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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ University of Nebraska-Lincoln

February 8, 2012 By Comments

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t=”" width=”200″ height=”150″ />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 –University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Program Description

From the website: The Law-Psychology Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is one of the leading centers for education and research in the interdisciplinary study of law and psychology. In existence since 1974, our program trains scholars who are engaged in basic and applied research and writing on psychosocial issues and problems related to the law. The Department of Psychology and the College of Law jointly sponsor the program, which is the world’s oldest ongoing integrated program in psycholegal studies. It remains unusual in the breadth of training with students specializing in virtually any area of psycholegal studies. Law-psychology faculty and students focus their studies in traditionally important psycholegal areas such as jury decision-making, eyewitness memory, children’s decision-making, distributive and procedural justice, domestic violence, criminal responsibility, juvenile justice, the admissibility of scientific evidence in litigation, and so on. They also work on less-studied topics, such as tax compliance, altruistic behavior, child support, death penalty issues, sexual harassment, workplace discrimination, mental health, financial literacy, bankruptcy, alternative dispute resolution, health care policy issues, and elder law.

The Law-Psychology Program offers interdisciplinary training in psychology and law. The Program specializes in training scholars who will be able to apply psychology and other social and behavioral sciences to analyses of empirical questions in law and policy. Students in the program study and apply theory and research from social, cognitive, clinical, and developmental psychology to problems of law and policy. The Law-Psychology program trains researchers and professionals to identify and evaluate the psychological assumptions underlying laws and court decisions and to apply their psycholegal expertise to improve understanding of the operation of law in our society.

Graduates of the program work in universities, research or public interest organizations, or in local, state or federal government. Graduates go on to take positions in a variety of settings specializing in diverse tasks and problems. For example, recent graduates work in universities (i.e. John Jay College, Florida International University, University of Nevada, and Carelton University), research or public interest organizations, law firms, jury consulting organizations, and the courts. Faculty and graduate students regularly consult with government and private agencies applying psycholegal scholarship to problems of law in everyday life.

The JD/MA Track

The J.D./M.A. track is for students who wish to be legal practitioners but who also desire to obtain a strong background in psychology or social science methods. It provides sufficient background in interdisciplinary studies, social science methods, and psychological knowledge to permit thorough evaluation of psychological research and practice and interdisciplinary collaboration in policy formation or implementation. In addition to interdisciplinary courses, J.D./M.A. students take courses designed to provide an overview of psychological research, theory and methods. In the first year, students take the same Law College curriculum as the rest of the first year law students. During subsequent years, students take courses from both the Law College and the Psychology Department tailored for their individual programs. Most students will complete the program in about four years and the M.A. degree is presumed to be terminal.

Credits

The program is a 4-year program, with the first year being completed at the Law School. The website does not easily delineate the number of credit hours required form this joint MA/JD program.

Thesis

Students are required to complete a thesis in this program.

Externship/Practicum

The focus of the MA/JD joint degree is on research; therefore a clinical externship is not part of the program requirements. It does appear, however, that supervised fieldwork in law and psychology is available; this fieldwork would emphasize the integration of legal analysis and psychological research in the formulation or implementation of public policy.

Admission Requirements

From the website: Applicants are required to have the following:

  • B.A. or B.S. degree with a major in psychology (see below if you are a non-psychology major)
  • Laboratory course in experimental psychology
  • Undergraduate course in statistics
  • Typically a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (see below if your GPA is below 3.5)
  • GRE scores (Verbal, Quantitative, Written)
  • GRE Subject Test is recommended if not a psychology major
  • LSAT, if applying for a JD

Applicants to the Law and Psychology program must also submit a law school application to the UNL College of Law.

Tuition & Fees

Tuition and fees at UNL vary by College, which means that the tuition is most likely different for the law school classes and the psychology classes. Interested students should call the program for more detailed information.

In-State Residents

$236-$380 per credit hour

Out-of-State Residents

$275 – $978 per credit hour

Coursework

The coursework for the joint MA/JD degree is not easily set out on the program website. The first year is taken in the Law School along with the rest of the incoming law class. The subsequent 3 years are a mix of law and psychology courses. Students who are interested in this joint MA/JD program are advised to contact the program directly for more specific information.

Law and Psychology Courses

  • 985. Law and Behavioral Science (LAW 762G) (1-4 cr)
  • 988. Mental Health Law (LAW 763G) (1-4 cr)
  • 989. Topics in Law and Psychology I (LAW 764G) (1-4 cr per sem)
  • 989. Topics in Law and Psychology II (LAW 765G) (1-4 cr per sem)
  • 995. Psycholegal Research Other than Thesis I (LAW 757G) (3-6 cr)
  • 995. Psycholegal Research Other than Thesis II (LAW 758G) (3-6 cr)
  • 998. Practicum in Law and Psychology (3 cr per sem, max 6) Prereq: Full graduate standing in Law/Psychology Graduate Training Program or permission of the director of the Law/Psychology Program.

