Program Details

Graduate Certificate of Completion in Forensic Psychology

Offered By: College of Humanities and Social Sciences
Next Start Date:
Program Now Enrolling
Total Program Credits & Course Length:
Total Program Credits: 16
Online: 8 weeks
Transfer Credits:
Up to 12 credits or 1/3 of the program
Program Tuition Rate:
Online: $500 per credit. [More Info]

Overview

Explore the Psychology of Crime

The Graduate Certificate of Completion in Forensic Psychology program is offered through the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and is designed for individuals who have earned a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, criminal justice, nursing or a similar field who want to study criminal behavior.

You will be prepared to critically think about legal issues and policies relating to criminality with an emphasis on protecting the community, rehabilitating offenders, providing restitution to victims and promoting crime awareness. Biological, genetic and chemical factors are factors in criminal behavior, and this forensic psychology certificate program helps you understand society’s role in fostering, preventing and solving criminal behavior in the future.

Degree Outcomes

Understand Sociological Factors in Crime

Explore current criminal and psychological theories of criminal behavior and its impact on both individuals and communities, as well as public policies and research methods used to successfully integrate individuals with criminal backgrounds back into society. Develop strong criminal justice ethics and engage in a deeper examination of diversity issues related to crime and society.

By studying and analyzing theories, case studies and sociological factors behind criminal behavior, you gain an understanding of successful crime-prevention strategies to help you develop initiatives, policies and best practices. Psychological, environment and social theories behind crime causation are studied, along with the role our court system, government entities and individuals themselves play in criminal behavior and prevention.

What You Will Learn

Apply Theories to Real-Life Case Studies

Course topics include:

  • Theories of criminal behavior
  • Psychology and the legal system
  • Psychopathology
  • Rehabilitation and reintegration

Career Outcomes

Find a Career in Law Enforcement and Criminal Forensics

In addition to serving as a stepping stone to a variety of graduate degrees, the forensic psychology certificate is well-suited for forensic-related jobs throughout the government and education sectors, including law enforcement, criminology and university-level instructor.

Course List

The programs offered at Grand Canyon University may vary by content and course length. You are currently viewing the program version available in Arizona. In order to view the specific course content and credit length available for your state, please contact a counselor at 1-855-GCU-LOPE or click here to request more information.
Major:
16 credits
Total Degree Requirements:
16 credits

Program Core Courses

Course Description

This course explores classic and contemporary theories of crime causation, including psychological, developmental, and social causes of crime and theories of punishment.

Course Description

This course provides a psychological perspective for understanding legal issues, an examination of the various roles, functions, strategies, and interagency relationships of the courts, government entities, elements of the crime, and the individual as it relates to due process within the context of crime control.

Course Description

This course requires students to comprehensively examine various psychopathologies behind criminal behavior. Topics such as biological, genetic, neurochemical, cognitive, and sociological factors underlying criminal behavior will be examined. A focus will be placed on addiction, brain imaging, and future biopsychosocial research.

Course Description

This course examines various approaches to rehabilitative treatments in offender populations. A close look at rehabilitative methods within sex offenders, drug offenders, white collar criminals, cyber criminals, female offenders, juveniles, and mentally ill populations will be taken. Students will examine public policy and research based methods for successful prevention and community reintegration.

Program Locations

Online

Online

Pursue a next-generation education with an online degree from Grand Canyon University. Earn your degree with convenience and flexibility with online courses that let you study anytime, anywhere. GCU offers the most experienced leadership in delivering online degree programs. Full-time faculty members and fully trained adjunct instructors, equipped with strong academic backgrounds and practical experience in their fields, support you every step of the way. Designed with the career-oriented professional in mind, our online classes provide an intimate environment that stimulates engaging and challenging discussions. Choose from programs across our distinct colleges, in high-demand employment areas. Classes begin frequently.
Evening

Evening

Grand Canyon University’s evening programs cater to the demands of working professionals who prefer an in-person learning environment. Our night classes meet just once per week and offer the interaction and discussion of a typical college classroom. Night classes are designed for a specific number of students, providing a warm and nurturing environment that supports an engaging experience. In an evening cohort, you will progress through your degree program with the same career-minded classmates, providing an opportunity to network and forge relationships that go beyond the classroom. Classes begin frequently at various locations, including our main campus.

* The Department of Education defines how an institution must calculate a program's On-Time Completion rate for federal disclosure purposes. The On-Time Completion rate is based on a program’s published required number of months to complete all degree requirements as provided in the institution’s catalog. Completion statistics are updated every January and are based on the cohort of students who graduated between 7/1 – 6/30 of the preceding year. The On-Time Completion rate is determined by the number of students in the cohort who completed the program within the published program length divided by the number of students in the cohort who graduated.

Online and Evening program disclosures (9 month program)

* Please refer to the Academic Catalog for more information. Program subject to change.
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