Online Bachelor’s in Forensic Psychology Program Guide

Bring the science of the mind to the criminal justice system with the Maryville University online bachelor’s in forensic psychology. Here, you’ll have the opportunity to blend psychology with the legal and criminal justice expertise necessary to make an impact on the court system, corrections, social services, and more in a variety of contexts.

Whether it’s conducting behavioral research, evaluating witness testimony, or providing psychological assessment in court, you can develop the foundational expertise to enter the public or private sector — or prepare for graduate education.

Start your journey

At a glance

Access coursework 100% online

Benefit from psychology coursework designed to meet American Psychological Association standards

Explore financial aid and eligible transfer credit options

Choose to start in fallspring, or summer

Eligible for Early Access – get ahead start on your graduate degree

Apply with no application fees and entrance exam

Curriculum

Our 128-credit curriculum is designed to achieve the breadth suggested by the American Psychology Association guidelines while including additional coursework specific to the field of forensic psychology and criminal justice. In addition, the social science research sequence includes a series of courses that culminates with a senior project, designed to help students emerge with an interconnected understanding of how to craft research, analyze results, and present findings.

Psychology Core Courses

  • PSYC 101 General Psychology
  • PSYC 254 Human Development through the Lifespan
  • PSYC 321 Psychopathology
  • PSYC 325 Social Psychology
  • PSYC 358 Psychological Tests and Measurement
  • PSYC 365 Multicultural Psychology
  • PSYC 370 Forensic Psychology
  • PSYC 435 Human Cognition
  • PSYC 451 Biological Psychology

Criminal Justice/Criminology Core Courses

  • CRIM 102 Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • CRIM 210 Multicultural Policing
  • CRIM 211 Introduction to Criminal Investigations
  • CRIM 220 Corrections in Society
  • CRIM 311 Criminal Law and Procedure
  • CRIM 322 Criminological Theory
  • CRIM 323 Juvenile Delinquency
  • CRIM/PSYC 326 Criminal Behavior
  • CRIM/PSYC 477 Police Psychology

Social Science Research Sequence

  • SOSC 240 Critical Thinking in Social Science
  • SOSC 245 Research Design
  • SOSC 341 Understanding Statistical Inference
  • SOSC 485 Senior Project

Get full course descriptions

Admission requirements

  • High school diploma or GED
  • Minimum GPA of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale (high school) / 2.0 on a 4.0 scale (college)*
  • Official transcripts from all colleges or universities previously attended
  • Official high school transcript (required for applicants with fewer than 60 transfer hours from a regionally accredited school)
  • Eligible transfer credits accepted; associate degree completion may satisfy general education requirements
    • Click to view our transfer credit policy
    • The acceptance of transfer credit is at the discretion of Maryville University
  • No standardized tests required

*Applicants who do not meet the GPA requirement may be considered for provisional admission

Explore our additional resources to help guide your admission journey.

Accreditation & Rankings

Maryville University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission
Forbes America's Top Colleges
Ranked among the best values in private colleges
Money's Best Colleges 2020 Logo
Military Friendly Schools 2023-2024 logo

Named an “Apple Distinguished School” for 2021-2024

Ranked a “Best National University” for 2022 by U.S. News & World Report

Why Maryville Online?

We’ve been progressively challenging the norms of higher education for nearly 150 years. We started as one of the first universities to educate women. Today, we continue to push the boundaries and prepare students like you for a digital world. At Maryville, we understand what it takes to step beyond your comfort zone.

Maryville University is a nationally ranked private college recognized for comprehensive and innovative education focused on student learning, outcomes, and success — both online and on campus. We’re located just 22 miles from downtown St. Louis.

Enhance your skills. Broaden your career.

Top 5 skills you can develop:

  • Finding the balance between theory and practice.
  • Critical thinking, problem-solving, and scientific inquiry.
  • Leveraging experiential insight with advanced technological tools.

Top 5 careers you can pursue:

  • Victim Advocate
  • Forensic Psychologist
  • Probation/Correctional Specialist

Early Access Program

Did you know that Maryville undergraduates can qualify for graduate level credits? Once you are accepted — and as long as you have not yet completed your elective requirements — we invite you to explore Early Access as an option. Through Early Access, you can get a head start on earning a graduate degree by taking master’s-level courses that count toward your undergraduate and graduate degrees. Graduate-level Early Access courses are billed at the undergraduate tuition rate — so you can save time and money.

You can learn more at our Early Access page.

Start your journey today

Learn more about the Maryville University online bachelor’s in forensic psychology.