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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ Maastricht University

March 26, 2012 By Comments

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pg” alt=”" width=”204″ height=”158″ />After having reviewed the five fully online masters programs in forensic psychology, numerous requests were received for more information on the campus-based masters programs in forensic psychology that are available. Thus, this series of articles will review each of the masters programs in forensic psychology and provide information on each program in a similar format so as to assist in comparisons between the various options.

The goal of this series of articles is simply to provide information in a consistent format to assist those individuals who are considering an education in forensic psychology and not to convince anyone to attend a particular program. Having been a professor in this field for the last 13 years I am familiar at some level with almost every forensic psychology program available in North America and a few on other continents as well. Many undergraduate students are not familiar with all the possible options and so this series will lay them out in a consistent format for ease of comparison.

Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology – Maastricht University

Program Description

From the website: Forensic Psychology is the application of scientific and professional aspects of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system. The two-year Master of Science in Forensic Psychology (MSc) at Maastricht University, Faculty of Psychology and Neuroscience, educates its students to become scientist-practitioners in the forensic mental health field.

This selective programme provides students with a mix of theoretical and empirical knowledge in forensic psychology through the educational concept of Problem Based Learning (PBL). Students study the literature in relation to real-life problems and work in small tutorial groups to meet their learning goals. Furthermore, the programme includes hands-on training in forensic assessment and therapy skills. This combination makes this master’s programme unique.

Forensic psychologists always operate with two goals in mind: the safety of society and the well-being of the offender-patient. Forensic psychologists need specialised knowledge in areas such as offender typologies, criminal and juvenile law, psychopathy, malingering, sexual offending, trauma and victimisation, risk assessment and offender treatment.

Work in forensic settings is challenging. First of all, the patient group that is admitted to forensic settings is diverse and demanding, including persons with severe antisocial behaviour problems and co-morbid mental disorders (such as schizophrenia combined with substance use disorders). Secondly, assessment and research questions in forensic settings are highly complex (for example questions concerning criminal responsibility, future violence risk and parenting capacity). Last but not least, to be able to work effectively in the forensic field, specialised skills and knowledge in the field of material law and legal procedure are required, for example to serve as an expert witness in court.

Apart from the above-mentioned knowledge and skills, a successful career in the forensic mental health field requires strong motivation and communication skills.

The Master in Forensic Psychology is a two-year, internationally oriented programme, taught in English.

Specializations

The two-year master’s programme in Forensic Psychology will deliver scientist-practitioner forensic psychologists with both knowledge of mental disorders and their evidence-based assessment and treatment, specific to forensic settings. The first year of the two-year programme prepares the students for their clinical and research internship, and their master’s thesis during the second year.

Credits

The two-year program of study has a total of 120 European credits (60 credits each academic year), with each credit equaling 28 hours of study.

Thesis

Completion of a masters thesis is a required component of this program.

Externship/Practicum

The internship is a key component of the education as a forensic psychologist. During the second year, students will spend at least 32 weeks on internships, applying the theoretical knowledge and professional skills and attitudes obtained during the first year.

There are two internships. The research internship entails addressing a carefully formulated research question, working out a research proposal, conducting the actual study, and writing a master’s thesis in a form suitable for submission to an English-language scientific journal.

The clinical internship is aimed at conducting evidence-based practice in forensic assessment and forensic therapy. Furthermore, students will conduct a small-scale clinical research project, which forms the basis for the minor thesis. During the clinical internship period, students who are located close enough to the UM, will have regular in-person meetings with fellow students and an instructor, to discuss their experiences at the internship site and to learn to relate these experiences to relevant knowledge and skills. Dutch-speaking students are offered the opportunity to fulfill entrance requirements for professional postmaster training programmes in The Netherlands.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission in this master’s programme, students must meet the following criteria:

  • A bachelor’s degree in Psychology or Mental Health Science from a Dutch university, or a foreign university bachelor’s degree from a programme that meets similar achievement levels;
  • The bachelor’s programme must include the following subjects relevant to this master’s programme:
  • Basic training in clinical interviewing skills;
  • Basic training in psychological assessment;
  • Basic training in research methodology and statistical analysis;
  • Basic training in psychopathology
  • A Grade Point Average (GPA) of 3.0 or more (= 7.0 or more in the Dutch grading system) for the subjects (courses, thesis, practicums, etc.) of the bachelor’s degree.

