Forensic Counseling

Increasingly the legal and criminal justice systems are seeking the expert advice and skills of forensic counselors to determine the proper resolution of cases and the most effective treatment for offenders. Through this specialization, you can build your knowledge of mental health law, with a specific focus on juvenile justice and delinquency.

Enhance your competencies in conflict management and negotiation and learn how those skills can be applied to resolve conflicts in the criminal justice system. Upon completion of this specialization, you will be eligible for certification and licensure as a professional counselor with additional training in forensics.

“We are entering an era of greater collaboration within the courts and the criminal justice system and forensic counselors are vital parts of this coordinated effort to enhance the judicial process,” says Savitri Dixon-Saxon, Ph.D., associate dean, School of Counseling and Social Service. “From offering mediation assistance in child custody cases to working with offenders as they move through the system, forensic counselors have an important role to play in ensuring the best possible resolution for individuals involved in the legal system.”

Completion Requirements

• Complete the M.S. in Mental Health Counseling completion requirements.
• COUN 6511 Treatment of Forensic Populations (5 credits)
• Choose one additional course
  • COUN 6512 Juvenile Justice, Delinquency, and Development (5 credits)
  • COUN 6742 Conflict, Conflict Resolution and Peace (5 credits)
  • COUN 6912 Mental Health Law (5 credits)

For a personalized estimate of your time to completion, call your enrollment advisor at 1-866-492-5336.

Curriculum

Two courses (10 cr.) are required.
Choose two additional courses (COUN 6511 is required).

Course Code	Course Title	Credits
COUN 6511	Treatment of Forensic Populations Required	5
COUN 6512	Juvenile Justice, Delinquency, and Development  Optional	5
COUN 6742	Conflict, Conflict Resolution and Peace Optional	5
COUN 6912	Mental Health Law Optional	5

For your fieldwork, you can focus on a general counseling area and complete your field experience before the Forensic Counseling courses or focus on a specific area of Forensic Counseling and complete your field experience after your Forensic Counseling specialization coursework.

Course Descriptions

For students interested in forensic psychology, Walden offers a M.S. in Forensic Psychology program. Learn more.  

Note on Licensure

Walden University’s M.S. in Mental Health Counseling is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP), a specialized accrediting body recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA), which is a requirement for licensure in many states. The M.S. in Mental Health Counseling program is designed to prepare graduates to qualify to sit for licensing exams and to meet the academic licensure requirements of many state counseling boards. Because no graduate program can guarantee licensure upon graduation, we encourage students to consult the appropriate agency to determine specific requirements. For more information about licensure, students should visit the National Board for Certified Counselors at www.nbcc.org/stateboardmap and contact the appropriate licensing body. International students are encouraged to identify and contact their appropriate licensing body.