FP FAQs
Please refer to our Graduate Psychology Advisement page for information on the best contact to help answer any questions you may have.
Forensic psychology is the application of psychological principles, research, and methods to legal and criminal justice systems. It encompasses a range of activities, including psychological assessment, evaluation, and treatment of individuals involved with the courts or criminal justice agencies. Forensic psychologists work with diverse populations such as defendants, victims, law enforcement, and correctional staff, addressing issues related to mental health, criminal behavior, and legal decision-making. They often conduct risk assessments, competency evaluations, and provide expert testimony in legal proceedings.
Developed within the Department of Psychology, the Forensic Psychology MA Program offers students a rigorous academic foundation in psychological theory, research methods, and legal systems, with specialized training in areas such as criminal behavior, psychological assessment, ethics, and forensic interviewing. Students are prepared to pursue further graduate study or enter the workforce in roles supporting courts, correctional facilities, law enforcement agencies, and research institutions. The program emphasizes multicultural competence and the integration of social justice principles in forensic settings.
Application forms and catalogs may be obtained through the Forensic Psychology Graduate Admissions Website. For more information about the application portal or process, please contact graduateadmissions@jjay.cuny.edu.
Applications can be submitted for admission in the Fall and Spring terms. Application deadlines will be posted on the Graduate Admissions Website.
- Minimum GPA of 3.0
- Minimum combined GRE score of 297 *Test Scores--waived for Fall 2025. However, if students have a GPA of less than 3.0, we highly recommend that you submit GRE scores to improve your application. In lieu of GRE scores, we will review overall GPA, major GPA, and prerequisite requirements closely.
- 12 credits of undergraduate psychology (grades B or better)
- 1 undergraduate course in statistics (grade B or better)
- 1 undergraduate course in experimental psychology or research methods (grade B or better)
- 3 letters of academic reference
- Personal Statement
All prerequisites must be completed before students enroll in MA level courses.
Requirements for admission are detailed on the Forensic Psychology Program Requirements webpage.
- Students with a GPA under 3.0 are only admitted under exceptional circumstances.
- If your GPA does not meet the minimum requirement (or surpasses it only slightly), we suggest taking additional psychology courses at an accredited university to increase your GPA.
- In addition, while we are not requiring the GRE for admission at the moment, some students opt to take the GRE to increase the competitiveness of their application.
- Finally, you should also ensure that your essay is exceptional and that your recommendations highlight your abilities/strengths and speak to your capacity to succeed in graduate school.
We cannot provide an exact figure, as there are multiple factors that determine how tuition is calculated. Some of the factors that determine the cost include:
- Online/In-Person Program
- NYS Resident/Non-NYS Resident
- Credits offered per class/total credits taken per semester
- Matriculated/Non-matriculated status
- Academic Excellence Fees (depending on your Graduate program of study)
It is always recommended to review our website for the most current tuition rates: Graduate Tuition & Fees | John Jay College of Criminal Justice. You may use the chart as a guideline for the anticipated cost (however, be advised that this chart does not account for books/supplies or other outside costs).
*Please Note: The tuition rates on the JJC website are for the current academic year and may increase in the future.
The MA Program in Forensic Psychology is designated as a program of Excellence by CUNY, and began adding an Excellence Fee to each of its courses in Spring 2016. These fees are used solely to enhance the excellence of MA Programs by providing specialized student support in academics, externship/career advisement, and professional development.
Students are encouraged to file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to determine their eligibility for aid and loans.
There are some state and federal grants and loans which are available at John Jay College, as well as at most universities. Work Study Programs are also available for financially-qualified applicants. For further information, contact John Jay's Office of Student Financial Services via email (financialaid@jjay.cuny.edu) or telephone at 212-237-8151.
Additional scholarships may be awarded depending on funding availability and eligibility requirements.
John Jay College welcomes students from 130+ countries and offers the opportunity to meet with an International Admissions Specialist to discuss important deadlines and requirements. More Information for International Applicants.
For all inquiries related to tuition and cost of attendance, we recommend reaching out to the Financial Aid Office and/or the International Students Office for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
Matriculated students may apply for up to 12 transfer credits for prior graduate work at accredited colleges, provided the courses were completed with a grade of B or higher within an appropriate time preceding the time of application.
Courses taken more than seven years preceding the time of graduate application for admission will only be accepted in exceptional circumstances.
Two classes can transfer as electives/cognates (anything indirectly related to the program) and two must transfer directly as specific courses we have in our program. Syllabi and assigned textbooks must be comparable to those in our version of the course.
Students are responsible for submitting syllabi and relevant unofficial transcripts to the Forensic Psychology office (ForensicPsychologyMA@jjay.cuny.edu). The program director will review materials to determine transfer eligibility. If credits are eligible for transfer, students will be connected with the PSY MA Admin office (PsyMAadmin@jjay.cuny.edu) to process formal paperwork.
No, this is an in-person program.
We recommend incoming students prioritize taking the required introductory courses (PSY 700, 715, 745, 769) within their first year in the program.
Use this webpage for detailed information regarding program requirements, as well as course descriptions for electives.