Tuition & Fees

In-State Residents

Individuals who are citizens of The Netherlands or one of the other EU/EER countries, Suriname, or Switzerland pay approximately the following tuition:

€1,771 per year

Out-of-State Residents

Individuals who are not citizens of The Netherlands or one of the other EU/EER countries, Suriname, or Switzerland pay the following tuition:

€12,000 per year

Coursework

Core Courses

Introduction to Forensic Psychology (4 credits)

Eyewitnesses and Victims (4 credits)

Psychotic Disorders (4 credits)

Perpetrators and Defendants (4 credits)

Personality Disorders (6 credits)

Criminal Law (6 credits)

Professional Ethics in Forensic Psychology (2 credits)

Forensic Neuropsychology (2 credits)

Sex Offenders (2 credits)

Psychopharmacology of Reward and Drugs of Abuse (2 credits)

Deception and Malingering (2 credits)

What works with young offenders? (2 credits)

Master class with international experts I (3 credits)

Master class with international experts II (3 credits)

Workshop

Writing a research proposal (1 credit)

Skills Labs

Assessment skills lab I (4 credits)

Assessment skills lab II (4 credits)

Therapy skills lab I & II (6 credits)

Expert witness skills lab (2 credits)

Clinical and Research

Research proposal (2 credits)

Research Internship (25 credits)

Masters thesis (10 credits)

Clinical research proposal (1 credit)

Clinical Internship (15 credits)

Minor’s Thesis (4 credits)

Concluding Comments

This is a well known and high quality program of study in The Netherlands and the faculty consists of internationally respected researchers on forensic issues. The program is akin to a clinical psychology program in the United States (as opposed to experimental) but has a strong emphasis on research as well as clinical work. Students who are interested in more information about this program should check out the program’s website, which includes an informative 12-minute video with Professor Corine de Ruiter, an international expert in forensic psychology and member of the faculty.

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Forensic Psychology Salary and Employment Prospects for 2012 and Beyond

January 2, 2012 By Comments

Forensic psychology is an intriguing field of work and study but two of the most important questions to ask before deciding to pursue any field of work or study is whether there will be employment opportunities available when you complete the requisite educational requirements and whether the expected salary is enough for you to live. This article describes the current state of employment and salary prospects for forensic psychologists for 2012 and beyond.

Employment Prospects for Forensic Psychologists

In a nutshell, employment prospects for forensic psychologists are great. The United States Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that career employment for forensic psychologists is expected to grow by about 15% through 2016. Not only is this a faster growth rate than average but it is also one of the fastest growing fields within the broader domain of psychology.

Those who currently work in the field know that there is a dearth of forensic psychologists in the correctional system and that it would take hiring thousands of forensic psychologists to make up for the shortfall in this area. Thus, the correctional system throughout the United States will likely be one of the largest employers of new forensic psychologists over the next decade.

Academic institutions, research institutions, and think tanks are also expected to hire a number of forensic psychologists over the next decade. As more and more national attention is directed towards the successful reintegration of offenders back into the community, additional resources, including the retention of forensic psychologists in both practice and research settings, are expected to be directed towards this goal.

Although a doctoral-level degree is the requirement to practice as an independent psychologist is most every state, certain states, such as New York, are revising their licensing laws to allow masters-level individuals to become licensed as counselors thereby increasing the employment opportunities for those who do not hold doctoral-level degrees. These changes are a result of the strong need for psychological service providers in these states. Thus, employment prospects tend to be good for both doctoral and masters-level practitioners.

Salary Prospects for Forensic Psychologists

The salary that one earns as a forensic psychologist is typically dependant upon the level of education (typically doctoral vs. master’s level), the type of setting in which one is employed (e.g., correctional institution, academic institution, community mental health center, forensic hospital, private practice), and the number of years of experience in the field. Other factors may include geographic location, with higher salaries typically associated with larger cities and more densely populated areas.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the mean annual salary for forensic psychologists is $86,510, with a range from $41,200 to $119,940. These are aggregated data that do not take into consideration the number of years of experience of the individual.

The American Psychological Association’s Practice Organization, which includes individuals who are licensed as psychologists and who are actively engaged in the practice of psychology, surveyed their members as to their annual gross income from work as a psychologist and found the following:

Salary Range Percentage of Respondents
Less than $30,000 4.9%
$30,000 – $59,999 12.8%
$60,000 – $99,999 36.7%
$100,000 – $150,000 28.5%
More than $150,000 11.8%

This represents the salary earned across all subtypes of psychology; however, forensic psychologists typically make more than most other types of psychologists so it is probably safe to assume that these numbers are a bit on the conservative side for the subspecialty of forensic psychology.

For those who are interested in some state-specific information from the Bureau of Labor Statistics about the salaries of forensic psychologists, please see this article on the typical forensic psychology salary.

