APA Accredited Forensic Psychology Graduate Programs

Overview of APA-Accredited Graduate Forensic Psychology Programs

The American Psychological Association (APA) is the main accreditation agency for graduate-level forensic psychology programs; however, it's important to note that the APA only accredits doctoral programs, including Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs, and does not accredit master's degree programs. If you want to attend a master's-level program in forensic psychology and want to be assured of its quality, you can look for schools that have a companion APA-accredited doctoral program. Both master's and doctoral degree programs in forensic psychology allow students to study psychology and mental health theories through the framework of the legal system and may prepare them for careers within the justice system. Some common program courses are outlined below.

Psychology and the Law

As forensic psychology is focused on the intersection of the legal and psychological fields, in your master's or doctoral degree program, you will likely take a course that examines the US legal system through the lens of forensic psychology. Some courses of this type center more on mental health issues in conjunction with the law, including the study of such topics as right to treatment, institutionalization, and commitment. Other courses explore the role of a forensic psychologist within the legal system as a fact and expert witness. Major US court cases that deal with mental health are also usually covered.

Assessment for Forensic Psychology

In a course on forensic psychology assessment, you will generally learn about specialized diagnostic theories, techniques, and methods that relate to criminal behavior and situations. You may learn specific assessment tools that will allow you to assess such things as criminal responsibility, risk of violence, mental competency, psychopathic tendencies, and personality. There might also be a focus on completing these assessments for criminal cases and court proceedings as well as on recent and historical case law that deals with forensic assessment.

Adult Forensic Psychology

Courses on adult forensic psychology focus solely on adults within the criminal and civil legal system. They cover methods for making psychological assessments that relate to competency to stand trial, insanity, domestic abuse, and dangerousness. Generally, you might also study how to present your findings through written reports and or testimony.

Juvenile Forensic Psychology

Similar to the above course, juvenile forensic psychology courses center on how to conduct psychological assessments and evaluations, except the focus is on juveniles and the juvenile justice system. Here, you may study such legal issues as neglect, child abuse, and child custody as well as how to evaluate other risks a child may face. Some courses also include the study of developmental psychology theories, while others cover ethical issues about juvenile forensic psychology.

Research Methodology

Graduate psychology programs often include a course or two on methods for designing and conducting research as well as collecting and analyzing research data. Students might focus on such topics as experimental, quasi-experimental, qualitative, and meta-analytic research methods. Often, these courses culminate in a student research project.

Admissions Requirements for APA-Accredited Graduate Forensic Psychology Programs

To apply to a forensic psychology master's degree program, you need to hold a bachelor's degree, and some programs require that your degree be in a social science, such as psychology, sociology, or criminal justice. Master's degree programs also generally require letters of recommendation and a personal statement or essay that explains why you want to pursue a career in forensic psychology.

PhD and PsyD forensic psychology programs also require that you hold at least a bachelor's degree (most programs do not require a master's degree), and it is strongly recommended that your undergraduate studies be in the field of psychology because the completion of prerequisite coursework in different areas of psychology is often required. Most doctoral programs also require that you submit GRE scores, a CV or resume, letters of recommendation, and a statement of purpose or essay.

Students wishing to study forensic psychology at the graduate level can choose from master's, PhD, and PsyD programs. However, the American Psychological Association (APA) only accredits doctoral programs, so it's often best to choose a master's degree program that is housed within a school that also has an APA-accredited PhD or PsyD program.