Southern New Hampshire University Online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology and Forensic Psychology

The College of Online and Continuing Education at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) offers an online Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Psychology with an optional concentration in Forensic Psychology. The BA degree combines theory with case studies, experiential learning, and research to prepare students for graduate-level education or various entry-level career paths, in fields such as marketing, human resources, market research, public relations, law, and administration. Graduates will have a solid foundation in psychology, research, analysis, cutting-edge theories, ethical reasoning, and the facets of human behavior.

The BA in psychology program includes a 12-credit certificate in Data Literacy in Psychology within the curriculum. This certificate teaches students to combine data analysis with theory. Students in this program learn to develop detailed reviews and present their findings to professional or academic audiences. In addition, SNHU offers experiential learning and internship experiences.

The BA in Psychology with a concentration in Forensic Psychology merges the areas of psychology, law, and criminal investigations to prepare graduates to work within the legal system in criminal cases. Students apply research skills, critical thinking, and psychology theory to challenges within the legal system. The curriculum focuses on criminal behavior motives, the sanity of the criminal, the role of psychologists in the courtroom, criminal assessments and profiling, and the treatment of individuals in the correctional system. Graduates of bachelor’s in psychology programs with a forensic psychology concentration may seek entry-level positions consulting with law firms and the police as well as courtroom cases.

The psychology BA and forensic psychology concentration curriculum focus on five themes that align with the American Psychological Association Guidelines for the Undergraduate Psychology Major: self-care, emotional intelligence, ethics, social justice, and career connections.

Undergraduate online programs begin six times per year at SNHU. The BA in Psychology degree comprises 120 credits and takes four years to complete full-time. SNHU offers six 8-week sessions per year. Students may transfer up to 90 credits from prior advanced education and even obtain college credit for previous work experience. The program is 100% online with no campus visits required. There is an internship course available to Forensic Psychology students.

Online BA in Psychology courses are delivered asynchronously and may include recorded lectures, experiential assignments, case studies, individual or group projects, presentations, reading assignments, and assessments. Peer/faculty collaboration takes place through discussion boards, email, chat, and phone. All materials and assignments are clearly laid out weekly for a flexible, yet specific program path. Additionally, students create a portfolio throughout the programs, working layer upon layer toward the culminating experience.

All online SNHU students have access to an online student union called SNHUconnect. Here students can meet virtually with fellow classmates, faculty, and alumni for collaboration and feedback. Additionally, student services include academic advising, admissions counseling, 24/7 technical support, a writing center, library services, tutoring services, and career services.

The online BA in Psychology curriculum includes 42 credits of general education, nine credits of arts and sciences, 27 credits of major courses, and 12 credits of electives or forensic psychology concentration courses. Included in the arts and sciences are courses required in sociology regarding social problems, and sociology of the family, gender, aging, and deviant behavior.

Required major core courses include Introduction to Psychology; Lifespan Development; Theories of Personality; Abnormal Psychology; Theories of Social Psychology; and Cognition. Students then choose one of two research courses and statistics courses, and either Senior Seminar in Psychology or Psychology and Social Change. Students earning a general BA in Psychology choose 12 credits of electives from approved psychology courses.

Forensic Psychology concentration courses include Forensic Psychology and Criminal Psychology, with two courses chosen from the following: Counseling Process and Techniques; Experiential Learning; Introduction to Sociology; Sociology of Deviant Behavior; and Sociology of Crime and Violence. Students may also choose an internship as part of their Forensic Psychology concentration courses.

Southern New Hampshire University is accredited by the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE).