boasts academic facilities, extensive research and collaboration activities, and a variety of student resources, including career development and computing spaces.
Old Dominion has been delivering online education for more than 30 years, using the same faculty and coursework both online and on campus. Synchronous and asynchronous courses are both available, and some courses can even be delivered on portable media, such as DVD or CD-ROM. Though ODU doesn't offer graduate-level degree programs specific to forensic psychology, it does offer online bachelor's degree programs in criminal justice, cybercrime (interdisciplinary) and psychology, as well minors in criminal justice and psychology, all of which can serve as a good starting place for the field.
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5115 Hampton Blvd.,Founded in 1969, UTPB is the only university named after a geological formation, and this institution surrounded by an oil field is a strong player in the fields of science and technology. This extends to its online offerings, which are robust and include degrees provided in collaboration with other UT System's online consortium of schools.
Those interested in pursuing careers in forensic psychology won't be able to complete online graduate training in this specialty at UTPB, but the university's online undergraduate programs can be an excellent starting place. They include:
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4901 E. University,This university, which was founded in 1865, is committed to making higher education accessible for all, and its mission calls for diversity, equity and inclusion. This extends to a high number of online offerings, as well as plenty of help for their students: dedicated academic advisors, online student service concierges to help with such issues as time management and career exploration, online tutoring and IT support.
Students looking to embark on forensic psychology careers can receive undergraduate and master's-level education relevant to the subject through the following online programs:
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210 N. 7th St.,Known as the Normal School at Barre when it was founded in 1839 by Horace Mann, Westfield State U makes our list for its commitment to inclusiveness and accessibility for all students. The school prides itself on this, which it says dates back 175 years, when it became the first coed college to offer education without regard for race, creed or economic status.
Westfield State's fully online programs for undergraduates are degree completion programs. They're designed for students who have completed their first two years of study and wish to earn their bachelor's degrees. For future forensic psychologists, the online bachelor's degree completion programs in criminal justice, psychology or sociology can serve as a good stepping stone towards graduate work in this specialty. Additionally, while majoring in one, you may choose to minor in the other; online minors are available in psychology and sociology.
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577 Western Ave.,This small liberal arts college in Mississippi is affiliated with the Mississippi Baptist Convention, and it emphasizes servant leadership and service to church and community as part of its identity statement. Though its online offerings are few, BMC offers many of its core courses online, as well as three fully online degree programs -- two of which aspiring forensic psychologists may appreciate:
Courses in these programs are eight weeks long each, and faculty are professing Christians who teach from a Christian worldview. Though BMC doesn't offer the graduate training forensic psychologists typically would need, these programs can build a solid foundation for future study.
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201 W. Main St.,UMSL is one of only two institutions in Missouri to receive the National Security Agency/ Department of Homeland Security designation as a National Center of Academic Excellence in Cyber Defense Education. This is due to USML's ample involvement in the field of crime detection, which may be appealing to students who are interested in forensic psychology.
The school has developed numerous programs that are designed for working adults, with formats from night and weekend classes, to hybrid and fully online programs. Among its offerings are a Bachelor of Science in criminology and criminal justice degree program (available fully online or hybridized) and either a B.A. or B.S. in psychology (available in hybrid format).
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One University Blvd.,This liberal arts university in Central Florida is the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the state. It prides itself on fostering a sense of community and mutual respect, and as such it welcomes students of all faiths and walks of life. All students at Saint Leo take courses in religion and philosophy, with no Christian or Catholic-specific requirements.
Saint Leo's online offerings for those who wish to pursue careers in forensic psychology are generous indeed. While many of the schools on our list feature just one or two related programs, Saint Leo offers an entire list of relevant online degree programs, many of which offer pertinent specializations in the bargain.
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33701 State Road 52,Despite its size, scope and standing as a national research university, the nonprofit University of Massachusetts-Lowell boasts small student-to-teacher ratios and a focus on real-world, hands-on learning within the community.
It's also home to one of the largest collections of online and continuing education programs in New England. Not even taking the hybrid programs into account, students interested in forensic psychology may benefit from online programs such as:
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1 University Ave.,In addition to a wide range of online courses available in criminal justice and psychology (including abnormal psychology), the University of North Dakota offers a well-rounded foundation for those who plan to pursue careers in forensic psychology. Students can earn an online bachelor's degree in psychology and extend into this specialization with an online master's degree in forensic psychology. Though the program is conducted online, the master's degree does require a one-week, on-campus capstone component.
Online courses at UND feature even more flexibility than most. Some specific courses are known as "Enroll Anytime" courses, and -- as the name suggests -- students can enroll in them at any time of the year and take up to nine months from the start date to complete them. It is important to note that not all courses can be taken in this format, and "Enroll Anytime" courses do NOT qualify for financial aid.
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264 Centennial Drive,What should a student expect to experience in the course of an online degree program for forensic psychology? Continue reading this section for information on the coursework that students in these programs may be required to complete, as well as the skills they can learn as they work on their degrees.
Because of the tremendous responsibility forensic psychologists have, the scope and coverage of their education is extremely important. Although one online college for forensic psychology may have a very different curriculum from another, the following are some examples of the course topics students are likely to find in their programs.
In order to manage their responsibilities effectively, forensic psychologists must develop several skills during their education. The following are some of the skills that can be most useful to these professionals once they are in the field.
The field of forensic psychology can be used in many different ways to help professionals work in concert in order to solve crimes. The following are some examples of forensic psychology careers, including information on the daily job duties of professionals and the education needed to earn each position.
In order to land a job as a forensic science technician, candidates need to complete a bachelor's degree in a natural science. In some cases, employers may favor candidates who have earned a master's degree in a specific forensic discipline.
In order to be successful in this career, professionals must have strong communication, leadership, critical thinking, listening and negotiation skills. These important skills are often refined by participating in a training academy, where detectives and investigators can learn about local, state and federal laws; firearm use; patrol techniques; and emergency response methods.
For this career, professionals are generally required to earn a graduate degree. In some cases, forensic psychologists may be required obtain a state license.