Concluding Comments

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln has one of the longest standing and well-recognized Law and Psychology graduate programs. The majority of the students admitted to UNL are admitted to the doctoral degree programs. They do offer a joint MA/JD program for those students not interested in doctoral-level education. This program has a strong emphasis on research and prepares students to be legal practitioners with specific knowledge in psychology and social science methods. The Masters program is terminal, meaning that students do not typically do on to doctoral-level training within the same program. Students who desire a doctoral-level degree are encouraged to consider the doctoral programs at UNL.

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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ University of North Dakota

January 30, 2012 By Comments

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” width=”234″ height=”216″ />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 –University of North Dakota

Program Description

There are two masters degree programs in forensic psychology offered by the University of North Dakota, a Science-based program (M.S.) and an Arts-based program (M.A.) From the website: 1) Master’s of Science (M.S.). In the U.S. forensic graduates obtain master’s-level psychology jobs in agencies and institutions such as prisons, juvenile facilities, social service agencies, police departments, child care agencies, probation, parole, family court, addiction services, hospitals, and community mental health centers. Some students get jobs as forensic researchers doing studies and evaluations of at-risk populations. A few graduates will be accepted in federal law enforcement agencies after earning the Master’s degree. You would expect to see forensic graduates working in the following areas: secure forensic units in state facilities, jails/prisons, probation services, court service units, community mental health centers, protective services, violence risk assessment, specialized agencies (i.e. child advocacy centers), law enforcement, and trial consulting. The M.S. degree in forensic psychology will also allow some students to advance to doctoral programs in forensic psychology, forensic science, and law school. Students in the M.S. Forensic Psychology Program at UND are required to attend classes on campus and complete 44 credits of study. This includes 26 credits of required course work, 12 credits of elective courses, and a minimum of 6 credit hours for thesis work.

2) Master’s of Arts (M.A.). The Department of Psychology, in conjunction with the Division of Continuing Education, has designed an online forensic psychology program targeted for working professionals. The M.A. Forensic Psychology program is the first to be offered online by a nationally recognized, fully accredited university. Through the 34-credit M.A. program, students will learn how to provide the psychological expertise and knowledge needed by the legal community and agencies having a strong forensic focus. Students in the program will likely be in-service professionals, such as law enforcement personnel, who want to further their career as well as those with a behavioral or social science background, such as counselors or social workers, who are interested in applying psychology to their work involving forensic issues.

The online Master’s degree is described elsewhere. The M.S. in Forensic Psychology is described below.

Specializations

The Masters in Forensic Psychology does not appear to have formal specializations, but allows for an individualized program of study by allowing students to choose from a number of electives (minimum of 12 credits/4 courses).

Credits

The program consists of 44 credits, which include 26 credits of required coursework, 12 credits of elective coursework, and 6 credits of thesis work.

Thesis

Students are required to complete a thesis in this program. The thesis is worth 6 credits of the 44 required credits for this program.

Externship/Practicum

Although the required coursework includes a 2-credit course in Supervised Field Work, it does not appear that this would be a clinical placement, but rather, would include placement at various settings where research would be the primary focus of the fieldwork.

Admission Requirements

From the website: Applicants must have a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with a behavioral or social science major allied with psychology, e.g., psychology, criminal justice, sociology, counseling, social work. Applicants must submit scores from the Graduate Record Examination, including the Advanced Examination in Psychology. Advanced students who have earned, or will earn, a graduate degree in psychology, counseling, social work, sociology, any related behavioral science can also apply. Applicants must have a cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.2 or above, or a graduate GPA > 3.75; an analytic GRE writing test score > 2.5; and Verbal & Quantitative GRE scores must both equal or exceed the 30th percentile. Applicant must also submit three letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and an essay. Applicants not meeting these standards may be admitted on a provisional basis with continued enrollment contingent on successful performance in the program. A 250-300 words essay discussing reasons for pursuing a graduate degree in forensic psychology is required as part of the admissions material to be submitted. Three letters of recommendation from those who can comment on the applicant’s academic abilities are also required. Consideration will be given for experience working in forensic areas or participating in research as an assistant prior to the program application.

Tuition & Fees

The University of North Dakota’s website presents tuition averages for a full year of study (Fall & Spring semesters). Discounted tuition rates are given to Western Exchange States, which include: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyoming, and the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

In-State Residents

$7,531 per year (the Masters degree appears to be a 2-year program)

Out-of-State Residents

$17,938 for the first year (the Masters degree is a 2-year program; it appears that the ongoing tuition after the first year is at the rate of $10,647/year).

