California State University in Los Angeles offers a master's degree in Forensic Psychology. The program usually lasts 4 years and encompasses classroom and practical training. The program includes 52 units of course work and a 9-month practicum where the student works hands-on in a real forensic setting. This practicum helps build practical skills as well as allows students to explore different aspects and specialties of the field. Students learn forensic theory as well as effective research, assessment and treatment methods that prepare them for the industry. Students can choose a more focused educational path once they complete the initial core classes; these areas include rape crisis, family services, law enforcement or prison issues. For program consideration, students must have an undergraduate degree in psychology and a grade point average of 3.0 or higher.
Located in west central Vermont, Castleton State was established in 1787 and today offers a master's program for students interested in Forensic Psychology. This particular program focuses on four specific areas of the industry: police psychology, correctional psychology, psychology and law and criminal behavior. The program emphasizes research and trains students to apply their skills of analyzing and interpreting knowledge for success. In addition to the school's core curriculum, psychology students must complete 18 credit hours of degree-specific work, including courses in juvenile delinquency, criminal behavior and police psychology.
The Forensic Psychology program at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology is a doctoral program that requires 104 credit hours for graduation. Students at the school spend time in the classroom, lab and gaining hands-on experience at The Chicago School Forensic Center, a home for psychological services that includes victim relations, prisoner transition and parent-child interaction preparation. During their time in the classroom, students are taught psychological theory as well as law and criminology. One of the hallmarks of the education is the mock trial, which includes practicing lawyers and judges, and a hostage negotiation simulation. The program is somewhat flexible and allows students who complete core coursework to target their career path to a child and family-centered curriculum or one that focuses more on adult care.
The Forensic Psychology master's degree was first offered at the University of Denver in 1999. The program provides students with an education in psychological and legal aspects of the industry, with a focus on practical experience in both areas. Students must complete the school's core curriculum as well as degree-specific courses in criminal behavior, profiling and crisis intervention. Students are also required to complete lab and practicum time prior to graduation. Students can continue on to doctoral programs or complete their licensing and work in any one of several settings, including victim assistance, juvenile or adult detention, police consults or trial consulting.