Forensic & Legal Psychology M.A. Program Requirements

Total Credits: 39

Required courses

24 credits

  • FLP 501 Bases of Psychopathology
  • FLP 502 Research Methods 1
  • FLP 511 Legal and Investigative Psychology
  • FLP 512 Issues in the American Legal System 2
  • FLP 527 Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
  • FLP 531 Psychology of Criminal Behavior
  • FLP 540 Forensic Assessment 3
  • FLP 599 Internship: Forensic and Legal Psychology 4, 5, 6

Five (5) elective courses from the following7

15 credits

  • CE 508 Crisis Intervention 8
  • CE 509 Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention 8
  • CE 517 Neuropsychological Issues, Treatments, and Assessments
  • FLP 503 Statistics 9
  • FLP 515 The Death Penalty and Its Mitigation
  • FLP 520 Wrongful Convictions: Case Analysis
  • FLP 526 Field Experience in Criminal Court 10
  • FLP 533 Psychology of Sexual Violence and Exploitation
  • FLP 534 Substance Use and Abuse: Legal and Treatment Responses
  • FLP 536 Victims of Interpersonal Violence
  • FLP 552 Psychology of Law Enforcement
  • FLP 555 Individual Profiling: International and Political
  • FLP 556 Group and Country Profiling: International and Political
  • FLP 559 Behavioral Criminology
  • FLP 560 Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence
  • FLP 563 Psychology and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender
  • FLP 566 Child Victimization
  • FLP 567 Juvenile Justice
  • FLP 570 The Intelligence Community: Theory, Process, and Challenges
  • FLP 571 Intelligence Analysis I
  • FLP 572 Intelligence Analysis II 11, 12
  • FLP 573 Counterintelligence 11
  • FLP 574 Contemporary Terrorism and the U.S. Response 11
  • FLP 575 Intelligence-Led Policing: Applications and Methods 11
  • FLP 598 Project: Forensic and Legal Psychology

Intelligence Studies Concentration

Students pursuing the Intelligence Studies Concentration must complete the following five (5) courses, instead of choosing five (5) electives from above:

  • FLP 570 The Intelligence Community: Theory, Process, and Challenges
  • FLP 571 Intelligence Analysis I
  • FLP 572 Intelligence Analysis II 12
  • FLP 573 Counterintelligence

One of the following:

  • FLP 555 Individual Profiling: International and Political
  • FLP 556 Group and Country Profiling: International and Political
  • FLP 574 Contemporary Terrorism and the U.S. Response
  • FLP 575 Intelligence-Led Policing: Applications and Methods
  • IT 577 Human Considerations in Cybersecurity

Course Clusters

While the following are not declarable concentrations, students who are interested in focusing on any of the following areas are encouraged to take the associated courses.

Legal and Policy Issues:

  • FLP 515 The Death Penalty and Its Mitigation
  • FLP 520 Wrongful Convictions: Case Analysis
  • FLP 526 Field Experience in Criminal Court

Crime and Victims:

  • FLP 533 Psychology of Sexual Violence and Exploitation
  • FLP 534 Substance Use and Abuse: Legal and Treatment Responses
  • FLP 536 Victims of Interpersonal Violence
  • FLP 566 Child Victimization

Law Enforcement and Investigative Issues:

  • FLP 552 Psychology of Law Enforcement
  • FLP 555 Individual Profiling: International and Political
  • FLP 556 Group and Country Profiling: International and Political
  • FLP 559 Behavioral Criminology

Children and Juveniles:

  • FLP 560 Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence
  • FLP 563 Psychology and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender
  • FLP 566 Child Victimization
  • FLP 567 Juvenile Justice

1 Students considering the M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology and M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling need to be aware that, per CACREP requirements, FLP 502 is not an approved course for the CMHC degree. Instead, CE 500 is required.
2 Prerequisite: 18 program credits (FLP 511 is highly recommended).
3 Prerequisite OR Corequisite: FLP 501 (or CE 501 if originally a CMHC student).
4 Prerequisite: 18 program credits.
5 Students in the Intelligence Studies Concentration must complete an internship in the Intelligence Community or at a private sector company that supports the Intelligence Community. Students who take FLP 503 should complete a research-focused internship.
6 In order to enroll in FLP 599, students must have completed the internship application process. See the Forensic and Legal Psychology Student Handbook for details.
7 With prior approval of the advisor, graduate credit for other elective courses can be applied toward the student’s degree.
8 Students considering the Forensic and Legal Psychology with Clinical Mental Health Counseling option (M.A./M.A.) should select CE 508 and CE 509 as electives, as well as be aware of the requirement for the dual degree option. Approval from the School of Counseling director is required in order to enroll in CE courses.
9 Recommended for students interested in research-oriented careers and/or doctoral studies.
10 Prerequisite: 15 program credits.
11 Priority given to students in the Intelligence Studies Concentration.
12 Prerequisite: FLP 571.

***The full-time course load is nine credits per semester. Students who wish to take more than nine credits in a given semester must obtain approval from their academic advisor.***