With 10 focused forensic psychology specializations such as Family Violence, Sex Offender Behavior, Cybercrimes, Terrorism, and Police Psychology, you can gain the expertise you need to drive positive change within the legal system.

Walden’s online Master of Science (MS) in Forensic Psychology degree can prepare you to apply new insights, skills, and perspectives to a variety of nonclinical roles in areas like cybercrimes, criminal investigative analysis and profiling, terrorism, and victim advocacy. Explore the biological, psychological, and social factors impacting criminal behavior. Evaluate psychological approaches and their effectiveness in dealing with offenders. Examine research methods used in forensic assessments, and learn to evaluate and enhance systems and programs aimed at forensic populations.

Why choose Walden for your master’s in forensic psychology?

Focus on your interests . In addition to this forensic psychology degree’s General Program, which provides a broad overview of the field, you can choose from 10 specializations to help you tailor your degree to your personal and professional interests.

Enjoy engaging coursework . Multimedia elements bring course content to life and allow you to understand criminal behavior on a deeper level. These include interactive case studies, podcasts, expert interviews, and our unique interactive learning community.

Enhance your real-world knowledge . Your capstone or in-person field experience takes you beyond television crime drama and into the true workings of the criminal justice system.

Learn from subject matter experts . Walden’s core faculty includes well-known authors and thought leaders in this exciting field.

Earn credits toward your PhD. Apply up to half of your coursework to our PhD in Psychology program, saving you time and money should you choose to pursue your doctorate.

By earning your online master’s in forensic psychology at Walden, you can develop a stronger understanding of specific criminal behavior—and develop the expertise needed to make a difference within the criminal justice system. You can also make a positive impact on communities as well as the first responders and professionals who serve those communities.

Highlights

Through Walden’s master’s in forensic psychology degree program, you can:

Gain familiarity with mental health issues surrounding many aspects of criminal behavior and applications within the criminal justice system.

Compare, contrast, and evaluate psychological approaches as you determine their effectiveness in dealing with criminal offenders and understanding threat assessments associated with offender behavior.

Increase your understanding of violence and threat assessment and translate this knowledge into practical skills that can help you mitigate offender risk in the field. Leverage the benefits of psychology to gain deeper insights into the criminal justice system as well as schools, colleges, businesses, and communities in order to create positive change.

Acquire focused expertise through relevant specializations that allow you to align your studies with your personal and professional interests.

Engage in exciting, interactive coursework that helps enhance your real-world knowledge of today’s criminal justice system.

Curriculum by Specializations

Walden’s MS in Forensic Psychology program offers a variety of specializations to help you meet your personal and professional goals. Learn more about each specialization and its related curriculum:

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of this forensic psychology degree program will be prepared to:

Analyze the role of psychology within the legal system. Promote social change through application of advanced psychological concepts and principles within forensic settings. Analyze the principles of research design as applied to forensic psychology research. Distinguish the professional roles and responsibilities that are unique to the practice of forensic psychology. Explain relevant ethical codes (e.g., the APA’s Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists) used in forensic work settings. Apply psychological theories relevant to criminal behavior in forensic psychology settings. Explain the assessment elements (psychological assessment, risk assessment, psychological reports) used within forensic psychology settings.

Career Impact

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 6.8 million people were on probation, in jail or prison, or on parole at the end of 2014—one in every 36 adults.1 At the same time, an estimated 4.7 million adults were under supervision in their community, either on probation or parole.2

Statistics like this point to a growing need for nonclinical professionals who understand these forensic populations and others, including substance abusers, sex offenders, victims of violence, at-risk youth, and military veterans.

The MS in Forensic Psychology can help prepare you to work in a variety of positions, including:

Case manager

Program director

Law enforcement, probation, or correctional officer

Court liaison

Expert witness Jury consultant

Law enforcement advocate

Researcher

Victim advocate

Career options may require additional experience, training, or other factors beyond the successful completion of this degree program.