Maryville University Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology | OnlineMaryville University Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology | OnlineMaryville University Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology | Online

We are a tech-forward and future-focused university that has been disrupting higher education for over 150 years.  Earning your degree online from Maryville University means benefiting from the knowledge of brave leaders and fearless learners. Join the 10,000 students and counting who have achieved their goals with Maryville. Your next big move is closer than you think.We are a tech-forward and future-focused university that has been disrupting higher education for over 150 years.  Earning your degree online from Maryville University means benefiting from the knowledge of brave leaders and fearless learners. Join the 10,000 students and counting who have achieved their goals with Maryville. Your next big move is closer than you think.We are a tech-forward and future-focused university that has been disrupting higher education for over 150 years.  Earning your degree online from Maryville University means benefiting from the knowledge of brave leaders and fearless learners. Join the 10,000 students and counting who have achieved their goals with Maryville. Your next big move is closer than you think.

  • Contemporary Coursework – Benefit from psychology coursework designed to meet American Psychological Association standards.
  • Early Access Program – Earn up to 12 credit hours that can be counted toward both undergraduate and graduate forensic psychology degrees.
  • Multiple Cohort Start Dates – Choose to start in fall, spring, or summer depending on what fits best with your schedule!

Ready to put your love of forensic psychology to use in your community? Maryville University’s online Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology prepares you to help protect society from crime by applying psychological knowledge in the court and corrections systems, social services and private sector.

This 128-credit online forensic psychology program brings you experiential learning opportunities and coursework in three distinct areas — psychology, criminal justice and social science — to give you a comprehensive understanding of the modern forensic psychology landscape.

View our program guide for more information.

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Benefit from psychology coursework designed to meet American Psychological Association standards.

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Choose to start in fall, spring or summer.

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Apply with no application fees or SAT scores.

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Explore financial aid and eligible transfer credit options.

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Gain Early Access eligibility — get a head start on your graduate degree.

Why earn a forensic psychology degree online?

If you have an interest in studying human and criminal behavior, analyzing psychological disorders and exploring the intricacies of legal cases, then a career in forensic psychology may be for you.

Forensic psychology online degree students study human psychology as it pertains to the law. With a deeper understanding of criminology and the psychology of human behavior, you can pursue career fields such as law enforcement and social services.

Learn more about our online forensic psychology bachelor’s degree.

What can you do with a forensic psychology degree?

Forensic psychologists apply their psychology skills to situations connected to crime, mental processes and law. For example, forensic psychologists may play a major role in legal proceedings, helping to determine the objectivity of potential jurors or the validity of insanity pleas. They may take a hands-on approach to crime solving, collaborating with law enforcement agencies and prosecutors’ offices to analyze violent criminals at large, examine evidence from crime scenes, and evaluate suspects’ histories. 

Forensic psychologists may also work in mental health facilities and prisons, giving input on patient or inmate behavior, or as victim advocates, offering support and social welfare services to people victimized by crimes.

Forensic psychology career opportunities

A bachelor’s in forensic psychology is a versatile degree that you can apply to a wide range of job prospects. By pursuing your online forensic psychology degree at Maryville, you can enhance your qualifications for a variety of roles, including:

  • Community service specialist
  • Forensic psychologist
  • Forensic social worker
  • Jury consultant
  • Police officer, detective, or criminal investigator
  • Probation/correctional counselor
  • Probation/correctional officer
  • Social and community service manager
  • Social science research assistant
  • Victim advocate

In settings such as:

  • Corrections and probation
  • Education
  • Law
  • Law enforcement
  • Psychology
  • Social services

Find out more about BA in the Forensic Psychology careers.

What is the median forensic psychology degree salary?

With your online bachelor’s in forensic psychology degree, you can build a foundation to pursue a variety of careers, such as the following:

Probation officer or correctional treatment specialist1

$59,860

Social and community service manager2

$74,240

Police officer, detective or criminal investigator3

$69,160

Social science research assistant4

$50,470

Why choose Maryville for your forensic psychology degree?

Maryville’s online bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology gives you the skills, hands-on experience and faculty support to prepare you to excel in the legal and criminal justice system.

During the program, you’ll complete a 135-hour internship in your chosen setting, as well as a senior project capstone experience. Both components help prepare you for the world of criminal psychology and criminal justice.

Internship: Explore an area of interest hands-on — whether it’s probation and corrections, mental health, substance abuse clinics or government agencies — and learn what it takes to succeed in that role while building valuable experience for your résumé.

Capstone: Through the capstone experience, you’ll team up with a faculty member and your fellow undergraduate students to take part in a research project that gives you a firsthand look at how the fields of psychology and the criminal justice system are progressing.

Since 1872, Maryville University has been facilitating connections between driven professionals and industry expertise. Our primary focus is on teaching, with a distinguished faculty that prioritizes experiential learning. 

Explore our online forensic psychology program for a comprehensive educational experience.

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Well-rounded forensic psychology curriculum

A strong understanding of forensic and psychological principles is crucial for graduates pursuing a career in forensic psychology. 

