Students who are interested in studying forensic psychology will end up doing work in both the psychology and criminology disciplines, since this study requires a deep understanding of both fields. For this reason, there is often much overlap in the universities that offer forensic psychology as a concentration. Most universities will house their forensic psychology degrees in the criminology and criminal justice schools. Often times, however, you will find forensic psychology housed in the psychology department. This depends largely on how the university divides its faculty among the different departments. Students who complete graduate degrees in this field become lawyers, counselors, psychologists and researchers.

While it is difficult to compile a list of the top forensic psychology degree programs in the country, it is possible to look at the top criminology departments that include forensic psychology as a potential concentration. These schools listed below are the top criminology schools in the country as found by U.S. News and World Report. These schools all offer opportunities for criminal justice students to focus on forensic psychology as a degree concentration.

1. University of Maryland–College Park The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers a professional master’s degree option that allows students to complete their degrees as they choose while focusing on the topics and issues that will help them to advance their careers. Many graduates of this program go on to become psychologists and counselors in correctional facilities and other institutions around the country.

2. University at Albany–SUNY The School of Criminal Justice offers students the chance to work in interdisciplinary environments in which they can learn about the necessary issues, theories, and methods that are essential for understanding challenges in today’s forensic psychology field.

3. University of Cincinnati This school offers an online program that is perfect for students who would like to continue working full time while they are enrolled in a master’s degree program. This school focuses on new techniques and strives to be a source of change and cutting edge methodology.

4. University of Missouri–St. Louis The Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice offers research based PhD programs for students who are interested in research the methods and theories common and essential to a study of forensic psychology.

5. Pennsylvania State University–University Park The Department of Sociology, Crime, Law, and Justice is one of the most cutting-edge programs for those interested in forensic psychology. Master’s and PhD degree students are given access to the most current research methods and are granted opportunities or field research.

6. University of California–Irvine The Department of Criminology, Law, and Society offers a number of master’s and PhD degree options for students who are interested in a psychological approach to forensics, as well as to other areas of criminal justice and the social causes and effect.

7. Florida State University The College of Criminology and Criminal Justice pride itself in its ability to teach graduate students the most essential theory and research while allowing them to practice in real world settings.

8. Michigan State University This School of Criminal Justice is the oldest in the country and houses some of the most rigorous forensic psychology education.

9. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey–Newark This school is wonderful at setting graduates up with positions in relevant fields after graduation.

10. CUNY–John Jay College This school offers an advanced and innovative PhD in Experimental Forensic Psychology that allows students to be on the forefront of new research.