Forensic and Legal Psychology M.A. Admissions Requirements

In making decisions for admission, the Forensic and Legal Psychology faculty take a holistic approach to application review.

Application Deadlines:

Fall 2023 enrollment only – February 15th, 2024

Application Requirements:

In addition to meeting the university wide requirements for graduate admission, applicants must submit:

  • Graduate Application
  • Professional résumé
  • Official transcripts of all postsecondary education including any transfer credits, if applicable. You may upload your transcripts directly into the application, or mail to 2807 N. Glebe Road, Arlington, VA 22207 or have your school send it directly to MU via email at gadmissi@marymount.edu
  • Two professional recommendations using the official recommendation form provided by the Office of Graduate Enrollment Services located in the application. At least one reference must be academic (unless the applicant has been out of school for 5 years, then an employer/supervisor will suffice). One of the two must be able to thoroughly assess the applicant’s writing ability.
  • Writing requirements:
    • Personal statement: In no more than one page, address the following: Why do you want to attend the Forensic and Legal Psychology M.A. program and what are your career goals?
    • Writing prompt: In no more than one page, address the following: The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, mistake, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
    • Writing sample: This can be either an academic paper or a professional work product (at least 2-3 pages minimum; no requirement regarding APA vs. MLA).
  • Please note: the GRE requirement has been waived for Fall 2023 applications.

Intelligence Studies Concentration Admission Requirements: Admitted forensic and legal psychology students, who are interested in completing the intelligence studies concentration, must meet the following requirements (after at least one semester in the program):

  • Declare their intent to complete the concentration by the spring semester of their first year in the program
  • Complete a minimum of nine (9) FLP credits per semester of their first year in the program
  • Complete FLP 570 with a B or higher
  • Have a minimum cumulative GPA 3.0 or advisor approval

Once these criteria are met, students will meet with their academic advisor to complete a Change of Program form in order to formally enter the Intelligence Studies Concentration.

Forensic and Legal Psychology Dual Degree/Counseling with Clinical Mental Health Specialization (M.A./M.A.) Admission Requirements:

To be admitted to this program, students are admitted to one program and must meet the application requirements for each program’s admissions requirements. Students who are admitted from the Forensic and Legal Psychology program can begin classes in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program only after completing 18 Forensic and Legal Psychology program credits and must plan to begin classes in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program in the fall semester immediately following being accepted into the program. Student who are admitted from the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program can begin classes in the Forensic and Legal Psychology program only after completing 40 Clinical Mental Health Counseling program credits.

Clinical Mental Health Counseling Admissions Requirements

Additional Requirements for International Students:

For university coursework completed outside the U.S., an official course-by-course evaluation of your transcript is required from an evaluation agency with NACES membership such as World Education Services, Inc. or Educational Credentials Evaluators.

Students for whom English is a second language must submit a recent official score from the TOEFL of 96, IELTS of 6.5, or PTE Academic exam of 58, or documentation of program completion at one of Marymount University’s language partners.

For more information about International Admissions Guidelines, please click here.

Please note: we do not admit students via conditional admission for forensic and legal psychology.

Admissions Coordinator Contact Information:

Taslima Islam

Associate Director of Graduate Admissions 
(703) 284-1505, tislam@marymount.edu