Though Oklahoma isn’t the biggest state or the most populous, it offers many educational opportunities – perhaps more than most states of its size. With large public school systems like Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma, plus many regional public colleges and universities, you have your pick of your college experience in the Sooner State.
What’s more, you can choose your forensic psychology program based, in part, on the campus experience. Do you want to study on a small, suburban campus or a large one? Do you prefer an urban setting or rural? Oklahoma’s colleges and universities can accommodate whatever fits your specific needs best!
This list of forensic psychology programs represents some of the most popular options in the state. It also represents a varied collection of programs ranging from undergraduate minors to graduate degrees in forensic psychology. Let’s explore each one in more detail!
Forensic Psychology Programs in Oklahoma
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering forensic psychology programs in Oklahoma:
- Oklahoma State University
- University of Central Oklahoma
- Oklahoma Baptist University
- Southwestern Oklahoma State University
- Southern New Hampshire University
- Capella University
- Grand Canyon University
Oklahoma State University
Graduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology
The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology from Oklahoma State is a 12-credit online program designed to provide you with more advanced studies in forensic psychology than what’s available at the undergraduate level. You can use this certification as a standalone credential to advance your career or you can use it as an introduction to pursuing a full graduate degree in this field.
Since this is an online program, you get the benefit of having an extremely flexible schedule for completing your studies. You can work at your own pace because there are no set meeting times each week. Of course, there are deadlines throughout the program you still have to meet, such as turning assignments in and taking tests in a timely fashion.
There are four courses required to complete this certificate:
- Survey of Forensic Sciences
- Criminalistics and Evidence Analysis
- Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Victimology
Each of these courses is taught by an expert in this field. Their expertise not only lends itself to improved teaching methods and curriculum design, but it also gives you insights into the real-world application of forensic psychology theories and techniques.
This program is open to students who already have an undergraduate degree. You must also possess the necessary technical equipment and internet access needed for online learning. Proficiency in using email, the internet, multimedia programs, and online applications is necessary, too.
Complete the OSU graduate application online to begin the process. You must have a 3.0 GPA or higher for your undergraduate studies to be eligible. You also need to submit the following:
- Official transcripts from every college or university you have attended
- A statement of purpose that explains your career and educational goals
- Three letters of recommendation
- A $50.00 application fee
Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Master of Science in Forensic Sciences – Forensic Psychology for Investigators
This MS in Forensic Sciences from OSU’s Center for Health Sciences is designed specifically for investigators, detectives, and other law enforcement officials who wish to gain improved insights into criminal behavior. The program further focuses on criminal behavioral analysis as a tool for being a more effective investigator.
The 32-credit program can be completed full-time or part-time. You can complete the program in about 1.5 years of full-time study. As an online program, you benefit from the flexibility of online learning, which allows you to advance your education without significantly impacting your current employment.
The coursework you complete will give you a better understanding of criminal behavior and criminology. You will also learn how to process crime scenes, work with victims of crimes, and conduct behavioral analyses of perpetrators. These and other courses give you real-world, hands-on skills that you can immediately incorporate into your current law enforcement or psychology position.
This is not a licensure track program. If you wish to explore forensic psychology as a clinical application, you will need to find an appropriate graduate or doctoral program that leads to state licensure or certification.
It’s recommended that you have an undergraduate degree in psychology or sociology prior to enrolling in this program (criminal justice is also a good program of study to prepare for this degree). However, you are eligible for admission so long as you have an undergraduate degree.
You can apply to this program online anytime, year-round. Students are accepted on a rolling basis, provided there is room for additional students. You must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and have a 3.0 GPA or higher. When applying, you will need to provide the following:
- Official transcripts from every college or university you have attended
- Three letters of recommendation
- A resume or curriculum vitae
- A statement of purpose outlining your professional career goals
- A $50.00 application fee
Likewise, you should have the relevant technological skills and equipment needed for online studies, including, but not limited to, a computer, internet access, and basic computer applications.
University of Central Oklahoma
Master of Science in Forensic Psychology
The University of Central Oklahoma’s MS in Forensic Psychology is a professional training program intended to prepare you for work as an intelligence analyst or criminal investigator in a law enforcement setting. This is a non-clinical program and does not lead to eligibility for state licensure or certification as a psychologist.
This 37-credit program takes about two years of full-time studies to complete. The coursework is divided amongst core psychology courses, forensic psychology specialty courses, and a capstone experience. The core coursework includes the following:
- Experimental Design
- Advanced Social Psychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Theories of Personality
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Among the 18 credits of forensic psychology specialty courses are studies in Multivariate Analysis, Expert Witness Testimony, and Forensic Interview Techniques, as well as an examination of Behavior and Crime Scenes.
This program requires the completion of a master’s thesis. The thesis is a long-term research project that focuses on experimental components of forensic psychology. Your thesis topic must be approved by your advisory committee, who will help guide you through the process until you defend your research to the advisory committee prior to graduation.
