Popular Accredited Forensic Psychology Programs and Schools in Ohio [2024]

Going to college in Ohio means having a choice. With more than a dozen four-year public universities, over 50 private four-year colleges, and nearly two dozen two-year community and technical colleges, Ohio has a campus and a program for everyone.

You can begin your studies at a two-year school to save money, then transfer to a four-year school to complete your degree in forensic psychology. Luckily, there are plenty of options regarding forensic psychology in Ohio – you can choose from majors, minors, undergraduate degrees, and graduate degrees.

Forensic Psychology Programs in Ohio

Listed below are some of the popular schools offering forensic psychology programs in Ohio:

  • Ohio University
  • John Carroll University
  • Tiffin University
  • Grand Canyon University
  • Capella University
  • University of Akron
  • The Ohio State University
  • Purdue Global

Ohio University

As the oldest public university in the state, Ohio University has had a long time to hone its academic curricula and programs. The university has about 28,000 students to its name, 20,000 of which study on campus in Athens, a beautiful town in Southeast Ohio that’s surrounded by the foothills of the Appalachian mountains.

Ohio University isn’t just known for its beautiful location, though. The school ranks highly for value, affordability, and the quality of its online programs. Its on-campus programs are robust as well, with more than 250 degrees and programs available at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels.

Forensic Psychology Program Information

The forensic psychology program at Ohio University culminates with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a concentration in forensic psychology. This program takes about four years to complete and requires that you participate in a multidisciplinary curriculum of psychology, sociology, criminal justice, and science courses.

The required psychology courses include typical classes like psychological statistics, personality, and motivation. But you will also take more specialized courses like Social Psychology of Justice, Human Judgment and Decision Making, and Human Memory.

It is also recommended that you take courses in related subjects, like anthropology, social work, and criminal justice. For example, you might take classes like:

  • Introduction to Criminalistics and Forensic Science
  • Forensic Biology
  • Chemical Dependency
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Introduction to Corrections

In addition to these required and recommended courses, you can add a minor to your degree. Ohio University recommends a minor in sociology to have the most impact on your post-graduate studies and career.

You can apply to this program as a first-year student by submitting an application for admission and a $50 application fee. Ohio does not require you to report ACT or SAT scores, but you may submit them to support your application if you like.

Additionally, you can submit letters of recommendation, an essay, and a list of extracurricular activities in which you participate as well, though these materials are also optional.

John Carroll University

John Carroll University is a small private Jesuit school in University Heights, Ohio. The school enrolls around 3,000 students, making its campus an intimate atmosphere where you can learn and connect with your classmates. Most students are undergraduates, but nearly 500 graduate students are also on campus.

You can enjoy small class sizes at John Carroll University that ensure you get one-on-one time with your professors. In fact, the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 13:1, and the average class size is just 21 students.

With nearly 70 majors available at the undergraduate level and a handful of master’s degree programs, John Carroll University gives you all the choices you need to determine a quality academic roadmap for yourself.

Forensic Psychology Program Information

John Carroll University’s undergraduate degree in forensic psychology is a 124-credit program that requires about four years of full-time study to complete. The primary core of courses for the program focus on general psychology topics, like Introduction to Psychology, Experimental Design and Analysis, and Learning and Behavior.

However, this program helps you delve deeper into psychology by offering a wide range of highly specific courses to prepare you for a future of academic pursuit or work in forensic psychology. For example, you can take classes like:

  • Adult Psychopathology
  • Child and Adolescent Psychopathology
  • Criminology
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Corrections

The curriculum also includes several capstone courses as well as a practicum in forensic psychology. The practicum, in particular, shows how your classroom learning is applied in real-world forensic psychology situations.

John Carroll University also offers the opportunity to participate in an internship. With partnerships with dozens of area organizations, the school can help you find the ideal fit for your internship experience.

Applying to John Carroll University as a first-year student is straightforward. Simply fill out an application for admission, provide your high school transcripts, and include at least one letter of recommendation. You can optionally include your SAT or ACT scores as well.

Tiffin University

Tiffin University was founded in 1888 in a small town that bears the same name. The school’s campus – which is just 153 acres – mirrors the small-town feel of the community in which it’s located. You can find students enjoying outdoor activities, professors working with students, and many opportunities to join clubs and organizations in every corner of campus.

