Master in Arts in Forensic Psychology

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

Program Overview

The MA in Forensic Psychology is designed to educate and train individuals who are currently functioning, or wish to be trained to function, in fields that utilize the study and practice of forensic psychology. The curriculum provides for an understanding of theory, training, and practice of forensic psychology. The program emphasizes the development of students who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services to diverse clients and organizations. The program provides coursework in forensic psychology for application to law enforcement, legal and organizational consultation, and program analysis.

Online Experience

As a student at Argosy University, you will join one of the largest graduate student communities in the nation and enjoy a collegial, supportive academic environment. You will take classes online in our interactive, user-friendly classroom and learn from seasoned faculty members who provide personalized attention in a small class setting. Throughout your matriculation, we will support you with a student advisor, faculty mentor, career services, and an online campus community enabling you to connect with your global peers. You must also attend at least two in-person residencies that cement your classroom experience and prepare you for your dissertation.

Certification and Licensure

Please note while the courses and curriculum in the Masters in Forensic Psychology program are designed to satisfy prevailing state licensure and certification requirements in many states, students are responsible for checking with the educational administrator certification agency in the state in which they plan to work or teach to confirm the applicability and eligibility of program courses and degrees to meet local requirements prior to enrollment.

Admissions Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a nationally accredited institution approved and documented by the faculty and dean of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, or an appropriately certified foreign institution.

A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 hours of coursework (including graduate work).

A minimum written TOEFL® score of 550 (paper version), 213 (computer version), or 79 (Internet version) for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction.

Completion of an interview with a member of the program Admissions Committee.
The application process for admission into the MA in Forensic Psychology program requires the submission of material that will enable the Admissions Department to verify the applicant’s academic qualifications for enrollment in the program. Applicants to the program must submit the following materials by the application deadline:

Completed Application for Admission Form

Application fee (non-refundable, except in California)

Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession

Current résumé (or career summary)

Three completed Applicant Recommendation Forms

Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended

Exceptions to the Minimum Grade Point Average

Applicants with grade point averages lower than the stated program minimums may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in the statement of academic and professional goals, the career summary, and academic or professional letters of recommendation. Exceptions must be recommended by the Admissions Committee and program chair, and approved by the college dean. Exceptions must be justified, documented, signed, placed, and retained in the student’s academic file. Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on first semester probation. See "Exceptions to Admission Requirements" in section 5 of this catalog under "Admission Policies."

Graduation Requirements

To be eligible for graduation in the MA in Forensic Psychology program, students must meet the following requirements:

Satisfactory completion of 36 credit hours by the end of the fourth year of matriculation. The total credit hours must include:
- 30 credit hours of required core courses
- 6 credit hours of elective courses

Successful completion of the field placement or Special Topics Paper

Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination

Grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0)

Completion of all requirements within five years of matriculation into the program

A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration

Program Requirements

The MA in Forensic Psychology program requires the satisfactory completion of 36 semester credit hours distributed as follows:

30 credit hours in core courses

6 credit hours in elective courses

All courses are 3 semester credit hours in length.

Required Courses

Students are required to take 14 general education courses as follows:

FP6005 Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology

FP6010 Psychology and the Legal System

FP6015 Psychology of Criminal Behavior

FP6020 Individual Assessment

FP6030 Research and Evaluation

FP6035 Evaluation and Treatment of Offenders

FP6500 Professional and Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology

FP6525 Psychology of the Victim

FP6535 Consultation, Triage and Testimony in Forensic Psychology

FP6540 Forensic Psychology Seminar
(to include choice of Field Placement or Special Topics Paper)

Elective Requirements

Students are required to complete 2 elective course (6 credit hours).

FP6520 Forensic Psychological Assessment

FP6530 Forensic Program Development and Evaluation

FP6800 Police Psychology

FP6900 Substance Abuse Interventions

FP6901 Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment

FP6902 Issues in Psychological Profiling

FP6905 Correctional Psychology

FP6906 Interrogation and Interviewing

PC6000 Counseling Theory

PC6104 Counseling Skills

PC6505 Group Counseling

* Additional electives might be added. Not all electives are available at all campuses.

Forensic Psychology Seminar Requirements

This seminar (not for students in the Forensic Psychophysiology Track) will include students that are either completing field experience or who wish to conduct a review of a special topic in the field of forensic psychology. During the end of the first year of study, the student will determine with their advisor if they will select a Forensic Field Experience or a Special Topics Paper. Students completing the Special Topics Paper review an issue related to forensic psychology that becomes the focus of their contribution to the seminar. Field Experience students gain training in a forensic setting which becomes the focus of their contribution to the seminar.


