Forensic psychology examines criminal and abusive activity in the penetrating light of psychology. Forensic psychologists must not only master psychology but must also be conversant in the languages of law and criminal justice.
Louisiana offers special challenges and opportunities because of its unique blend of African, Latin American, Native American and French cultures, all of which are still very much alive. New Orleans, in particular, is a melting pot of cultures and lifestyles.
This guide compares Louisiana forensic psychology programs by degree level, format, admissions requirements, costs, and career outcomes so you can choose a path that fits your goals.
Best Forensic Psychology Schools in Louisiana
Listed below are some of the popular schools offering forensic psychology programs in Louisiana:
- Louisiana State University
- Louisiana Tech University
- Capela University
- Walden University
- The Chicago School
- Purdue Global
- University of Louisiana at Monroe
To find out how we select colleges and universities, please click here.
Louisiana State University
Online Bachelor of Science in Forensic Psychology
The LSU Department of Psychology and the LSU College of Humanities & Social Sciences offer a 120-credit online Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology. This degree strengthens advanced critical thinking and analytical skills while giving you a broad overview of both psychology and forensic science.
The program is fully online, which supports the needs of non-traditional students and working professionals. Graduates have the ability to work in criminal and civil courts, and they are prepared for a wider range of career options in the field.
You will gain base knowledge of human behavior and psychological disorders, how psychology connects with law, and psychological methods used to understand cognition. Graduates may pursue roles such as criminal investigators, civil investigators, forensic interviewers, peer support specialists, judicial assistants, and other related positions.
The full degree requires 120 credits to earn your degree with 28 approved electives. Credits distribution of the program is as follows:
- General Education : 44 credits
- Foreign Language: 14 credits
- Psychology Basics: 16 credits
- Forensic Psychology Concentration: 12 credits
- Approved Psychology Electives: 6 credits
- Approved Electives: 28 credits
The program provides knowledge and experience that can help you compete for entry-level work in social service analysis, victim advocacy, and administrative roles with related non-profit organizations. The program can also support building a portfolio for graduate study that leads to forensics-related paths, such as joining the police academy, entering behavioral health programs that focus on working with justice-involved populations, and entering master’s programs in forensic psychology.
After graduation, you will be prepared to seek careers in psychology and forensic science or to continue your education in a graduate psychology program. Overall topics in this degree include:
- Understanding, predicting, and managing human behavior
- Calculation and basic theory connected to elementary statistical methods
- Methods and reasoning behind standard research methodology in psychology
- Cultural influences that affect attitudes, social learning, perception, and communication in individuals and groups
- Developmental psychology viewed across the full life course
- Psychological disorders
The final cost of the program is set after all transfer credits are reviewed. Transfer credits may be applied to as much as 75% of degree requirements. For the online Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology, your academic advisor will work with you to decide whether prior college credits will apply to your LSU degree and how they will be counted.
- Total credit hours per program: 120 credit hours
- Cost per credit hour: $445
- Total cost with fees and the maximum number of credits allowed to transfer into the program: $13,350
- Total cost with fees: $53,400
First Time Freshman admission requirements include:
- 3.0 Core GPA on the 19 units of college-preparatory high school courses as defined in the LSU Core.
- LSU is a test-optional institution, meaning you may choose whether you want your ACT or SAT scores reviewed for admission.
Transfer student general admission requirements include:
- 30 or more transferable (academic, non-remedial) credit hours from a regionally-accredited college or university.
- 2.5 academic GPA on all transferable college work attempted.
- A grade of “C” or better in a college-level English course that met a general education requirement at the school where it was completed.
- A grade of “C” or better in a college-level Math course that met a general education requirement at the school where it was completed.
Louisiana Tech University
Undergraduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology
The undergraduate certificate in forensic psychology at Louisiana Tech University is designed for students who are interested in how human behavior connects with the criminal justice system. This program uses an interdisciplinary approach through focused coursework in psychology and sociology, preparing students for roles in law enforcement, investigations, and other justice-related areas.
The certificate provides basic knowledge of psychological principles as they relate to criminal behavior decision-making and social interaction. It is well suited for students who want to work with victims, offenders, or law enforcement agencies.
The program is open to students in any major and allows them to complete focused courses in sociology and psychology so they are better prepared for work in law enforcement.
Along with being a stand-alone option, the certificate can be added to the curriculum for a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies with minors in criminal justice and psychology to support preparation for careers in law enforcement.
