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Clinical Psychology Forensic Emphasis

Forensic Emphasis Overview

The forensic emphasis at Alliant provides PhD and PsyD clinical psychology students with the knowledge, skills and experience to effectively work with criminal populations and within criminal and civil legal settings.

If you envision working with a wide-range of law enforcement, correctional, legal, and medical professionals, this forensic emphasis can help open doors to the criminal and civil justice systems of therapeutic jurisprudence.

The emphasis in forensics in clinical psychology covers diverse needs relating to:

The Alliant forensic clinical psychology emphasis program is offered with the following clinical psychology programs:

The Sacramento campus offers a related emphasis program in correctional psychology, which provides the necessary knowledge and hands-on experience to practice clinical work exclusively to offender populations. Contact an admissions counselor if you have questions determining whether the clinical forensic psychology or correctional psychology emphasis is right for you.

Skills Obtained from Emphasis Program

The Alliant forensic psychology training program gives you a comprehensive foundation from which to draw as you begin your practicum and enter the workforce as a forensic clinical psychologist. Throughout the emphasis program and upon completion, you will:

Forensic Psychology Experience Area

To complete the forensic emphasis, you must:

Clinical Forensic Psychology Classes

Required courses include:

PsyD in Forensic Psychology

For students drawn to both mental health and the justice system, a PsyD in forensic psychology offers a structured path into one of the fastest-growing specialties in professional psychology. This doctoral program blends rigorous clinical training with focused study in psychology and the law, preparing graduates to work confidently across criminal justice and civil legal settings. Alliant offers this pathway as a forensic emphasis within its PsyD and PhD in Clinical Psychology — not a standalone forensic degree — giving students a doctoral forensic psychology experience without sacrificing a strong clinical foundation.

Unlike a PhD in forensic psychology, which tends to emphasize research, most PsyD programs with a concentration in forensic psychology are designed around professional practice and supervised clinical experience. Students pursuing a PsyD degree in this space complete the same rigorous clinical psychology PsyD foundation as their peers, then layer in specialized coursework addressing forensic assessment, psychopathology, criminal responsibility, and the ethical questions that arise when clinical and counseling work intersects with legal issues.

At Alliant, the forensic emphasis is available within the PsyD and PhD in Clinical Psychology, meaning students graduate with a strong forensic foundation, fully grounded in general clinical competencies while also fluent in the language of the courtroom.

Core Coursework and Clinical Skills

A strong doctoral curriculum in this field typically includes:

These courses build the clinical skills future practitioners need to evaluate forensic populations, testify credibly as an expert witness, and communicate complex psychological findings to judges, attorneys, and juries. Coursework in negotiation, child custody mediation, and disability law rounds out the graduate experience, ensuring students understand how psychology to the law connects in practical, everyday legal proceedings.

Fieldwork, Supervision, and Clinical Experiences

No PsyD in forensic psychology is complete without extensive hands-on training. Programs typically require:

These clinical experiences may take place in correctional facilities, mental health facilities, community clinics, or within the department of corrections, giving students direct exposure to forensic populations and the day-to-day realities of working within correctional and forensic settings. Faculty supervise every phase of this training to ensure students meet the clinical and ethical bar required for state licensure.

Online, In-Person, and Hybrid Formats

Today’s PsyD programs recognize that not every student can relocate for a doctoral program. Many schools now offer an online PsyD option or programs that are primarily online, while still requiring in-person residencies or in-person clinical placements to satisfy licensure requirements. This hybrid structure allows working professionals to pursue an online program without giving up the hands-on clinical training that forensic assessment work demands.

Career Outcomes in the Field of Forensic Psychology

Graduates of a PsyD degree with a forensic focus go on to work as a forensic psychologist, consultant, or evaluator across a wide range of settings. Common roles include:

Whether working directly with forensic populations or advising attorneys on criminal responsibility and legal issues, professionals in the field of forensic psychology play a critical role connecting psychology and the law.

Is PsyD in Forensic Psychology Right for You?

If you’re considering a doctoral program that merges clinical psychology PsyD training with real-world legal application, a PsyD in forensic psychology may be the right fit. It offers a rigorous blend of professional practice, supervised clinical experience, and specialized forensic assessment skills — all built on the same clinical foundation as a traditional psychology PsyD. For students ready to bridge psychology and the law, this degree program is a direct pathway into one of the most meaningful corners of professional psychology.

Contribute to a Specialized Field in Forensic Psychology

As a university, we believe it is important to provide our students with pathways to specific careers and practices. Call (866) 825-5426 or contact an admissions counselor today to learn more about how the Alliant clinical forensic psychology emphasis will prepare you for this growing and important field of clinical psychology.

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