FAQs

A: Application dates are announced on the MLFP Overview page. 

A. We have elected to NOT require the GRE for admission. This program is geared toward continuing education and career advancement for working professionals, thus a GRE is not a necessary requirement. GRE scores submitted will not be considered in your application.

A. Please wait to share official transcripts until requested. The request will include information about how to share your official transcripts. Only submit your unofficial transcripts when applying. Official transcripts will be requested if/when admittance to the program is granted.

A. Yes, please do not send these until requested. Upload unofficial transcripts with your application.

A: Resumes should be provided as part of your application. Log into the application, click "Additional Information" and use the "Curriculum Vitae" section to upload your resume.

A: No. Letters of Recommendation must be uploaded digitally. You will identify two people to write a recommendation as part of the application process. These individuals will be provided with a link where they will submit the Letter of Recommendation.

A: You may submit more than two letters of recommendation. Please note that academic letters of recommendation will carry more weight.

A: Applicants who wish to apply for need-based grants or loans will need to file a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Assistance). For more information please visit the UCI Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships website.

A: This program is entirely online with the exception of one, mandatory 5-day in-residence course which is held on the UC Irvine campus.

A: Completion of this program does not provide students with any certifications. Students who complete this program will be awarded a Master's Degree in Legal and Forensic Psychology.

A: We do not have a formalized program for licensure, as we are not a clinical forensic psychology program. Rather, our program prepares students to understand and critique research related to psychology and legal issues and use this knowledge of research, psychological principles and theories to better understand legal processes and systems.

A: Normally, coursework earned in a Masters program does not transfer into a Ph.D. program, however it may strengthen your application. You should contact the Ph.D. program you are interested in to determine if your MLFP degree will strengthen your application to that particular program.

A: The majority of our students are already working in the field of Legal and Forensic Psychology when they enter the program and are looking for a graduate degree for career advancement. This program was developed with the help of an advisory board consisting of highly prominent legal practitioners from the local community. These individuals voiced their opinions about which skills they were seeking in their incoming employees and we designed the curriculum for the program with that in mind. Our graduates have been highly successful in advancing in their careers and gaining employment in a relevant field.

A: The Master of Legal and Forensic Psychology (MLFP) program, offered in collaboration between the Department of Psychological Science and Department of Criminology, Law and Society, focuses on the intersection of psychology and legal issues, with an emphasis on the use of psychological principles, theories, and research to better understand legal processes and systems. Students will be immersed in an interdisciplinary field devoted to advancing scholarship, testing theories, and engaging in public service relevant to individual-level participation and experiences in legal contexts. Degree recipients will enjoy a wide range of career opportunities in academic settings, research and policy institutes, government agencies, and a variety of public and private sector organizations and agencies.

The Master of Advanced Study (M.A.S.) in Criminology, Law and Society prepares professionals for leadership positions in criminal justice and the legal professions. The curriculum emphasizes theoretical and practical applications central to crime and its control, social policy, and the law. Students graduating from our program are positioned for career advancement as well as further academic endeavors. Our graduates have careers in a variety of areas including the FBI, homeland security, district attorney’s office, police departments, crime units, probation agencies, parole agencies, clerks of courts, appellate law, criminal defense law, psychology, education, and social work. CLICK HERE to learn more about the program.

A: This program is a self-supporting degree program, and certain fee waivers traditionally accepted by the University of California may, or may not, be accepted. For example, STUDENTS ENROLLING IN THIS PROGRAM CANNOT USE CAL VET TUITION/FEE EXEMPTIONS; THIS PROGAM IS NOT SUPPORTED WITH STATE FUNDS AND IS NOT SUBJECT TO THE STATE LAW REGARDING CAL VET TUITION/FEE EXEMPTIONS. Please contact seambassador@uci.edu for more information.

A: No. The MLFP program is designed as a two-year program with the working professional in mind. You are considered a full-time student with two courses per quarter.

A: Because this program is online, with admitted students residing across the country, and designed for the working professional, we do not provide internship opportunities for our students. We do however, post jobs weekly on our various social media platforms for MLFP students and alumni only.

A: If an MLFP student is interested in participating in research with MLFP faculty, they will need to visit faculty’s web pages, see if they have any opportunities, and apply to open positions they are interested in.

A: No, you must attend the mandatory in-residence course before you begin the MLFP program.

A: Yes, you have a better chance of being admitted into the MLFP program if you apply by the priority deadline.

A: Yes. The MLFP program does accept international students. Because our program is entirely online outside of the mandatory one-week in-residence course (Introduction to Legal and Forensic Psychology) a Visa is not required. However, any questions regarding your student status or forms needed/required as an International Student, please contact UCI's International Center here: Welcome | UCI International Center | UCI