Louisiana Tech University’s undergraduate certificate in Forensic Psychology is a cross-curricular certificate offered through courses in the College of Education and the College of Liberal Arts. The curriculum consists of six courses offered through a mix of on-site and online formats, and it is designed to teach students about the roots of the criminal mind.
The curriculum consists of six courses offered through a mix of on-site and online formats, and it is designed to teach students about the roots of the criminal mind.
- Introduction To Criminal Justice: A review of the American criminal justice system, including its history and structure at the local, state, and federal levels.
- Criminology: Theories about how crime begins; study of specific offender types, prevention, control, and treatment.
- Family Violence: A sociological study of the forms, scope, causes, and results of violence between family members and intimate partners; policy effects are also examined.
- Behavior Modification: Applied analysis of personal behaviors using ideas and principles from experimental behavior analysis.
- Dynamics of Adjustment: A broad study of challenges related to self-adjustment and self-management and the development of a well integrated personality.
Abnormal Psychology: A study of the nature and development of abnormal behavior from a psychological viewpoint.
The following students may be eligible to apply:
- Students currently enrolled at Louisiana Tech University.
- Students currently enrolled at another college or university.
- Students who were previously enrolled at Louisiana Tech University and have not finished their degree program.
- Students who have completed their degree.
Like on-campus students, Tech Online students may qualify for admission scholarships, departmental scholarships, or private scholarships. Louisiana residents may also qualify for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarships awarded by the State of Louisiana.
Capella University
MS in Forensic Psychology
Capella’s Master of Science in Forensic Psychology examines forensic methods, current research developments, and ethical issues that influence the field. You will learn how to complete forensic assessments and conduct research while working with varied groups of people, including incarcerated individuals and people who were recently released after an offense. This competency-based program supports your preparation for doctoral-level study because many courses meet prerequisite requirements for Capella’s PhD program.
This degree requires 53 total program credits. You must complete five core courses and six specialization courses. Main program highlights include:
- Gain proficiencies, advance your profession: Build expertise to assess criminal behavior and gain strong understanding of emerging trends in criminal justice.
- Scholar-practitioner faculty connect theory and practice: Build a solid base in forensic psychology and gain practical insight from faculty members who remain active in the field.
- Strong support from enrollment through doctoral readiness: Plan for a PhD with guidance from enrollment counselors, academic coaches, and faculty members, along with a curriculum that meets key doctoral prerequisites.
The MS in Clinical Psychology with a Forensic Psychology specialization provides theoretical and practical learning in clinical psychology with special focus on forensic methods, psychology and law, ethical challenges, and current trends in forensic psychology.
The curriculum builds your ability to complete forensic assessments and conduct research across various programs and groups of people, including incarcerated individuals and people recently released after an offense. This program may also support your preparation for doctoral study.
Specialization courses in the program are:
- Quantitative Design and Analysis: You learn the reasoning, calculation, and meaning of statistics with focus on decision-making in the research process and on using and interpreting statistical results. You use the JASP statistics program to practice running and interpreting statistical tests.
- Counseling Skills and Procedures: This course introduces the basic skills and key conditions tied to effective counseling practice, starting with building the therapeutic relationship and continuing through ending services. This course is for MS in Clinical Psychology students only.
- Psychology and the Law: You build skills in forensic assessment methods and study psychology’s role in the court system, differences between clinical and forensic psychology practice, and limits for ethical work in forensic psychology. You also review core functions of forensic practice in civil, criminal, juvenile, and family law settings and basic rules of testimony.
- Techniques of Forensic Practice: You learn how forensic psychology practice works, with focus on skill-building through practical use across several areas tied to the field. You review civil and criminal forensic evaluations of many types, including fitness to stand trial, insanity defense, child custody, fitness to parent, mitigating defenses, and risk assessment. You also assess malingering and learn the guidelines for ethical practice.
- Current Issues and Trends in Forensic Practice: You review current issues in forensic psychology and study how scientific methods should be applied appropriately and ethically to civil and criminal psychological matters. During the course, you develop knowledge of expert testimony, legal decision-making, criminal defenses, repeat offending, juvenile crime, scientific jury selection, victimology, rehabilitation of criminal offenders, justice for underserved groups, and other selected topics related to psychology and law.
- Ethics and Individual Differences in Psychology: You examine many human viewpoints and influences and how they affect ethical conduct among psychology professionals. You assess and explain these topics across varied settings and practice using ethical reasoning principles and standards within your profession.
