Master of Science in Forensic Psychology (MSFP)
Explore the mind behind the crime with the 100% online Master of Science in Forensic Psychology (MSFP) degree program at Berkshire. No GRE/GMAT required. As a student, you’ll learn to use problem-solving and creative-thinking skills in forensic psychology while adhering to ethical standards.
Berkshire’s MS in Forensic Psychology degree program prepares you to apply psychological principles in forensic settings and equips you to work within the justice system, with law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and victim services departments. You’ll examine policy and justice, basics of risk and threat assessment and management, criminal behavior theories, and evaluation and treatment of offenders.
In this fully online program, you’ll be immersed in the psychology of criminality, so you’re prepared to succeed in this cutting-edge field. Through NU’s one-to-one learning model, you’ll be mentored by professionally experienced professors, all of whom hold doctoral degrees.
Course Sequence
PSY-5501 – Principles of Forensic Psychology
This course is an introduction to graduate studies in Forensic Psychology. This area of psychology involves the application of psychological principles to the justice system, which includes law enforcement, the courts, corrections, and victim services. Current models, theories, and research in Forensic Psychology will be explored. In addition, graduate-level skills, such as academic integrity, effective use of the University Library, comprehending complex scholarly texts and research articles, and use of APA form and style in professional communication are also introduced. Students will complete the course with a roadmap to navigate their way to completion of their educational aspirations.
PSY-5114 – Policy and Justice in Forensic Psychology
In this 8-week course you will examine the integration of forensic psychology and the legal system related to both criminal and civil law. Criminal justice theories and practice related to incarceration and the justice system will be explored as well as the impact of law on the practice of forensic psychology. In this course you will also review the history of psychology and law in public policy, ethical issues, relevant case law, victimology, and restorative justice. In addition, modern day social justice issues as they relate to the field of forensic psychology will be covered, such as psychology in law and the media.
PSY-5112 – Theories of Criminal Behavior
This 8 week course is focused on prominent theories of criminal behavior relevant to forensic psychology. Emphasis is placed on the practical application of theory and corresponding research across various types of criminal behavior. You will examine the interaction of individual, social, and environmental factors related to criminal involvement and implications for work within forensic settings. You will also explore the impact and relationship between the legal system and human behavior.
PSY-5107 – Research Design
Upon the completion of this course, you will develop an understanding of the strengths and limitations of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research design. As a result of this newfound knowledge, you will become a more educated and discerning consumer of the existing published research. In addition, you will be more informed on how to effectively and ethically use these different research methods when designing research studies.
PSY-6516 – Fundamentals of Risk and Threat Assessment
This 8-week course will explore the fundamentals of risk and threat assessment. This will include the history and evaluation of the field as well as an understanding of the current body of research and practice. You will review a broad scope of risk and threat assessment areas including the pathway to violence, threat assessment, and threat management, and risk related to sexual dangerousness, arson, violence, stalking and intimate partner violence, and workplace violence. You will develop a basic understanding of risk assessment in various contexts, assessment tools, and how they may be used in juvenile and adult population.
PSY-5110 – Applied Statistics
This course provides an introduction to descriptive statistics, hypothesis testing, confidence intervals, margin of error, and the visual representation of statistical data. The emphasis in this course is on developing a conceptual knowledge of how statistics are used in psychological research, applied psychology, and everyday life. The student will learn about many of the commonly used statistical tests in psychological research such as t-tests, ANOVA, correlation, regression, and chi-square are along with their interpretation. The application of these concepts to experimental psychological research, applied psychology, and everyday life will be explored in this class.
Specialization Course 1
PSY-5505 Diversity and Forensic Psychology (General)
PSY- 6512 Threat Assessment (Threat Assessment and Management)
Specialization Course 2
PSY-5113 Psychological Evaluation and Treatment in Correctional Settings (General)
PSY-6513 Threat Management (Threat Assessment and Management)
Specialization Course 3
PSY 6517 Investigative Psychology: Application of Offender Profiling and Characteristics (General)
PSY- 6514 Special Topics in Threat Assessment and Management (Threat Assessment and Management)
Specialization Course 4
PSY 6510 Capstone in Forensic Psychology OR PSY 6511 Internship In Forensic
Psychology (General) PSY 6515 Capstone in Threat Assessment and Management (Threat Assessment and Management)
Degree and Course Requirements
The Master of Science degree in Forensic Psychology requires a total of 30 credits for completion.
The University may accept a maximum of 12 semester credit hours in transfer toward the Master of Science in Forensic Psychology for graduate coursework completed at an external accredited college or university with a grade of “B” or better. See the Transfer Credit Policy for additional information. Graduation requirements for the master’s degree in psychology vary according to specialization selected.
All NU master’s degree programs have the following graduation requirements:
A minimum of 18 credit hours of graduate instruction must be completed through the University
Completion of subject area competency requirements for the graduate program
Elective courses must be relevant to the department’s graduate program
Cumulative grade point average of 3.0 (letter grade of “B”) or higher
Official documents on file for basis of admission: a conferred bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited academic institution
Official transcripts on file for all transfer credit hours accepted by the University
All financial obligations must be met before the student will be issued their complimentary diploma and/or degree posted transcript
Program Learning Outcomes
As a graduate of Berkshire’s Master of Science in Forensic Psychology (MSFP) degree program, you’ll be able to:
Analyze theories and principles in psychology
Explain usage of diagnostic and assessment tools
Examine diversity issues
Evaluate ethical behavior
Synthesize research
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