If you are interested in psychology, legal studies, and criminal justice, a forensic psychology program is a great fit to prepare for the future. Better still, the programs available in Maryland offer varying levels of preparation to match your academic standing and future goals.
Aside from having a variety of programs from which to choose, being a student in Maryland allows you to choose your educational path at many different colleges and universities. Maryland has dozens of popular psychology schools offering undergraduate and graduate psychology programs.
Another benefit of studying in Maryland is the close proximity to Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital is home to government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private businesses that might provide an avenue to employment after you graduate. You have to finish your degree first, though!
Forensic Psychology Programs in Maryland
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering forensic psychology programs in Maryland:
- Notre Dame of Maryland University
- Capella University
- Loyola University Maryland
- Chicago School of Professional Psychology
- Grand Canyon University
- University of Maryland Medical Center
- Arizona State University Online
Notre Dame of Maryland University
Notre Dame of Maryland was established in 1895 as an institution of higher learning for educating tomorrow’s leaders. Today, the school still stands by that motto and helps students in many different fields acquire the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their selected careers.
As a Notre Dame of Maryland student, you will enjoy a small campus environment set on 60 acres in a wooded area. There are only about 1,700 students on campus, so your classes will be small, ensuring that you build strong relationships with your classmates and have plenty of one-on-one instruction from your professors, too.
Forensic Psychology Program Information
The undergraduate forensic psychology program at Notre Dame of Maryland is a psychology minor that you can add to any number of majors. For example, if you major in criminal justice, the forensic psychology minor will prepare you for graduate studies or an entry-level career in criminal justice.
Other majors that commonly pair with a minor in forensic psychology include:
- Biology
- Nursing
- Criminology
- Political Science
- Computer Information Systems
This is a residential program only, meaning you must be an on-campus student to complete the minor requirements. As is typical of a minor, 18 credits are necessary to complete the program. The courses you will take include:
- Introductory Psychology
- Introduction to Criminology
- Theories of Crime and Social Deviance
- Theories of Personality
- Psychopathology
Additionally, you will take a four-credit course in counseling theories and techniques. Coursework in research methods and psychometrics is also required, with both of those courses being four credits each.
To pursue this minor, you must be a student at Notre Dame of Maryland University. To apply as a first-year student, fill out an online application for admission and submit high school transcripts or proof of having a GED.
Loyola University Maryland
Loyola University Maryland is a private Jesuit university in Baltimore. Despite being a small school, Loyola offers more than 40 undergraduate degrees and many graduate programs. These degrees and programs are organized into three schools: the Sellinger School of Business and Management, the Loyola College of Arts and Sciences, and the School of Education.
As a Loyola student, you will enjoy a 12:1 student-to-faculty ratio and courses taught exclusively by Loyola faculty. The school offers dozens of study-abroad opportunities, a robust financial aid program, and plenty of internship opportunities. In fact, 80 percent of students participate in a field experience during their undergraduate program.
Forensic Psychology Program Information
The undergraduate major in forensic studies at Loyola University Maryland provides a detailed curriculum that prepares you for future studies or employment in the criminal justice and forensics fields. Whether you are just starting college or want to transfer, this program accommodates your needs.
While the program doesn’t specifically concentrate on psychology, you can take psychology courses as your electives to supplement the natural science-focused coursework of this degree. For example, you can take classes in Forensic Cognitive Psychology, Multicultural Issues in Psychology, and Forensic Psychology to satisfy nine credits of the elective requirement.
Additionally, Loyola University Maryland offers numerous double major options. Complete the forensic studies curriculum and add a second major like psychology, sociology, or computer science to expand your academic skill set.
The core coursework for this degree also includes some studies in psychology. You’ll take Introduction to Psychology and Psychopathology in addition to science courses like:
- Introduction to Forensic Science
- Introduction to Cell and Molecular Biology
- Organismal Biology
- Forensic Biology
You must also complete a capstone project in the form of an internship, a research experience, or independent study.
To apply as a first-year student, you must submit the following:
- An application for admission, along with a $60 application fee
- Official high school transcripts
- Letters of recommendation from a high school teacher and a high school counselor
- SAT or ACT scores, though this component is optional
Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Though the Chicago School of Professional Psychology is in the Windy City, it has campuses nationwide. The Washington, D.C. campus serves the nation’s capital and the surrounding regions, including Maryland and Virginia.