For those who are interested in some setting-specific information on the salaries of forensic psychologists, including academic and research settings, clinical settings, legal settings, correctional settings, and private practice, please see this article.

All things considered, the time is right for forensic psychologists. This is an interesting field with a lot of upside for employment and salary, not to mention rewarding work that is often intellectually stimulating and intriguing.

If this is your first visit to this website, please have a look around as there are a number of good articles on education and training in forensic psychology, career profiles of various types of forensic psychologists, and salary and employment information as well as resources for those already working in the field. Enjoy!

Photo courtesy of kareleo.com

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New York Law School and John Jay College to offer a Joint MA/JD Degree Program

December 8, 2011 By Comments

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height=”182″ />This article describes the new joint Masters in Forensic Psychology and Law degree offered by John Jay College of Criminal Justice and New York Law School, including admission requirements, curriculum content, and FAQs.

MA-JD Program in Forensic Psychology and Law

An MA-JD dual-degree program in Forensic Psychology and Law, offered through NY Law School (NYLS) and John Jay College (JJC) has been officially approved by NY State, and is now beginning at the two institutions. Interested students must apply to and be accepted by both institutions and must complete one full year at one institution before beginning their second full year at the other. The advantage of the combined program is that 12 specific JJC credits can be counted towards the JD, while 12 specific online JD credits at NYLS can be counted towards the MA, thus saving 24 total credits, the equivalent to one full year of study.

Degree Requirements

The Four-Year Forensic Psychology MA/JD offers qualified students the opportunity to earn both a John Jay Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology and a New York Law School Juris Doctor degree in Law which may be completed in as little as four years. The curriculum is composed of the existing required and elective courses for the MA and for the JD, requiring a combined total of 128 credits, including 42 credits for the completion of the MA Program in Forensic Psychology and 86 credits for the completion of the JD Program in Law. However, 12 New York Law School credits focusing on mental disability law will be credited towards both the JD and the MA Program. Likewise 12 MA credits from the John Jay Forensic Psychology MA Program will be credited also to the New York Law School JD program. Consequently, due to the 24 transfer credits applied in the dual degree program, the actual number of credits taken will be 104, resulting in graduation for full-time students in four years instead of five.

The MA Program in Forensic Psychology will consist of 24 required credits; 15 forensic elective credits, including 12 credits from the NY Law School Mental Health and Disability Law track; and 3 credits of externship.

The JD from New York Law School will consist of 41 required credits, 12 credits from the Mental Disability Law Studies, 12 transfer credits from the JJC MA Forensic Psychology Program, and 21 additional law school elective credits.

Students will be required to complete their first full year of law school without John Jay MA courses during that regimen; and they are likewise required to complete their first year of the MA Program in Forensic Psychology (24 Credits) without NY Law School courses (except for those counting towards the MA degree) during that period. However, they have the option of starting their first year in either of the two degree programs.

Required Courses

MA Program in Forensic Psychology, John Jay College of Criminal Justice (42 Credits, including 12 Transfer Credits from New York Law School)

Required MA Courses (24 Credits)

• PSY 700 – Mental Health Professionals, Social Science, and the Law

• PSY 715 – Research Methods

• PSY 745 – Psychopathology

• PSY 769 – Intermediate Statistics in the Social Sciences

• PSY 731 – Human Growth and Development or PSY 741 – Theories of Personality and Counseling

• PSY 760 – Counseling & Psychotherapy Methods or PSY 761 – Clinical Interviewing & Assessment

• PSY 734 – Criminal Psychological Assessment

• PSY 754 – Advanced Forensic Assessment

Required MA Supervised Externship (3 Credits)

• PSY 780 – Fieldwork in Counseling I

MA Forensic Electives (15 Credits)

Mental Health and Disability Law Electives (Select 4 courses, 12 Credits from NY Law School)

• CRI 507 – Survey of Mental Disability Law (Required for this Specialty)

• ADV 600 – Advocacy Skills in Cases Involving Persons with Mental Disabilities: The Role of Lawyers & Expert Witnesses

• CON 275 – The Americans with Disabilities Act: Law, Policy and Practice

• FAM 160 – Custody Evaluations, Juvenile & Family Law, & Mental Disabilities

• CRI 280 – Forensic Reports, the Role of Experts, and Forensic Ethics

• CRI 260 – Mental Disability and Criminal Law

• CRI 250 – Mental Health Issues in Jails and Prisons

• CRI 275 – Mental Illness, Dangerousness, the Police Power and Risk Assessment

• CRI 508 – Sex Offenders

• UCI 125 – Therapeutic Jurisprudence

• Trauma and Mental Disability

MA Forensic Electives (Select 1 course, 3 JJC MA Credits)

