The University of North Dakota offers a Master of Arts and a Master of Science in Forensic Psychology. The MA is fully online and takes about two years to complete. The MS is on-campus and requires a thesis. UND is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and is located in Grand Forks, ND.
The University of North Dakota was founded in 1883, six years before North Dakota achieved statehood, making it the oldest and largest university in the state. UND is a Carnegie R1 research institution with nearly 15,000 students enrolled across more than 225 programs in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
University of North Dakota Accreditation Details
UND holds institutional accreditation from the Higher Learning Commission (HLC) and has been continuously accredited since 1913. The APA does not accredit master’s programs in psychology. UND’s PhD in Clinical Psychology holds APA accreditation. The forensic psychology MA and MS are accredited at the institutional level through HLC. Program-level accreditors across UND’s colleges include:
- American Psychological Association (APA, doctoral programs only)
- Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC)
- Council on Social Work Education (CSWE)
- Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)
- Council on Academic Accreditation in Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology (ASHA-CAA)
- American Bar Association
- Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE)
- Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME)
- AACSB International
- Accreditation Board for Engineering & Technology (ABET)
University of North Dakota Application Requirements
Applicants to both programs must hold a bachelor’s degree in psychology or a related behavioral or social science field: criminal justice, sociology, counseling, or social work all qualify. No GRE scores are required for admission to either track. The MA requires a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or above. The MS recommends a GPA of at least 3.2, though it is not a strict cutoff.
Applications must include a CV, personal statement, and three letters of recommendation. Prior forensic work or research experience strengthens an application. International applicants must meet English language proficiency requirements set by the UND School of Graduate Studies.
Deadlines vary by track: the online MA accepts fall applications by April 1 and spring applications by October 1. The on-campus MS deadline for fall entry is December 1. Contact the Forensic Psychology Graduate Program Director at [email protected] or 701.777.4771 to confirm current requirements before applying.
University of North Dakota Tuition and Financial Aid
Tuition is charged on a per-credit basis. Online MA students pay a flat per-credit rate regardless of state residency. On-campus MS students are billed at North Dakota resident, Minnesota resident, or out-of-state rates. Current per-credit figures for both tracks are published at und.edu/programs/forensic-psychology-ma-ms/cost.html and are updated annually.
Financial aid is available through federal loans, grants, and institutional scholarships. Students seeking federal aid must complete the FAFSA. Graduate assistantships are available through the department on a competitive basis, and military-affiliated students qualify for North Dakota resident tuition rates for all on-campus programs.
Psychology Programs at the University of North Dakota
Both forensic psychology tracks at UND require 30 credits and can be completed in about two years.
Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology
The MA in Forensic Psychology is one of UND’s online master’s in psychology offerings, built for working adults. Students complete 30 credits: 18 credits of required coursework and 12 elective credits. The required coursework includes an independent study course (PSYC 997) where students complete either a practicum or a research project. There is no on-campus residency requirement, and no GRE is required for admission.
Required courses include Psychology and Law, Research Methods in Forensic Psychology, Behavior Pathology, and Advanced Social Psychology. Elective options include Eyewitness Testimony Memory, Cognitive Psychology, and Supervised Field Work. Graduates work in law enforcement, social service agencies, hospitals, and courts and are trained to assist with trial preparation, apply forensic assessment tools, and support courts and state agencies. Note that this program does not prepare students for psychology licensure. Many graduates continue on to law school or doctoral programs in forensic psychology. To compare UND against other options, see our list of top online forensic psychology programs.
Master of Science in Forensic Psychology
The MS in Forensic Psychology is an on-campus, thesis-based track. Students complete a minimum of 30 credits: 18 required, 6 to 9 elective, and 6 thesis credits. Required courses include Forensic Assessment, Psychology and Law, and a statistics sequence covering Advanced Univariate Statistics, Multivariate Statistics, and Experimental Design. This track suits students who want research-intensive training or plan to continue to a doctoral program. The application deadline for fall entry is December 1.
Both programs are based in UND’s psychology department at Columbia Hall in Grand Forks. The department maintains active research programs in areas including eyewitness memory and behavior pathology. Students in both tracks have access to more than 60 free professional development workshops through the UND School of Graduate Studies.
Use the tool below to browse accredited psychology programs and compare options by location, degree level, and focus area.