Criminal psychologists work to understand criminal behavior by looking at the background, mental health, and motivations of people who commit crimes.
Most criminal psychologists earn degrees in forensic psychology. Several colleges and universities in the U.S. offer these programs.
Keep reading to discover some of the best graduate programs for future criminal psychologists.
Top Criminal Psychology Graduate Programs
There are many excellent graduate programs for criminal or forensic psychology in the United States. Below, we've listed a few of our top choices.
1. California Baptist University
California Baptist University is a private Baptist university in Riverside, CA. It offers forensic psychology degrees at both the master's and doctoral levels.
The Master of Arts in forensic psychology is a two-year program that prepares students to offer critical psychological services to the criminal justice system. Students take courses like:
- Advanced Psychopathology and Criminality
- Biological Bases of Behavior
- Criminal Profiling
- Theories and Perspectives of Criminal Behavior
Students can also pursue a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology and choose the forensic psychology track. The PsyD program is a five-year program and requires clinical practicums and internships.
2. Fairleigh Dickinson University
Fairleigh Dickinson University is a private university in New Jersey. It offers master's and doctoral degrees in forensic psychology.
The Master of Arts in forensic psychology takes a year and a half to complete. It includes courses such as:
- Clinical Practice in Forensic Contexts
- Evaluating Criminal Responsibility and Competency to Stand Trial
- Psychological Basis of Criminal Behavior
- Psychopathology
The degree requires 300 hours of clinical practice and a forensic psychology externship. Students in this program are guaranteed an interview for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in clinical psychology.
The PhD in clinical psychology offers a forensic track. It includes courses like Criminal Responsibility and Competency and Forensic Assessment and Prediction.
Students in the doctoral program are required to complete a dissertation. The school offers many research opportunities in forensic psychology.
3. John Jay College of Criminal Justice
The John Jay College of Criminal Justice is a public university in New York City. It's part of the City University of New York system.
The college offers a Master of Arts in forensic psychology. This is a 42-credit program that includes courses such as:
- Criminal Behavior
- Criminal Psychological Assessment
- Personality Profiles of the Homicidal Offender
- Theories of Personality and Counseling
Students can progress to the doctoral level with two degree options: Clinical Psychology and Psychology and Law.
The PhD in clinical psychology prepares students to provide psychological services and conduct cutting-edge research. It requires 90 credits, a dissertation, and one-year internship.
The doctorate in psychology and law is run like a training program. It's meant to train students in:
- basic psychological theory
- the application of psychological theories to legal and forensic contexts
- how individuals' identities influence their experience within those contexts
4. University of Denver
The University of Denver is a private university at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. It offers master's and doctorate degrees in forensic psychology.
The Master of Arts in forensic psychology blends psychological theory, knowledge, and skills with the civil and criminal justice system.
It includes courses such as Criminal Evaluations and Psychology, Public Policy, and Advocacy. Students also get hands-on learning through field placements and internships.
Students can also earn a Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in clinical psychology with a specialization in forensic psychology.
This is a 135-credit program that covers multiple facets of psychology and also includes internships and field placements.
5. University of North Dakota
The University of North Dakota is a public research university in Grand Forks, North Dakota. It offers two master's degrees in forensic psychology.
The Master of Arts in forensic psychology is a 30-credit online program. It takes two years to complete and includes courses such as:
- Behavior Pathology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Eyewitness Testimony and Memory
- Psychology and Law
The Master of Science in forensic psychology is also a 30-credit, two-year program, but is offered only on campus. It requires the completion of a thesis and includes courses like:
- Advanced Social Psychology
- Behavior Pathology
- Forensic Assessment
- Multivariate Statistics for Psychology
The University of North Dakota also offers doctorate programs in clinical psychology, but there is no specific specialization for forensic psychology.
FAQs About Criminal Psychology Graduate Programs
Find the answers to frequently asked questions about criminal psychology graduate programs.
How Long Are Criminal Psychology Graduate Programs?
The length of your criminal psychology program will depend on what degree you're earning and the particular program you choose.
Master's degree programs typically take between one and three years. Doctorate programs can range from four to seven years.
What's the Difference Between a Degree in Criminal Psychology and a Degree in Forensic Psychology?
Degrees in criminal psychology are very rare. Most criminal psychologists hold degrees in forensic psychology.
Forensic psychology is the broad application of psychology to the criminal justice system and the law. Criminal psychology focuses specifically on the motivations and mental health of criminals.
Students can choose electives and rotation sites within their forensic psychology program that allow them to pursue a criminal psychology focus.
What Degree Do I Need to Become a Criminal Psychologist?
To work as a professional criminal psychologist, you must hold a doctorate degree in psychology.
However, there is a variety of careers you can have with a master's in forensic psychology, such as those in juvenile courts or correctional settings.
Find Criminal Psychology Graduate Programs
Those interested in pursuing a career in criminal psychology can do so through a graduate program in forensic psychology. Check out the programs above to get started today.