• PSY 701 – Criminal Behavior

• PSY 705 – Victimology

• PSY 714 – Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

• PSY 716 – The Evaluation and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender

• PSY 718 – Social Science Evidence in Court

• PSY 720 – Social Psychology and the Legal System

• PSY 726 – Mental Health Issues in Policing

• PSY 727 – Eyewitness Identification

• PSY 742 – Family Violence and Disputes

• PSY 746 – Empirical Profiling Methods

J.D. Program, New York Law School (86 Credits, including 12 transfer credits from John Jay College of Criminal Justice)

Required J.D. Courses (41 Credits)

• REQ 100 – Civil Procedure (4 Credits)

• REQ 200 – Constitutional Law I (3 Credits)

• REQ 250 – Constitutional Law II (3 Credits)

• REQ 300 – Contracts (3 Credits)

• REQ 400 – Criminal Law (3 Credits)

• REQ 650 – Evidence (3 Credits)

• REQ 600 – Lawyering (3 Credits)

• REQ 450 – Professional Responsibility (3 Credits)

• LWR 100 – Legal Reasoning, Writing and Research (3 Credits)

• REQ 150 – Legislation and Regulation (2 Credits)

• REQ 500 – Property (4 Credits)

• REQ 550 – Torts (4 Credits)

• LWR 200 – Written and Oral Advocacy (3 Credits)

J.D. Mental Disability Law Studies Electives (Select 4 courses 3 credits each, 12 Credit totals, maximum one per semester)

• CRI 507 – Survey of Mental Disability Law (Required for this Specialty)

* ADV 600 – Advocacy Skills in Cases Involving Persons with Mental Disabilities: The Role of Lawyers and Expert Witnesses

• CON 275 – The Americans with Disabilities Act: Law, Policy and Practice

• FAM 160 – Custody Evaluations, Juvenile & Family Law, & Mental Disabilities

• CRI 280 – Forensic Reports, the Role of Experts, and Forensic Ethics

• International Human Rights and Mental Disability Law

• CRI 260 – Mental Disability and Criminal Law

• CRI 250 – Mental Health Issues in Jails and Prisons

• CRI 275 – Mental Illness, Dangerousness, the Police Power and Risk Assessment

• Race, Gender, Class, and Mental Disability

• CRI 508 – Sex Offenders

• UCI 125 – Therapeutic Jurisprudence

• Trauma and Mental Disability

MA Transfer Credits from John Jay College of Criminal Justice to NYLS (12 Credits)

Required MA Courses (3 courses, 9 credits)

• PSY 700 – Mental Health Professionals, Social Science, and the Law

• PSY 734 – Criminal Psychological Assessment

• PSY 754 – Advanced Forensic Assessment

Elective (Choose one 3-Credit MA Course)

• PSY 701 – Criminal Behavior

• PSY 705 – Victimology

• PSY 714 – Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

• PSY 716 – The Evaluation and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender

• PSY 718 – Social Science Evidence in Court

• PSY 720 – Social Psychology and the Legal System

• PSY 726 – Mental Health Issues in Policing

• PSY 727 – Eyewitness Identification

• PSY 742 – Family Violence and Disputes

• PSY 821 – Empirical Profiling Methods

J.D. Additional Elective Courses (21 Credits)

Students must choose an additional 7 out of 250 other elective law school courses from groups outside the Mental Disability Law track, including those in administrative law, externship and clinic settings, constitutional law, criminal law, history philosophy sociology and theory of law, international law, professional skills, public interest law, and tort law. Course offerings vary from semester to semester, and the full catalog and listing are available online at the New York Law School website, www.nyls.edu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the MA-JD Program?

A: The Four-Year MA/JD dual-degree program offers qualified students the opportunity to earn both a Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology at John Jay College (JJC), and a Juris Doctor degree in Law at New York Law School (NYLS), which may be completed in as little as four years.

The MA/JD Dual Degree Program will capitalize on New York Law School’s nationally renowned expertise in Mental Disability Law with John Jay College’s highly recognized specialization in Forensic Psychology, to develop lawyers who will be uniquely trained to advocate for the mentally disabled, as practitioners, policy makers and legal scholars. [Graduates will also be able to work as MA Psychologists exempt from doctoral-level licensure in limited NY State civil service job settings; and as MA Psychologists in various other states, depending upon their licensing laws].

Q: What is the Focus of the Program?

A: The focus of the program is on forensic psychology, and mental health disability law. In addition to the MA in forensic psychology, students will be required to include 12 online credits about aspects of mental health disability law offered by NYLS.

Q: How Many Credits are Required for Graduation?