				*Jim4Argosy* The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University



	Home \| The College of Education \| The American School of Professional Psychology at Argosy University \| The College of Business \| The College of Health Sciences \| Tuition and Fees


		Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology Program Overview The MA in Forensic Psychology is designed to educate and train individuals who are currently functioning, or wish to be trained to function, in fields that utilize the study and practice of forensic psychology. The curriculum provides for an understanding of theory, training, and practice of forensic psychology. The program emphasizes the development of students who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services to diverse clients and organizations. The program provides coursework in forensic psychology for application to law enforcement, legal and organizational consultation, and program analysis. Online Experience As a student at Argosy University, you will join one of the largest graduate student communities in the nation and enjoy a collegial, supportive academic environment. You will take classes online in our interactive, user-friendly classroom and learn from seasoned faculty members who provide personalized attention in a small class setting. Throughout your matriculation, we will support you with a student advisor, faculty mentor, career services, and an online campus community enabling you to connect with your global peers. You must also attend at least two in-person residencies that cement your classroom experience and prepare you for your dissertation. Certification and Licensure Please note while the courses and curriculum in the Masters in Forensic Psychology program are designed to satisfy prevailing state licensure and certification requirements in many states, students are responsible for checking with the educational administrator certification agency in the state in which they plan to work or teach to confirm the applicability and eligibility of program courses and degrees to meet local requirements prior to enrollment. Admissions Requirements A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a nationally accredited institution approved and documented by the faculty and dean of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, or an appropriately certified foreign institution. A grade point average of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 hours of coursework (including graduate work). A minimum written TOEFL® score of 550 (paper version), 213 (computer version), or 79 (Internet version) for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction. Completion of an interview with a member of the program Admissions Committee. The application process for admission into the MA in Forensic Psychology program requires the submission of material that will enable the Admissions Department to verify the applicant’s academic qualifications for enrollment in the program. Applicants to the program must submit the following materials by the application deadline: Completed Application for Admission Form Application fee (non-refundable, except in California) Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession Current résumé (or career summary) Three completed Applicant Recommendation Forms Official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended Exceptions to the Minimum Grade Point Average Applicants with grade point averages lower than the stated program minimums may be considered for admission with significant evidence of academic and professional potential demonstrated by the career and/or personal accomplishments indicated in the statement of academic and professional goals, the career summary, and academic or professional letters of recommendation. Exceptions must be recommended by the Admissions Committee and program chair, and approved by the college dean. Exceptions must be justified, documented, signed, placed, and retained in the student’s academic file. Students admitted on an exception basis will be admitted as regular students on first semester probation. See "Exceptions to Admission Requirements" in section 5 of this catalog under "Admission Policies." Graduation Requirements To be eligible for graduation in the MA in Forensic Psychology program, students must meet the following requirements: Satisfactory completion of 36 credit hours by the end of the fourth year of matriculation. The total credit hours must include: - 30 credit hours of required core courses - 6 credit hours of elective courses Successful completion of the field placement or Special Topics Paper Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination Grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) Completion of all requirements within five years of matriculation into the program A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration Program Requirements The MA in Forensic Psychology program requires the satisfactory completion of 36 semester credit hours distributed as follows: 30 credit hours in core courses 6 credit hours in elective courses All courses are 3 semester credit hours in length. Required Courses Students are required to take 14 general education courses as follows: FP6005 Maladaptive Behavior and Psychopathology FP6010 Psychology and the Legal System FP6015 Psychology of Criminal Behavior FP6020 Individual Assessment FP6030 Research and Evaluation FP6035 Evaluation and Treatment of Offenders FP6500 Professional and Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology FP6525 Psychology of the Victim FP6535 Consultation, Triage and Testimony in Forensic Psychology FP6540 Forensic Psychology Seminar (to include choice of Field Placement or Special Topics Paper) Elective Requirements Students are required to complete 2 elective course (6 credit hours). FP6520 Forensic Psychological Assessment FP6530 Forensic Program Development and Evaluation FP6800 Police Psychology FP6900 Substance Abuse Interventions FP6901 Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment FP6902 Issues in Psychological Profiling FP6905 Correctional Psychology FP6906 Interrogation and Interviewing PC6000 Counseling Theory PC6104 Counseling Skills PC6505 Group Counseling * Additional electives might be added. Not all electives are available at all campuses. Forensic Psychology Seminar Requirements This seminar (not for students in the Forensic Psychophysiology Track) will include students that are either completing field experience or who wish to conduct a review of a special topic in the field of forensic psychology. During the end of the first year of study, the student will determine with their advisor if they will select a Forensic Field Experience or a Special Topics Paper. Students completing the Special Topics Paper review an issue related to forensic psychology that becomes the focus of their contribution to the seminar. Field Experience students gain training in a forensic setting which becomes the focus of their contribution to the seminar.







		For more information contact: James Derdock Argosy University Assistant Director of Admissions 1400 Penn Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15222-4332 412-395-8092 Toll Free: 866-4ARGOSY X3092 jderdock@argosy.edu (Argosy official website: http://online.argosy.edu/online_education/)