As the school’s name indicates, behavioral health fields are its focus. This was the case when the school was founded around 40 years ago, and it remains the same today. You can study clinical psychology, applied behavior analysis, or international psychology at the Washington, D.C. campus. Of course, you can also study forensic psychology!
Forensic Psychology Program Information
If you already have an undergraduate degree and want to advance your education a step further, the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology is a logical step.
This program is based in Washington, D.C., but it’s still easily accessible to Maryland residents who need to commute to campus. Your studies in this program prepare you for licensure as a professional counselor in the state of Maryland.
You can enroll in this program on a full-time or part-time basis. Full-time students generally need two years to complete the program, while studying part-time typically requires four years of study. Either way, you’ll take interesting and engaging classes in:
- Evaluation and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender
- Forensic Psychology in Correctional Settings
- Hostage Negotiations
- Mental Health Law
- Trauma and Crisis Prevention
Other courses explore topics like terrorism, trial consultations, and the criminal personality.
Additionally, you are required to complete a field placement that includes 700 hours of supervised experience. You can acquire field placement hours over the course of a calendar year.
The application requirements for this program are fairly extensive. To be considered for admission, you must first:
- Apply to the program and pay a $50 application fee
- Submit a personal essay that describes your educational and occupational goals
- Submit official transcripts from each college or university you’ve attended that shows completion of at least one undergraduate statistics or research methods course with a grade of C or higher
- Submit three letters of recommendation
You can optionally submit GRE scores to enhance your application for admission.
University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)
The University of Maryland Medical Center is a nationally-recognized institution that’s at the forefront of education and research. UMMC includes two hospitals in the Baltimore area – a flagship 800-bed teaching hospital and a 200-bed Midtown Campus that serves as a community teaching hospital. In both locations, medical students help advance our understanding of children’s health issues, cancer care, cardiac care, and more.
UMMC was founded in 1823 as part of the first public medical school in the United States. Today, the institution has grown into a system with 12 hospitals, 1,200 attending physicians, and 900 residents and fellows specializing in all areas of medicine, including psychiatry.
Forensic Psychology Program Information
The forensic psychiatry fellowship at the University of Maryland Medical Center is designed to help you understand civil law, criminal law, and the legal system as a whole. This includes exploring the relationship between psychology and behavior, how to interpret court decisions, and how to conduct forensic evaluations and interviews.
Your learning takes place on several levels. First, you must participate in a weekly forensic psychiatry seminar in which faculty members, forensic specialists, attorneys, and other experts discuss detailed topics in forensic psychiatry. You will also take part in case conferences to apply your learning to real-world situations.
Additionally, this fellowship requires that you take part in clinical evaluations of defendants at the Circuit Court Medical Service and other facilities in Baltimore. Courses at the University of Maryland School of Law are also required.
As a medical fellowship, this program is highly competitive and limited to a small number of fellows. You must already have participated in and completed an approved psychiatry residency prior to applying. You must also have a medical license in Maryland.
Forensic Psychology Work Opportunities in Maryland
One of the benefits of being a forensic psychologist is that you can use your expertise in many different fields and applications.
For example, as a licensed forensic psychologist in Maryland, you can provide clinical services to clients like the victims of crimes or people accused of crimes. In this capacity, you might offer trauma therapy to victims, conduct psychological evaluations of defendants awaiting trial, or serve as an expert witness for prosecutorial or defense teams.
Another career opportunity in the field of forensic psychology in Maryland is working in the behavioral health space. For example, you might contract your services with local or state corrections systems to evaluate detainees before they are released. As another example, you might provide behavioral health training to law enforcement officers so they are better equipped to understand how criminality and behavior are intertwined.
Of course, if you graduate from a forensic psychology program in Maryland, you might find employment in Washington, D.C. Agencies like the FBI employ forensic psychologists to build psychological profiles of suspects, assist in interviewing suspects, and conduct research on criminal behavior.
However, these careers typically require an advanced degree like a master’s or doctorate. But, if you complete the minor program or undergraduate program discussed above, you can find entry-level jobs in law enforcement, psychological research, and closely related fields. In other words, Maryland not only offers many different avenues for learning about forensic psychology, but you can also explore many different career paths.
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