A: The curriculum is composed of the existing required and elective courses for the MA and for the JD, requiring a combined total of 128 credits, including 42 credits for the completion of the MA Program in Forensic Psychology and 86 credits for the completion of the JD Program in Law. However, 12 New York Law School online credits focusing on mental disability law will be credited towards both the JD and the MA Program. Likewise 12 MA credits from the John Jay Forensic Psychology MA Program will be credited also to the New York Law School JD program. Consequently, due to the 24 transfer credits applied in the dual degree program, the actual number of credits taken will be 104, resulting in graduation for full-time students in four years instead of five.

Q: What is the Course Sequence?

A: Students may begin their training in either the MA or the JD program, but the first year must be exclusively in one program, followed by the second year exclusively in the other program. Students may then mix their courses between the two programs in their third and fourth years.

The MA Program in Forensic Psychology will consist of 24 required credits; 15 forensic elective credits, including 12 credits from the NY Law School Mental Health and Disability Law track; and 3 credits of externship. The JD from New York Law School will consist of 41 required credits, 12 credits from the Mental Disability Law Studies, 12 transfer credits from the JJC MA Forensic Psychology Program, and 21 additional law school elective credits.

A typical course sequence for a student choosing to start in the MA Program would look like this: First Year at JJC would cover Mental Health Professionals & the Law, Research Methods, Psychopathology, Statistics, Human Growth & Development, Criminal Psychological Assessment, Advanced Forensic Assessment, and Clinical Interviewing.

Second Year at NYLS would include Civil Procedure, Contracts, Torts, Legal Reasoning, Property, Criminal Law, Advocacy, Legislation, and Lawyering.

Third Year at both would include Survey of Mental Disability Law, Forensic Psychology Elective, Constitutional Law I, Two NYLS electives, Professional Responsibility, Mental Health Disability Elective, Constitutional Law II, and Evidence.

Fourth Year at both would include two NYLS Mental Health Disability (online) Electives, 5 additional NYLS electives, and the JJC psychology externship.

Q: What are the Admissions Requirements?

A: Applicants must apply to both programs for the joint dual-degree program. For admission to the MA Program, a bachelor’s degree, with an undergraduate minimum GPA of 3.0; GRE’s scores, with a minimum score of 1000 combined in Verbal and Quantitative [or the equivalent LSAT percentile]; a minimum of 12 combined psychology credits in undergraduate and graduate coursework; plus Statistics, and Research Methods, which can be taken upon admission to the program; plus a personal statement and recommendations. For further Graduate Admissions information at JJC, go tohttp://www.jjay.cuny.edu/451.php

NYLS JD admissions are competitive, and applications must be submitted in electronic format, and include an LSAT score, resume, and at least one letter of recommendation. Additional biographical, education, employment and other information is also required. For further details, go to http://www.nyls.edu/.

Q: What are Possible Post-Graduate Careers?

A: Attorneys with a specialization in Forensic Psychology and Mental Health Disability Law may consider work with nonprofit organizations or public interest law firms, representing individual clients denied services or rights, or advocating for systematic change. They may represent people with mental health disabilities regarding informed consent, guardianship, and access to community services. They may also work for nonprofit corporations such as hospitals; or government agencies at the state of federal level. Some possibilities include departments of mental health and disability, human services, state juvenile and adult correctional services, and health services; and various mental health profession regulatory agencies. Further career and employment information is available from NYLS at www.nyls.edu.

Q: Where Can I Obtain More Information About the Dual-Degree Program, and About New York Law School and John Jay College of Criminal Justice?

A: The JJC website is www.jjay.cuny.edu. The NYLS website is www.nyls.edu. These sites will direct students to the Admissions Offices of each program. Also, those with questions about the dual-degree program may contact the JJC office of Coordinator James Wulach, Ph.D., J.D., at Jwulach@jjay.cuny.edu, or call 212-237-8782; or at NYLS applicants may contact Lianne J. Bass, Esq., administrator of the Online Mental Disability Law Program, at 212-431-2125, or call 212-431-2125.

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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ Marymount University

November 25, 2011 By Comments

After having reviewed the five fully online masters programs in forensic psychology, numerous requests were received for more information on the campus-based masters programs in forensic psychology that are available. Thus, this series of articles will review each of the masters programs in forensic psychology and provide information on each program in a similar format so as to assist in comparisons between the various options.

The goal of this series of articles is simply to provide information in a consistent format to assist those individuals who are considering an education in forensic psychology and not to convince anyone to attend a particular program. Having been a professor in this field for the last 13 years I am familiar at some level with almost every forensic psychology program available in North America. Many undergraduate students are not familiar with all the possible options and so this series will lay them out in a consistent format for ease of comparison.

Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology – Marymount University

Program Description

From the website: Marymount University has been a leader in preparing individuals to be part of one of the most sought-after career fields today – forensic psychology.

Marymount was the first Washington, DC, area university to offer the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology. And you can capitalize on the University’s alliances and proximity to key agencies important to study in this field – organizations such as the FBI, NCIS, the Supreme Court, the U.S. Department of Justice, and the Virginia Department of Juvenile Justice. MU integrates the resources of such agencies through site visits, courtroom observations, field research, internships, and distinguished speakers.

The discipline of forensic psychology is concerned with the application of psychological knowledge to the juvenile, civil, and criminal justice systems. Marymount’s Forensic Psychology program is interdisciplinary and combines study in sociology, criminal justice, and public policy, in addition to the many subfields of psychology. It addresses questions of value, such as how best to achieve fairness and justice in the American adversarial legal system, as well as empirical issues such as the origins of criminal behavior, problems with eyewitness testimony, evaluation of threats against public figures, personalities of political leaders, the origins of terrorism, evaluation and treatment of offenders and their victims, and the effectiveness of trial consultation. Each course incorporates an ethics component to encourage you to grapple with the extremely complicated issues involved in a career in forensic psychology.

Specializations

No concentrations are available. All students take the same series of courses (2 of which are electives for the student to choose).

Credits

The program consists of 39 credits (13 courses, including an internship experience in forensic psychology).

Thesis

Not required. It does not appear that completing a thesis is an option in this program; however, it appears that there are research opportunities available for those students who desire this experience.

Externship/Practicum

Required. Students must complete a pass/fail internship experience in forensic psychology, which consists of 300 hours (270 hours on site and 30 hours in the classroom).

Admission Requirements

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university and must submit their GRE scores.

Tuition & Fees

In-State Residents

$770/credit

Out-of-State Residents

$770/credit (additional fees may apply for International Students)

Coursework

Required Coursework (39 credits)

PS 500 Research and Evaluation
PS 501 Bases of Psychopathology
PS 507 Social Psychology of Aggression
PS 517 Neuropsychological Issues, Treatments, and Assessments
PS 580 Foundations of Forensic Psychology
PS 581 Psychology and the Law
PS 582 Advanced Issues in Forensic Psychology
PS 584 Psychology of Criminal Behavior or SOC 507 Juvenile Justice
PS 585 Forensic Assessment
PS 599F Internship: Forensic Psychology
SOC 510 Theories of Social Deviance

One of the following:

CE 508 Crisis Intervention
CE 509 Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention

One of the following:

CE 524 Theories and Techniques of Family Counseling
CE 551 Multicultural Counseling
CJ 501 Victims of Interpersonal Violence
CJ 508 Principles of Forensic Science I
CJ 509 Principles of Forensic Science II: Advanced Criminalistics
LA 500 Introduction to the Legal System
LA 590 Supervising Legal Research and Writing
LA 591 Advanced Legal Research and Writing/Computerized Legal Research
PS 529 Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence
PS 583 Psychology and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender
PS 586 Field Experience in Criminal Court
PS 587 Psychology, Social Policy, and Law
PS 588 Police Psychology
PS 589 Behavioral Criminology
PS 590 Issues in Criminal Assessment and Investigation
PS 591 Child Victimization
PS 592 Foundations of Political Psychology
PS 598 Project
SOC 507 Juvenile Justice
PS 584 Psychology of Criminal Behavior

Concluding Comments

The website also indicates that students in this program have the opportunity to: study abroad, in collaboration with the Forensic Psychology program at London Metropolitan University (a course is offered during alternating summers for select Marymount students); participate in ongoing research through an agreement with the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit; earn a second degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and begin the supervised experience necessary for licensure as a licensed professional counselor (LPC); and land an internship or job with a regionally or nationally recognized agency or continue further study.

This masters program is intended to prepare students for work in forensic settings. While there does not appear to be a strong emphasis on research in this program, students who are interested in conducting research can take advantage of Marymount’s ties and connections with various agencies for this purpose. Those students who are interested in becoming licensed masters-level clinicians can do so through the Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, but not the Forensic Psychology program. The program offers fieldwork to provide an opportunity for students to develop practical skills. Those students who desire to continue their education at the doctoral level are advised to either select a different masters program with an emphasis on research training (preferred) or to take advantage of every opportunity to conduct research and take research methods and statistics courses while in this masters program.