After you complete this program successfully, you should be able to:
- Analyze research related to clinical and forensic psychology.
- Apply ethical principles of clinical psychology in academic, research, and professional settings.
- Apply theory and research results in forensic psychology practice.
- Communicate using scholarly writing and other technology-based formats while following the professional standards of the discipline.
Applicants to the MS in Clinical Psychology with a Forensic Psychology specialization must submit the following for admission:
- A bachelor’s degree from a school accredited by an agency recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, or from an internationally recognized institution.
- Official bachelor’s transcripts showing a grade point average of 2.3 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- A valid government-issued photo identification.
- An admission application with no application fee required.
Walden University
Online Master of Science in Forensic Psychology
Walden University was founded in 1970 in an effort to increase access to higher education. In those days, Walden focused on pathways for educators to complete a doctorate. Today, Walden, which is headquartered in Minneapolis, is known nationwide as an online university with a host of majors and degree programs for working adults. It is a private, for-profit university with numerous professional accreditations. Walden is also regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission.
The advantage of pursuing your forensic psychology degree from Walden is that you get flexible options for finishing your program. Walden offers various types of learning formats to suit your needs. For example, you can take courses in a structured format that’s akin to traditional learning. Alternatively, you can try Tempo Learning, which is a work-at-your-own-pace format.
The Master of Science in Forensic Psychology program from Walden University is a 48 quarter credit program that can be completed in as little as two years. The program includes foundation and core courses, forensic psychology specialization courses, and a capstone or field experience.
As part of your studies, you will take classes in:
- Cybercrimes
- Family Violence
- Police Psychology
- Victimology
- Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology
Though this degree does not lead to licensure, it is good preparation for a Ph.D. program in forensic psychology. You can use this master’s degree to seek non-licensure positions in this field as well.
When applying for jobs, employers want to see you have relevant field experience. You’ll get that experience in an optional 11-week field placement in a location applicable to your specialty. You’ll work 60 hours at the field site and get practical experience applying your online learning to real-world situations.
You can apply to this program online at any time. You must have a bachelor’s degree to be eligible for admission to this program. You must also submit official undergraduate transcripts showing that a bachelor’s degree has been conferred.
GRE and GMAT scores are not required for admission.
What Careers Fall Under Forensic Psychology?
Forensic psychology is a broad field where clinical expertise meets the legal system. Careers in forensic psychology typically involve providing psychological assessments, expert testimony, or rehabilitation services within criminal and civil contexts.
- Legal & Courtroom Roles
- Expert Witness: Testifying in court regarding a defendant’s mental state, competency to stand trial, or the validity of eye-witness testimony.
- Trial Consultant: Assisting attorneys with jury selection, witness preparation, and developing legal strategies based on behavioral science.
- Victim Advocate: Providing support, legal navigation, and crisis intervention for victims of crimes.
- Correctional & Clinical Roles
- Correctional Psychologist: Working in prisons or jails to provide mental health treatment and crisis intervention for inmates.
- Probation/Parole Officer: While often considered law enforcement, many specialize in forensic psychology to manage the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders.
- Forensic Clinician: Conducting court-ordered evaluations, such as risk assessments for violence or evaluations for child custody disputes.
- Investigative & Research Roles
- Criminal Profiler: Working with law enforcement to analyze crime scenes and develop behavioral profiles of unknown offenders.
- Forensic Research Psychologist: Studying patterns in criminal behavior, the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, or the reliability of police interrogation techniques.
Does the FBI Hire Forensic Psychologists?
Yes. The FBI does hire professionals with psychology and forensic-relevant backgrounds, but most people do not get hired under the job title ‘forensic psychologist’.
In practice, psychology-trained candidates are most commonly hired in roles like Special Agent (psychology/counseling background), Victim Specialist (victim services), and other professional support positions. The FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) also uses applied psychological research and experience to support investigations, but BAU work is generally a specialized assignment rather than a typical entry-level ‘forensic psychologist’.
How Much Does a Forensic Psychologist Make in Louisiana?
As of February 2026, forensic psychologists in Louisiana earn an average annual salary of approximately $105,359. Top earning forensic psychologists in Louisiana make well over $150,000 per year.
The average yearly salary for forensic psychologists in major cities like Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lafayette, Shreveport, and Lake Charles is $136,881, $141,006, $117,525, $121,466, and $85,155 respectively.
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