Students in Walden’s PhD in Forensic Psychology program will explore the systems and programs that strive to create positive change in the legal system and community settings. Students can broaden their understanding of advanced forensic psychology and examine ways to evaluate programs designed for populations such as the incarcerated, recently released offenders, the mentally ill, and juvenile offenders. Walden’s PhD in Forensic Psychology program offers a variety of specializations to help students meet their personal and professional goals. Students may choose from the General Program or the following specializations: Criminal Justice Self-Designed, Crisis Leadership Management, Crisis Response, Legal Issues in Forensic Psychology, Self-Designed, or Victimology.
The PhD in Forensic Psychology is not a licensure-leading program and does not prepare an individual to become a licensed psychology professional.
As graduates of this program, students will be prepared to:
There are two tracks in the PhD in Forensic Psychology:
Each track also offers a Fast Track option. With our Fast-Track Option, you increase your course load each term and begin your dissertation early to expedite your path through the program.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
FPSY 8002 - Foundations of Graduate Study in Psychology |
3 credits |
FPSY 8102 - Intersection of Crime, Psychology, and the Law |
5 credits | |
Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2. | ||
Quarter 2 |
FPSY 8412 - Research Foundations ORRSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis ORRSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
Specialization Course | 5 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
Specialization Course | 5–6 credits | |
Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course. | ||
Quarter 4 |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis |
5 credits |
FPSY 8126 - Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment |
5 credits | |
Quarter 5 | Specialization Course | 5–6 credits |
FPSY 8910 - Legal Issues and Social Change in Forensic Psychology |
5 credits | |
Quarter 6 |
FPSY 8700 - Dissertation Literature Review Lab |
2 credits |
FPSY 8400 - Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology |
5 credits | |
Quarter 7+ |
FPSY 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology ORFPSY 8185 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology |
5 credits |
Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system. | ||
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation* |
5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms; taken continuously until completion | |
Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
|
||
Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during FPSY 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. |
* Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Walden offers a Fast-Track Option. With the Fast-Track Option, students take additional courses and begin their dissertation early to expedite their path through the program.
Students must also
Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation study course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Note: PhD in Forensic Psychology Fast-Track Option courses are identified with an APSY course prefix for enrollment purposes. APSY course descriptions align with corresponding FPSY courses, as listed below.
Students undertake courses in the following sequence.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
FPSY 8002 - Foundations of Graduate Study in Psychology
|
3 credits |
Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program. | ||
FPSY 8102 - Intersection of Crime, Psychology, and the Law
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 8412 - Research Foundations
OR
RSCH 8210O - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
OR
RSCH 8310O - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
Complete Residency 2 around the time of second research course. | ||
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
* |
1 credits | |
Quarter 2 |
APSY 8XXX Specialization Course 1 | 5 credits |
RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
APSY 8XXX Specialization Course 2 | 5 credits | |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
* |
1 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
FPSY 8126 - Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment
|
5 credits |
APSY 8XXX Specialization Course 3 | 5 credits | |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 8700 - Dissertation Literature Review Lab
|
2 credits | |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
* |
1 credits | |
Quarter 4 |
FPSY 8910 - Legal Issues and Social Change in Forensic Psychology
|
5 credits |
FPSY 8400 - Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 8185 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology
|
5 credits | |
Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system. | ||
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
** |
2 credits | |
Complete Residency 4 while in the development stage of your Proposal:
|
||
Quarter 5+ |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
|
5 credits per term for a minimum of 3 terms; taken continuously until completion |
Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during FPSY 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. Note: Intensives are not included in Fast Track tuition |
* FPSY 9000 aligns with APSY 9000A Dissertation Prep.
** FPSY 9000 aligns with APSY 9000B Dissertation Prep.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
FPSY 8002 - Foundations of Graduate Study in Psychology
|
3 credits |
FPSY 8252 - Themes and Theories of Psychology
|
5 credits | |
Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2. | ||
Quarter 2 |
FPSY 8720 - Abnormal Behavior
|
5 credits |
FPSY 8135 - Criminal Behavior
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
FPSY 8116 - Understanding Forensic Psychology Research
|
5 credits |
FPSY 8126 - Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 4 |
FPSY 8762 - Teaching of Psychology
|
5 credits |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 5 | Specialization Course | 5 credits |
Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course (RSCH 8310). | ||
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 6 |
FPSY 8314 - Program Evaluation
|
5 credits |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 7 | Specialization Course | 5–6 credits |
RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 8 |
FPSY 8700 - Dissertation Literature Review Lab
|
2 credits |
FPSY 8400 - Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology
|
5 credits | |
Quarter 9 |
FPSY 8214 - Consulting for Organizational Change
|
5 credits |
Specialization Course | 5–6 credits | |
Quarter 10+ |
FPSY 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology
OR
FPSY 8185 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology
|
5 credits |
Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system. | ||
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation*
|
5 credits per term for a minimum of 4 terms; taken continuously until completion | |
Complete Residency 4 after your prospectus is approved as follows:
|
||
Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during FPSY 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. |
* Students take this course for a minimum of four quarters and are continuously enrolled until completion of their dissertation with final chief academic officer (CAO) approval. In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Walden offers a Fast-Track Option. With the Fast-Track Option, students take additional courses and begin their dissertation early to expedite their path through the program.