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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ Holy Names University

November 17, 2011 By Comments

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ent/uploads/2011/11/holynames.jpg” alt=”" width=”127″ height=”96″ />After having reviewed the five fully online masters programs in forensic psychology, numerous requests were received for more information on the campus-based masters programs in forensic psychology that are available. Thus, this series of articles will review each of the masters programs in forensic psychology and provide information on each program in a similar format so as to assist in comparisons between the various options.

The goal of this series of articles is simply to provide information in a consistent format to assist those individuals who are considering an education in forensic psychology and not to convince anyone to attend a particular program. Having been a professor in this field for the last 13 years I am familiar at some level with almost every forensic psychology program available in North America. Many undergraduate students are not familiar with all the possible options and so this series will lay them out in a consistent format for ease of comparison.

Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology – Holy Names University

Program Description

From the website: Holy Names University offers six graduate programs in the Counseling Psychology Programs for persons who want to work professionally as counselors in a variety of venues, including forensic and pastoral. Students will gain the knowledge and skills necessary to effectively counsel, fully acknowledging the diverse dimensions of people’s lives. The faculty is made up of practicing clinicians, and students are exposed to a wide variety of counseling theories with an integrated, programmatic emphasis on human diversity and spirituality. Classes incorporate didactic learning with opportunities for experiential practice via written exercises, case studies, and simulations. Integration of learning is fostered by scholarly papers and reflection journals. At the end of the program, students will be able to demonstrate clinical competence and clear understanding of professional responsibilities.

Our students reflect a rich diversity of age, culture, religion, lifestyles, and lived experiences. Holy Names Counseling programs are appropriate for individuals whose own levels of personal and psychological development enable them to have high regard for all human beings, especially those different from themselves. All programs are dedicated to fostering student development of openness and respect for all people. We firmly believe that valuing differences is a hallmark of effective, compassionate counseling. All three programs are designed for the working adult. Most classes are offered in the late afternoons and evenings.

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology (30 units)

This program, designed for those who may be licensed, prepares professionals for a career in working with victims and perpetrators in a correctional setting. This program is uniquely based in a foundational philosophy of restorative justice. Students will gain theoretical knowledge of the counseling field as it relates to corrections and the legal system, in general. Students completing this program are not eligible for state licensure as Marriage and Family therapists.

Specializations

No concentrations are available. All students take the same series of courses.

Credits

The program consists of 30 credit units.

Designed for the working adult, most classes are offered late afternoons and evenings, Mondays and Wednesdays or Tuesdays and Thursdays. Some Saturday classes are required.

Thesis

Not required. It does not appear that completing a thesis is an option in this program.

Externship/Practicum

Not required. Students do not have the option for an externship or field placement in this program. The website and brochure materials indicate that this Masters program is intended for the working adult and for those who may be licensed clinicians. The intent of this program is to provide a foundation of knowledge for working with clients in forensic settings. Students who do not have clinical experience may be interested in completing the dual MA degree in Counseling and Forensic Psychology.

Admission Requirements

Applicant to any counseling psychology master’s program must have taken an undergraduate general psychology or sociology course or have life experience working in the community mental health field.

From the website: Applicants must meet the following minimum requirements: (1) A bachelor’s degree or its equivalent, conferred by an accredited institution of higher education. (2) An undergraduate record that is satisfactory in terms of quality of scholarship. A scholarship average of 2.7 is required for the total undergraduate program, with an average of 3.0 in the major and in any subsequent graduate work.

The GRE does not appear to be required.

Tuition & Fees

In-State Residents

$800/unit

Out-of-State Residents

$800/unit

Coursework

Required Coursework (30 units)

CPSY 200 Foundations of Counseling: Process and Skills
CPSY 206 Forensic Psychology and the Law
CPSY 207 Psychology of Criminal Behavior
CPSY 208 Substance Abuse Assessment & Treatment
CPSY 209A Assessment, Diagnosis, & Treatment of the Victim
CPSY 209B Assessment, Diagnosis, & Treatment of the Offender
CPSY 211 Forensics: Psychometrics and Assessment
CPSY 212 Forensic Psychology Professional Practice Seminar
CPSY 226 Advanced Issues in Correctional and Community Counseling
CPSY 230 Human Diversity in Counseling
CPSY 245D Domestic Violence Assessment and Treatment

Concluding Comments

This masters program is intended to prepare students for working with victims and perpetrators. It is geared towards those students who have undergraduate degrees in psychology and who are currently working in the field but who would like more knowledge and skill for working various legal and correctional settings. The program is geared towards the working adult who is already licensed and does not lead to licensure eligibility. Those students who are not licensed or who require clinical experience should consider the dual MA degree in Counseling Psychology and Forensic Psychology as the dual program offers practical experience whereas this program does not. Given the limited fieldwork involved in this program, it does not appear to be the most appropriate program for those with no experience working with clients or patients in a psychological or counseling capacity. In addition, this program does not emphasize research and provides no opportunity to conduct research; therefore, those desiring to continue on to doctoral-level training in psychology are advised against taking this masters degree program. This program appears to offer an important knowledge base for those students and licensed clinicians whose work will require them to provide services to victims and perpetrators in a variety of forensic settings.