Graduates of the Forensic Psychology MA Program pursue a wide range of professional and academic paths. Many go on to doctoral study in clinical, counseling, or forensic psychology, or pursue legal education through law school. Others apply their training in research settings, contributing to academic, governmental, or nonprofit work focused on criminal justice, psychology, or public policy. Graduates may also work directly in the field, providing forensic case management, conducting risk assessments, or supporting legal decision-making in court or correctional settings. Some enter specialized roles in threat assessment, intelligence, or investigative support for government agencies and private organizations.
The more than 40 full-time faculty members of the Psychology Department offer a unique blend of expertise in research, scholarship, and teaching. A number of our faculty members have both law degrees and PhDs. Several have extensive experience as clinicians in forensic units of hospitals, in family and criminal court, or as consultants to law enforcement.
Full-time faculty have published significant articles and/or books on their research in cutting edge and emerging areas of forensic psychology including: trauma, mental health stigma, microagressions and racial trauma, domestic violence victimization, sexual assault victimization, sex trafficking, hostage negotiations, group dynamics and cults, queer issues in forensic psychology, and mindfulness approaches to treating violent offenders. Full-time faculty are also leaders in the field with regard to more established areas in forensic psychology including: false confessions, serial offenders, sex offenders, jury selection, jury and eyewitness research, forensic assessment, mental health law, juvenile delinquency, dangerousness, and insanity defense evaluations.
In addition to our full-time faculty, we have approximately 100 adjunct faculty members. They are often actively working in forensic, clinical, or legal settings, including hospitals, family courts, correctional centers, government agencies, and non-profit organizations and bring a wealth of applied knowledge to their pedagogy.
Our faculty and programs are committed to racial, gender, and sexual minority justice within the criminal justice system.
Many full-time faculty in the John Jay Psychology Department have active research labs with ongoing projects and/or archival data from previous research.
Students interested in gaining research experience have the option to join a research project, join a faculty mentor’s lab, and/or complete a thesis.
The Masters Student Research Group (MSRG) is committed to the advancement of research and professional development among graduate students in the PSY MA Programs. In addition to various programming throughout the year, they survey faculty each semester to determine who has ongoing/active research projects and is accepting research assistants. Please find more opportunities for research on the MSRG webpage.
The Masters Student Research Group (MSRG) is committed to the advancement of research and professional development among graduate students in the PSY MA Programs. In addition to various programming throughout the year, they survey faculty each semester to determine who is accepting thesis students. For assistance in finding an advisor, please contact msrg@jjay.cuny.edu.
We recommend beginning the search for an advisor in your first or second semester of the program. For more more information of the thesis process, contact forensicpsychologyma@jjay.cuny.edu
You can find a step-by-step thesis guide on the MSRG webpage!
The Forensic Psychology MA is a 42-credit program, which may be best suited for students whose post-graduation plans involve additional graduate education (e.g., doctoral programs in psychology or law school) or a career in research (e.g., in academic or organizational settings), direct service (e.g., forensic case management), or threat management/intelligence.
The Forensic Mental Health Counseling MA is a 60-credit, license-eligible program, which may be best suited for students whose post-graduations plans involve clinical, therapeutic practice (e.g., in social service agencies, forensic settings, private practice, etc.). The majority of clinical positions available to our graduates prefer (or require) clinical licensure.
No. If you are interested in applying for licensure after completing your master’s degree, please check out our FMHC program.
Yes. A number of our students go on to further academic study, including Clinical PhD programs, PsyD programs, and law school.
If you are considering applying to doctoral programs, we strongly encourage you to gain meaningful research experience while matriculated in the FPMA program.
Students may apply to transfer from the FPMA program to the FMHC program while they are matriculated at John Jay College. They must have completed at least one semester of their program and be in good standing (GPA of 3.0 or higher).
If you are considering making a change between these two programs, please contact the current Academic Advisor: AdvisorPSYMA@jjay.cuny.edu
Yes, for more information, please see the Dual BA/MA Programs webpage or contact bamadirector@jjay.cuny.edu.
Students from the Criminal Justice MA program interested in the FPMA program will need to reapply through the Graduate Admissions Website.
An externship refers to John Jay’s internship program in which students work in their field to gain hands-on practical experience. Students search for placements using InPlace, a comprehensive platform of former and current opportunities. Externships are completed at the end of a student’s program.
Externship eligibility depends on the requirements of each externship site as well as program guidelines. For detailed information, please email the Career and Externship Advisement office at psychmaexternships@jjay.cuny.edu.
*Eligibility is typically met in a student’s second-to-last semester in their program.
Once the program requirements are met, schedule an appointment with the Psychology Career and Externship Office through EAB Navigate using the following instructions:
- Log into EAB Navigate
- Use your CUNYfirst credentials: https://jjay-cuny.campus.eab.com/home
- Schedule an Appointment
- Schedule an Appointment > What type of appointment > Career Services > Service > Externship Advisement > Find Available Times > Select Desired Timeslot
- Finalize Appointment
- Meeting type defaults to Virtual
- Ensure Email and Text Reminders are checked.
- Click Schedule to confirm.
- Meeting Preparation
- Send a copy of your unofficial resume to psychmaexternships@jjay.cuny.edu prior to your appointment.