PhD in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law
Understand the psychology of violence to make systems more just and society safer.
PhD in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law Overview
This unique doctoral program is designed for professionals interested in making private and public sector environments safer, stronger, and more just. Throughout the program you’ll join with peers and thought leaders in exploring ways to transform existing systems to make them more equitable, impactful, and humane, resulting in dramatically improved communities, societies, and the world. Psychology and law differ in content, but the two have much in common. Psychological science understands human behavior while political science regulates it.
The doctoral program prepares you to intersect with current systems in different contexts to better understand and mitigate violence and conflict. By strengthening your scientific research as well as legal research skills and expanding your understanding, you should be empowered to engage in thoughtful leadership within civil, criminal law, and public policy frameworks to improve outcomes within local, national, or global settings and public affairs.
As a scholar in the PPPL program, you will engage with empirical foundations that are transparent, accessible, and aligned with top guidelines in the field. The curriculum emphasizes research planning and reporting, original research, and the application of psychological frameworks to real-world policy challenges. Students are expected to contribute meaningfully to publication cycles — submitting articles, papers, and journal entries that reflect comprehensive and critical inquiry. The program also integrates ethics across all coursework, ensuring that every researcher develops a strong moral compass alongside their technical expertise.
As a participant of the PhD in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law online program, you may become part of an elite cadre of professional practitioners who are educated and trained in applying science to contemporary social problems and legal issues. You’ll learn current violence prevention and intervention practices in forensics, the criminal justice system, social policy, law enforcement and legal system, security, and social engagement to keep individuals and societies safe more effectively. Fellow students include public and private health and safety professionals who have earned a master’s degree or juris doctor from a regionally accredited institution and who want to enhance their skills and advance their careers or consultancies.
The program is committed to equity and recognizes the importance of addressing demographic and gender disparities within the criminal justice and public policy sectors. Relevant research on historically marginalized populations is woven into the curriculum, encouraging students to examine identity and systemic bias as part of their decision-making and policy analysis frameworks. Through review of contemporary scholarly literature and expert testimony, graduates are equipped to challenge inequities and advocate for treatment models grounded in evidence-based theory.
With timely and relevant concentrations, the program should prepare you to work at the forefront of today’s law enforcement, security, and forensics challenges. Among other concentrations, you may opt to specialize in forensic linguistics, using the study of language to investigate violence. By analyzing word choices, discourse, and subtle changes in language that correlate with an increase in violence, you’ll participate in building a valuable corpus of material for further forensic discovery.
Students are encouraged to publish their findings and present contributions at recognized forums. Whether authoring a peer-reviewed article, contributing to an edited volume, or presenting testimony before policy bodies, the program cultivates the skills needed to communicate research in psychology to diverse audiences. Methodological rigor — including cognitive assessment tools, procedure design, and limitation acknowledgment — is emphasized throughout, ensuring that each student’s impact extends from academia into practice. The program also addresses topics such as sexual violence, providing students with frameworks to understand and respond to this critical area within forensic and policy contexts.
Concentrations include:
- Forensic linguistics
- Conflict resolution and peace studies
- Disaster planning and management
- Criminal behavior
- Pragmatic situational awareness
As a graduate of PhD in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law online program, you’ll be qualified to pursue a meaningful and impactful career in law enforcement and public administration, as a security executive or consultant, as a forensic program developer and evaluator, in forensic linguistics or trial consulting, in risk management, as a civil investigator, mitigation specialist, and as an influencer of public policy.
Program Highlights
Strong Partnerships
The School of Forensic Studies (SFS) is a proud sponsor of the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association (ILEETA), of International European College (IEC), and the California Peace Officers Association (CPOA).
Important and Timely
The program provides an opportunity for you to take a deep dive into the psychology of violence and the laws and policies related to it in a variety of contexts such as criminal justice, social services, security, and media.
Online Education
The PhD in Psychology, Public Policy, and Law program is offered online with two intensive weekend residencies and incorporates technology to create a rich learning environment outside of the classroom.
Admissions
Learn About Admissions Requirements
Faculty
Get to Know Our Diverse Faculty