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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ Fairleigh Dickinson University

November 9, 2011 By Comments

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content/uploads/2011/11/fairleigh.jpg” alt=”" width=”104″ height=”104″ />After having reviewed the five fully online masters programs in forensic psychology, numerous requests were received for more information on the campus-based masters programs in forensic psychology that are available. Thus, this series of articles will review each of the masters programs in forensic psychology and provide information on each program in a similar format so as to assist in comparisons between the various options.

The goal of this series of articles is simply to provide information in a consistent format to assist those individuals who are considering an education in forensic psychology and not to convince anyone to attend a particular program. Having been a professor in this field for the last 13 years I am familiar at some level with almost every forensic psychology program available in North America. Many undergraduate students are not familiar with all the possible options and so this series will lay them out in a consistent format for ease of comparison.

Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology – Fairleigh Dickinson University

Program Description

From the website: Although many forensic psychologists are academics who teach and do research, most are full-time practitioners. Forensic psychologists are, essentially, clinicians trained to conduct specialized evaluations for the courts and testify as expert witnesses. The evaluations that the courts may request vary widely, ranging from criminal responsibility, diminished capacity and competency to child custody, disability, personal injury, death penalty mitigation, malingering, and violence / dangerousness risk.

Masters-level forensic psychologists will not, for the most part, be assigned to conduct these evaluations, although they may assist under the supervision a doctoral-level forensic psychologist. Masters-level forensic psychologists most frequently are employed as clinicians who conduct therapy with forensic clients, either in forensic settings (e.g., jails, prisons, locked forensic units in state hospitals) or in the community with probationers or parolees. Masters-level forensic psychologists are also employed to do research with a variety of justice-related agencies and organizations. As noted, masters-level forensic psychologists may also be hired by court clinics or private practitioners to assist with evaluations under the supervision of a licensed psychologist.

Our program at Fairleigh Dickinson University is designed to offer our students the maximum possible exposure to the broad field of forensic psychology while at the same time streamlining a curriculum that allows students to finish in 18 months. Students are exposed through coursework to all of the aforementioned areas of forensic psychology practice. In addition, students gain invaluable clinical experience through the completion of a 300-hour externship placement, and have the option to participate in forensic research and do a thesis.

Specializations

No concentrations are available. All students take the same series of courses and 2 electives.

Credits

The program consists of 36 credit hours, which the student takes over the course of 1 ½ years.

Thesis

Not required. Students have the option to participate in research and complete a thesis.

Externship/Practicum

Required. Students complete a 300-hour externship placement as a requirement of the program.

Admission Requirements

Students are required to have completed an undergraduate degree in psychology or a related field from an accredited institution of higher education (including coursework in Introductory Psychology, Statistics, and Abnormal Psychology) and must submit their scores from the general test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). The website does not provide any information regarding average or minimum GRE scores or GPA.

Tuition & Fees

In-State Residents

$1075/credit hour

Out-of-State Residents

$1075/credit hour

Coursework

Required Coursework (36 credits; the following + 2 electives)

PSYC6121 Statistics and Research Methods

PSYC6114 Psychopathology

PSYC6230 Introduction to Forensic Psychology

PSYC6231 Psychological Basis of Criminal Behavior

PSYC7235 Evaluating Criminal Responsibility & Competency to Stand Trial

PSYC7230 Forensic Evaluation & Assessment

PSYC7130 Forensic Interviewing Techniques

PSYC6227 Clinical Practice in Forensic Contexts

PSYC7234 Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology

Externship and Proseminar

Concluding Comments

This is a relatively short (fewer than usual credit hours) and relatively expensive (higher tuition per credit hour than most) masters program that appears mainly geared towards those students who wish to be involved in the delivery of psychological services to those in the correctional or forensic mental health systems. The focus on assessment appears relatively strong whereas interventions and other treatment methods are less emphasized. There does not appear to be a strong research focus in this program but the materials do note that a thesis is optional and is recommended for those students who would like to pursue doctoral-level study in psychology. It is unclear whether the thesis work would substitute for the externship requirement or some other part of the curriculum or would be completed in addition to the regular curriculum. Students interested in doctoral-level study in forensic psychology might wish to consider a more research-focused masters program.

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