Forensic Psychology Requirements

Look over requirements needed to earn your M.A. in Forensic Psychology from UND. 

Admission Requirements for Forensic Psychology 

Include a Personal Statement; a 250-300 word essay describing professional background and reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in forensic psychology.

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology

Admission Requirements

The applicant must meet the School of Graduate Studies’ current minimum general admission requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

  1. A baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a behavioral or social science major allied with psychology, i.e., psychology, criminal justice, sociology, counseling or social work.
  2. A cumulative undergraduate grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or above, or a graduate degree GPA of 3.50.
  3. Submission of a curriculum vitae and a personal statement describing:
    1. academic and professional accomplishments;
    2. reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in Forensic Psychology; and
    3. any additional information the applicant would like the admission committee to know.
  4. Submission of three letters of recommendation from those who can comment on your academic abilities or ability to understand complex issues and think critically, e.g. former faculty member or work supervisor.
  5. Satisfy the School of Graduate Studies’ English Language Proficiency requirements as published in the graduate catalog.

Degree Requirements

Students seeking the Master of Science or Master of Arts degree at the University of North Dakota must satisfy all general requirements set forth by the School of Graduate Studies as well as particular requirements set forth by the Forensic Psychology program.

The general degree requirements for the Master of Arts degree in the Forensic Psychology include a minimum of 30 credits of coursework:

Required Core Courses (21 credits):

PSYC 524Psychology and Law3
PSYC 528Forensic Psychology Capstone (summer, immediately prior to graduation, 2 week course, one week of which is on campus)3
PSYC 541Advanced Univariate Statistics3
PSYC 560Advanced Social Psychology3
PSYC 575Behavior Pathology3
PSYC 593Readings in Psychology3
PSYC 997Independent Study (research or practicum experience possible)3
Elective Courses (9 credits):
Choose 3 of the following:9
Cognitive Psychology
Supervised Field Work
Special Topics in Psychology (can be repeated for credit for up to all 9 credits of elective courses; e.g., Eyewitness Testimony; Psychology in the Courtroom; Interrogation)
Total Credits30

Note: The student’s Advisory Committee will also consider other graduate classes as appropriate electives on a case-by-case basis. Students who have a strong psychology background may, after review by the Committee, be permitted to substitute an appropriate forensic psychology graduate elective for a required program course. A maximum of eight graduate credits may be transferred from another institution.