In addition, students must
Walden students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral program unless they petition for an extension.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation course shell.
To complete a doctoral dissertation, students must obtain the academic approval of several independent evaluators including their committee, the University Research Reviewer, and the Institutional Review Board; pass the Form and Style Review; gain approval at the oral defense stage; and gain final approval by the chief academic officer. Students must also publish their dissertation on ProQuest before their degree is conferred. Learn more about the dissertation process in the Dissertation Guidebook.
Note: PhD in Forensic Psychology Fast-Track Option courses are identified with an APSY course prefix for enrollment purposes. APSY course descriptions align with corresponding FPSY courses, as listed below.
Quarter | Course | Credits |
---|---|---|
Quarter 1 |
FPSY 8002 - Foundations of Graduate Study in Psychology
|
3 credits |
Complete Residency 1 as soon as you begin your program; should be completed in Term 1 or Term 2. | ||
FPSY 8252 - Themes and Theories of Psychology
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 8720 - Abnormal Behavior
* |
5 credits | |
Quarter 2 |
FPSY 8135 - Criminal Behavior
|
5 credits |
FPSY 8116 - Understanding Forensic Psychology Research
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 8126 - Understanding Violence, Risk, and Threat Assessment
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
** |
1 credits | |
Quarter 3 |
FPSY 8762 - Teaching of Psychology
|
5 credits |
RSCH 8210 - Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
APSY 8XXX Specialization #1 | 5 credits | |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
** |
1 credits | |
Quarter 4 |
RSCH 8310 - Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits |
Complete Residency 2 at the beginning of your second year, around the time of second research course (RSCH 8310). | ||
FPSY 8314 - Program Evaluation
|
5 credits | |
RSCH 8260 - Advanced Quantitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
** |
1 credits | |
Quarter 5 |
APSY 8XXX Specialization #2 | 5 credits |
RSCH 8360 - Advanced Qualitative Reasoning and Analysis
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 8700 - Dissertation Literature Review Lab
|
2 credits | |
FPSY 8400 - Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology
|
5 credits | |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
** |
1 credits | |
Quarter 6 |
FPSY 8214 - Consulting for Organizational Change
|
5 credits |
APSY 8XXX Specialization #3 | 5 credits | |
FPSY 8115 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology
OR
FPSY 8185 - Writing a Quality Prospectus in Psychology
|
5 credits | |
Complete Residency 3 once you have a prospectus in Walden’s review system. | ||
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
** |
1 credits | |
Complete Residency 4 while in the development stage of your Proposal:
|
||
Quarter 7+ |
FPSY 9000 - Dissertation
|
5 credits per term for a minimum of 3 terms; taken continuously until completion |
Optional: Complete a dissertation intensive (DRWI 8500) during FPSY 9000. Contact Student Success Advising to register. Note: Intensives are not included in Fast Track tuition. |
* FPSY 8720 aligns with APSY 8722 Abnormal Behavior.
** FPSY 9000 aligns with APSY 9000A Dissertation Prep.
Walden awards the Master of Philosophy (MPhil) degree to recognize PhD students for academic achievement leading up to their dissertation. With an MPhil, students will be able to demonstrate to employers and others that they have an advanced knowledge base in their field of study as well as proficiency in research design and evaluation.
Students who start or readmit to doctoral programs at Walden University in the university catalog for academic year 2017 or later will complete the university’s required doctoral writing assessment. Designed to evaluate incoming doctoral students’ writing skills, this assessment aims to help prepare incoming doctoral students to meet the university’s expectations for writing at the doctoral level.
In general, students are continuously registered in the dissertation/doctoral study course until they complete their capstone project and it is approved. This usually takes longer than the minimum required terms in the dissertation/doctoral study course shell.
Students have up to 8 years to complete their doctoral degree requirements (see Enrollment Requirements in the student handbook). Students may petition to extend the 8-year maximum time frame, but an extension is not guaranteed.
Students can discover how they can work with police departments or other law enforcement agencies assisting in officer selection and training, stress management, critical incident stress debriefing, hostage negotiations, and selection of special operations officers. Students will gain insights into stress management and coping strategies and understand the impact of dealing firsthand with victims and first responders. They will also understand the phenomenon and impact of post-traumatic stress on law enforcement and their families.
OR
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