In Maryville’s online Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology, you’ll discover a comprehensive, diverse curriculum that blends several disciplines: 

  • Foundational social sciences, such as human development, sociology and various disciplines of psychology 
  • Criminal law theory and investigation
  • Psychological concepts 
  • Social science research and testing
  • Versatile professional skills, such as critical thinking and research methodology

Full-time undergraduate students with eligible transfer credits may be able to complete the online bachelor’s in forensic psychology program in as few as two years.

Psychology Core Courses (27 credits) — Strengthen your understanding of human psychology through a series of courses in critical thinking, abnormal psychology, social psychology, testing, forensic psychology, cognition and more.

Criminal Justice Core Courses (27 credits) — Learn the principles of criminal law and justice theory and procedure with a series of courses covering topics including corrections, criminal behavior, police psychology, juvenile delinquency, investigations and multicultural issues.

Social Science Research Sequence (18 credits) — The social science research sequence includes a series of courses designed to help students gain an interconnected understanding of how to craft research, analyze results and present findings.

Internship (3 credits) — Personalize your internship based on your specific area of interest.Electives (14 credits) — Round out and customize your education with your choice of electives.

Undergraduate students sitting with laptops having a discussion

Plan ahead for graduate education with Early Access

At Maryville University, you can get a head start on your graduate degree while earning your online bachelor’s in forensic psychology through our Early Access program.

With Early Access, you can earn up to 12 credits that count toward your master’s degree and your bachelor’s. Credits you earn through Early Access are charged at the undergraduate tuition rate, meaning you can save time and money on your graduate education.

Once you become a Maryville undergraduate student and have completed at least 75 credit hours with a GPA of 3.25 or better, you will qualify for Early Access. If you are a current student and have not yet completed your elective requirements, we invite you to contact your academic advisor to explore Early Access and learn more about our exciting online graduate programs.

Master’s programs to take your learning further

Many students who aspire to senior leadership roles choose to continue advancing their education after earning their online bachelor’s in forensic psychology degree. Maryville offers several online master’s degree programs, including the following:

Master of Health Administration (MHA): Choose from four concentrations: Senior Services, Population Management, Data Management, and Healthcare Strategies.

Master of Business Administration (MBA): Tailor this program to align with your career goals. Select from 12 concentrations, including Health Administration and General Management.

Master of Arts in Management and Leadership: This program is designed to help you prepare for a senior-level management position in your desired field.

Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership: Study communication theory, explore research methods, gain practical experience and earn relevant professional certifications.

Frequently asked questions

  • Forensic specialists work on the front lines of important cases, interacting closely with victims and offenders and conducting valuable research used by law enforcement.

    Completing your online bachelor’s in forensic psychology degree at Maryville helps you qualify for roles in law enforcement, social services, corrections and probation, and other settings.

    Possible careers for Maryville forensic psychology graduates may include:

    • Forensic psychologist
    • Police officer, detective, or criminal investigator
    • Probation/correctional officer
    • Social and community service manager
    • Victim advocate

    Find out more about BA in Forensic Psychology careers.

  • Yes. Maryville University proudly holds regional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Maryville has maintained accreditation from the HLC since 1941, and this status was most recently reaffirmed in 2015.

  • Most students complete the online bachelor’s in forensic psychology degree in four years or less. Full-time students with eligible transfer credits may be able to complete this program in as few as two years.

  • With Early Access, students in our online bachelor’s in forensic psychology program can get a head start on earning a graduate degree by taking graduate-level courses that count toward their undergraduate and graduate degrees. Through the program, you can earn up to 12 credit hours toward your master’s degree. Furthermore, graduate-level Early Access courses are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate — so students save time and money.

    Our Master of Health Administration (MHA), Master of Business Administration (MBA), Master of Arts in Management and Leadership, and Master of Arts in Strategic Communication and Leadership are among the many Maryville graduate degrees that offer Early Access options for students enrolled in our online bachelor’s in forensic psychology degree program.

    If you’re interested in participating in the Early Access program, you should apply one semester before you plan to start taking Early Access courses. To apply, you must be enrolled in the bachelor’s program, have completed at least 75 credit hours and have a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher. Our advisors can help you select your Early Access courses, which must be taken one at a time.

    Learn more about the Early Access program.

  • While forensic psychology and criminal justice are both rooted in the observation of crime as a social phenomenon, there are important differences. Forensic psychology delves deep into the human psyche with the goal of bettering society by shedding light on the causes and effects of crime. Criminal justice, on the other hand, is centered on developing an understanding and appreciation of the legal and societal dynamics related to criminality, the law, and law enforcement. Popular careers for forensic psychology graduates include forensic psychologist, victim advocate, and probation or correctional specialist. Graduates of criminal justice programs often go on to serve as police officers or detectives, computer forensics investigators, or DEA agents.

Apply to the online bachelor’s in forensic psychology degree program at Maryville University.

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1 Probation Officers and Correctional Treatment Specialists: PayExternal link:. (2023). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved February 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

2 Social and Community Service Managers: PayExternal link:. (2023). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved February 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

3 Police and Detectives: PayExternal link:. (2023). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved February 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference

4Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics: Social Science Research AssistantsExternal link:. (2023). U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Retrieved February 2024.arrow_upwardReturn to footnote reference