PhD in Psychology: Legal Psychology

Our Doctor of Philosophy in Psychology with a major in Legal Psychology focuses on issues such as witness memory, interrogations, investigative interviewing, lineups, deception detection and juror decision-making. FIU is one of the few universities in the world with a doctoral concentration in legal psychology.

Our program provides a solid foundation in the traditional, current and emerging trends in the field. Students complete a series of courses designed to provide a thorough understanding of psychological theory and methodology as well as applied and basic research. Note, our program does not provide training for a career as a forensic psychologist.

The Legal Psychology Program adopts and supports the Department of Psychology's Commitment to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. In addition, our program supports Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI). Read our Statement to Address AAPI Hate.

Announcements

Interested in earning a Ph.D. in Legal Psychology? Please join us for the Legal Psychology Virtual Open House on Nov. 3, 2023 at noon! You will learn about the program and how to apply (application deadline is Dec. 1, 2023 for the Fall 2024 cohort!). You can register for the free event HERE
We are excited to announce our new partnership with Focus Litigation Consulting, founded by Legal Psychology alum Dr. Geri Fischman. Starting in 2024 Maria Sparacino, a Legal Psychology doctoral candidate, will serve as a Fellow at Focus Litigation Consulting for a year, gaining valuable experience in the trial consulting world.

Congratulations to Doctoral Candidate Devon LaBat, Dr. Goldfarb, Dr. Evans, and Dr. Schreiber Compo, on their NIJ-funded research being highlighted by The Conversation. They found a brief training video can help jurors better evaluate forensic science testimony.