As a result of these learning activities, you will develop a heightened understanding of data analysis techniques, experimental design, and technical writing. This program also enhances your critical thinking skills and your verbal communication skills.
The application for this program is available online. You must have a bachelor’s degree with a 2.75 GPA or higher through your final 60 credits of undergraduate work to qualify for admission. You also need 21 or more undergraduate credits of psychology coursework to include Advanced Statistics and Forensic Science.
Furthermore, you must provide the following when applying:
- Official transcripts from every college or university you have attended
- Two letters of recommendation
- A personal statement that describes your academic interests and experiences, as well as identifies potential mentors for your thesis
- GRE scores
- Evidence of English language proficiency if English is not your native language
Oklahoma Baptist University
Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology
If you haven’t already completed your undergraduate studies and want to set yourself up for success in forensic psychology, the BA in Forensic Psychology from Oklahoma Baptist University is a good start.
OBU’s program is a typical 120-credit, on-campus, full-time degree that explores the major tenets of psychology and criminal justice. The coursework introduces you to essential theories and techniques in forensic psychology that allow you to pursue entry-level jobs in this field or prepare for more advanced studies in a graduate-level forensic psychology program.
Of the 120 credits required to graduate, you will complete 37 major credits specifically in forensic psychology. You will take classes like Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Forensic Psychology, and Victimology. You will also take courses such as:
- Research Methods in Psychology
- Psychological Testing
- Abnormal Psychology
- Basic Counseling Skills
- Aggression and Violence: A Social Psychological Approach
You are also required to take two elective major courses. The purpose of these courses is to allow you to focus on areas of interest, like drugs and crime, contemporary policing methods, and organized crime, to name a few options.
This program isn’t just coursework, though. You will take lab-based statistics and research courses, gain relevant skills working in the University Counseling Lab, and you can participate in practicum experiences with local agencies to gain hands-on experience working in a forensic psychology setting.
You can apply as a first-year student at OBU. You will gain unconditional admission if you have a composite ACT score of 20 or higher, a composite SAT score of 1030 or higher, or a CLT score of 66 or higher. You also qualify for unconditional admission if you have a high school GPA of 3.0 or higher or you rank in the top 50 percent of your high school class.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University
Minor in Forensic Psychology
As a student in the Bachelor of Science degree program in Psychology at Southwestern Oklahoma State University, you can add a minor in forensic psychology that prepares you for graduate studies in this field. The minor requires a minimum of 18 credit hours of study, though the overall degree requires you to complete 120 credits to graduate.
As a psychology major, you will take general psychology courses such as Developmental Psychology, Learning and Memory, and Psychology of Personality. You will also take courses in more specific psychology topics, like Behavior Management, Issues in Chemical Dependency, and the Psychology of Women.
The forensic psychology minor hones your focus on the application of psychological techniques and theories in the criminal justice and legal settings. As such, you might take courses related to psychopathology, juvenile delinquency, and criminology. Other coursework might explore topics like social psychology, media and mental illness, or psychological testing.
Southwestern Oklahoma State University offers learning experiences outside the classroom, too. Many psychology faculty members conduct research and need undergraduate assistants to help manage the rigors of psychological research. Likewise, the university sponsors a psychology honor society – Psi Chi – which provides further opportunities to learn and explore psychology with other students.
You can apply as an undergraduate student. To do so, you must meet one or more of the following requirements:
- Be a graduate of an accredited high school or GED program
- Have an ACT score of 20 or higher
- Have an SAT score of 1030 or higher
- Have a 2.7 GPA or higher in the 15-unit high school core curriculum
- Be in the upper 50 percent of your high school class and have a 2.7 GPA or higher
Forensic Psychology Work Opportunities in Oklahoma
With a minor or undergraduate major in forensic psychology, you can pursue many different entry-level positions in Oklahoma. A good example of this is working as a research assistant or technician in a private laboratory. Your background and training in psychological research can be used to assist researchers with studies of all kinds, from examining the nature of criminal behavior to exploring effective treatments for perpetrators of crime.
Likewise, you might use your undergraduate training in forensic psychology to work in criminal justice or legal settings. A bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology is excellent preparation for working as a probation and parole agent, a court bailiff, or a corrections officer – positions that are often in great need in Oklahoma.
But with a graduate degree in this field, your options are even more varied. If you complete a licensure-track program, you can work in clinical forensic psychology settings. For example, you might work for a non-profit shelter for victims of domestic violence and provide trauma counseling and forensic psychology services in the immediate aftermath of being victimized.
As another example, you can pursue licensure as a psychologist and go into private practice, where you can specialize in areas like forensic psychological evaluations, crisis counseling, or legal psychology. There are many other forensic psychology career options, but these examples give you insight into the breadth and depth of work opportunities in Oklahoma for someone with the appropriate education and training in forensic psychology.
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