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 and emerging research at the intersection of psychology and the criminal justice system. Students complete a series of courses designed to provide a thorough understanding of psychological theory as well as applied and basic research. Students are actively involved in research throughout their time in the program. Note that our program does not provide training for a career as a forensic psychologist.
The department of psychology is committed to a student body that is representative of the community in which it is located and the greater global society in which its alumni will work, teach, serve and conduct research. To this end, the department aligns with the mission of an Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) which is to support expansion of educational opportunities for Hispanic Americans and other underrepresented populations.
Announcements
Join an information session on program details, application requirements, benefits to students, and more!
Congratulations to our 2026 PhD candidates Madison Hunter and Avery Stackle!
Students interested in applying to our program are strongly encouraged to attend our virtual open house on November 6 from 11:00 -12:00 EST, during which you will hear from our faculty and learn more about our program. You can sign up for this event at go.fiu.edu/psylegal.
We are excited to announce our new partnership with Focus Litigation Consulting, founded by Legal Psychology alum Dr. Geri Fischman. Costanza Alessio, 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.
Program Director
For general questions about FIU's Psychology graduate programs and how to apply, please reach out to psygrad@fiu.edu.
For questions specific to the Legal Psychology Ph.D. program, please email Dr. Charman at charmans@fiu.edu.
Stephen Charman
Professor
305-348-7074
charmans@fiu.edu
DM 237
Contact Us
Department of Psychology
psygrad@fiu.edu
MMC: 11200 SW 8th Street, DM 256
Miami, FL 33199
Tel: 305-348-2880
Fax: 305-348-3879