Tiffin offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and more than two dozen graduate programs. No matter which program you choose, you’ll enjoy classes that average around 21 students. The 19:1 student-to-faculty ratio further ensures you get to study forensic psychology in an organized, diverse, and attentive learning environment.

Forensic Psychology Program Information

Unlike the other programs on this list, the bachelor’s degree from Tiffin isn’t in arts or science. Instead, it’s a Bachelor of Criminal Justice in Forensic Psychology. As such, the curriculum draws heavily on criminal justice and psychology to provide you with higher-level training.

The program of study includes 18 credits of criminal justice coursework and 45 credits in forensic psychology. Some of the classes you might take include:

  • Threat Assessment
  • Victimology
  • Psychology of Violence and Aggression
  • Psychology and Law
  • Crisis Intervention Strategies

This is a residential program, meaning you must take classes on campus in Tiffin. Courses are 15 weeks in length, with terms starting in January and August of every year.

This program focuses on experiential learning, so as you progress through your classes, you will have ample opportunities to put your learning to the test. Collaborative projects with classmates, community-based learning, and attendance at professional forensic psychology conferences are just a few of the out-of-class experiences you can look forward to.

You can fill out an online application to get the process of admittance to Tiffin underway. You must have a minimum 2.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale for your high school coursework to apply. ACT or SAT scores may also be required for provisional admission (e.g., if your GPA does not meet the 2.0 threshold.

University of Akron

The University of Akron was founded in 1870 as Buchtel College. Two years later, the college opened its doors to its first class, which had just 171 students. Today, the university has around 15,000 students taking courses in business, health and human sciences, and engineering, to name a few.

Over the years, Akron has won acclaim for its academic programs from a number of publications. The Princeton Review ranks the school among the Best Regional Colleges in the Midwest. Academic Influence also ranks Akron highly – among the best schools in Ohio. As a result of its high-quality academics, the University of Akron enjoys more than 35 accreditations from professional agencies.

Forensic Psychology Program Information

At the University of Akron, you can get a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice and pair it with a Minor in Forensic Psychology. This combination of coursework is ideal if you intend to work in law enforcement in the future.

This program, which is offered either entirely online or in a hybrid format, requires you to complete 120 credits of coursework. You will take general education courses like science, math, and history, but you will also take part in a vast curriculum of criminal justice courses, such as:

  • Principles of Criminal Law
  • Social Inequalities
  • Criminology
  • Introduction to Corrections
  • Principles of Criminal Law

The minor in forensic psychology introduces you to the behavioral components of crime. The minor requires you to complete 24 credits, which is far more than the more typical 18 credits usually needed for a minor. However, the added coursework enhances your understanding of the brain, behavior, and criminal activity.

Forensic psychology classes you will take include:

  • Quantitative Methods in Psychology
  • Psychological Tests & Measurements
  • Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • Courtroom Communication
  • The Legal System and Psychology

If you are a first-year student, you simply need to fill out an application for admission, submit a $50 application fee, and provide your high school transcripts.

Forensic Psychology Work Opportunities in Ohio

The work opportunities for forensic psychologists in Ohio are as varied as the Ohio landscape. You can work in small towns or large ones, for private firms or public agencies, or you can choose to work for yourself if you have the proper credentials to be a licensed forensic psychologist. The sky’s the limit!

Typically, though, the largest number of jobs in this field are in Ohio’s biggest cities – Columbus, Cincinnati, and Cleveland, among others. The primary reason for this is because the organizations that often employ forensic psychologists are usually headquartered in large cities.

For example, you might find employment as a forensic psychologist with an FBI field office in Cincinnati or Cleveland. Likewise, you might find the best opportunities for employment with the court systems in Ohio’s largest cities, which have a larger volume of cases than in rural towns.

Of course, if you want to live a more laid-back lifestyle, you can opt to live in a rural area of Ohio and work in private practice or offer your services on a consultative basis.

In some cases, forensic psychologists that choose this path can work remotely, which is a major benefit if you want to work from home or have the ability to work while you travel. With one of the degrees listed above, your future is wide open!

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