Coursework

Required Core Classes (32 credits)

• Psy 520 – Foundations of Forensic Psychology (3cr)
• Psy 521 – Diversity Psychology (3cr)
• Psy 524 – Psychology & Law (3cr)
• Psy 541 – Advanced Univariate Statistics (3cr)
• Psy 542 – Multivariate Analysis (3cr)
• Psy 543 – Experimental Design (3cr)
• Psy 575 – Behavior Pathology (3cr)
• Psy 587 – Supervised Field Work (2cr)
• Psy 593 – Readings in Psychology (3cr)
• Psy 998 – Thesis (6-9cr)

Elective Courses (12 credits)

Choose four of the following:

• Psy 501 – Psychological Foundations of Education (3cr)
• Psy 526 – Psychological Profiling & Criminal Behavior (3cr)
• Psy 539 – Cognitive Psychology (3cr)
• Psy 560 – Advanced Social Psychology (3cr)
• Psy 572 – Community Psychology (3cr)
• Psy 576 – Child Psychopathology & Treatment (3cr)
• Psy 594 – Special Topics: Conflict Management (3cr)
• Psy 594 – Special Topics: Neuropsychology (3cr)
• Psy 594 – Special Topics: Psychopharmocology (3cr)
• CJ 515 – Human Nature & Crime (3cr)
• CJ 535 – Seminar in Juvenile Justice (3cr)
• CJ 565 – Victimology (3cr)

Concluding Comments

This program is a research-based program that provides the necessary foundation for those students interested in research careers or in further study in psychology at the doctoral level. There are a good number of electives from which to choose so that students may personalize the coursework to fit their interests. The coursework does not appear to be intended to prepare master’s level clinicians and so students interested in becoming master’s level clinicians should consider either the online M.A. in Forensic Psychology offered by the University of North Dakota or another master program. This is one of the few master’s program that prepares students for research careers or further study at the doctoral level.

 

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Masters Degree Programs in Forensic Psychology

January 20, 2012 By Comments

 

This article provides a review and summary of various graduate programs offering masters degrees in forensic psychology. There appears to be five fully online masters programs in forensic psychology and at least 13 different campus-based masters programs in forensic psychology. Each of these is reviewed and summarized to provide relevant information to those interested in pursuing graduate education in the field of forensic psychology.

Online Masters Degree in Forensic Psychology

Last year I reviewed and summarized five fully online masters programs in forensic psychology (four of which are based in the United States and one of which is based in the United Kingdom). Each of these programs appears to have its various strengths and weaknesses as well as differences in tuition costs.

For an easy comparison chart of these five programs, please click here.

For summaries and reviews of each of these programs, please click the relevant link below:

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

University of North Dakota

Argosy University

Walden University

University of Liverpool

Campus-Based Master Degree in Forensic Psychology

Although there are a few programs where students can complete a Masters in Clinical Psychology or a Masters in Experimental Psychology with a concentration on psychology and law, there are also about thirteen programs that offer Masters Degrees in Forensic Psychology.

I have summarized each of these programs with respect to their program description, coursework, tuition, and whether or not a thesis and/or clinical practicum work is required or available as part of the program.

For a summary of the relevant program, please click the links below:

American International College

Arizona State University

The Chicago School of Professional Psychology

College of Saint Elizabeth

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Holy Names University

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Marymount University

Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

New York Law School

Roger Williams University

University of Denver

University of North Dakota

Career Profiles and Information

If you are already in a masters or doctoral program in forensic psychology or just want more information on careers in forensic psychology, check out the rest of this site as there are a bunch of articles on career opportunities in forensic psychology as well as a bunch of great career profiles prominent individuals in the forensic psychology arena. Enjoy!

Image courtesy of helpingpsychology.com

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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ Roger Williams University

January 18, 2012 By Comments

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illiams.jpg” alt=”" width=”224″ height=”164″ />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 – Roger Williams University

Program Description

From the website: A two-year, full-time program, the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology is designed to prepare students to provide assessment and treatment services in a forensic setting or for further training at the doctoral level. Students will be trained in psychological testing, treatment, research methodology and psychopathology.

Internships and practica are available at a variety of forensic sites. Experiences include the areas of group psychotherapy, sex offender treatment, individual psychotherapy, psychological testing and specialized assessment techniques. Research-based internships are also available.

Specializations

The Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology curriculum is arranged in two tracks: (1) Non-Thesis/Practitioner (for students seeking specialized training in psychology prior to entering the work force as master’s level forensic practitioners), and (2) Thesis (for students seeking master’s level training in psychology as preparation for future study toward a doctoral degree in psychology). The nine-course core sequence provides students with the breadth and depth needed for the theoretical foundation as well as the research and skills necessary to become forensic psychologists. Students then select four electives from various areas within Forensic Psychology. Finally, students take six credits of Thesis or Practicum according to their track, for a minimum of 45 credits.

Credits

The program consists of 45 credits (13 courses (including 4 electives) and 6 credits of either thesis or practicum work, depending on the track chosen by the student).

Thesis

Students can select either a thesis track or a practicum track. Six credits of thesis work are required of those students choosing the thesis track.

Externship/Practicum

Students can select either a thesis track or a practicum track. Six credits of practicum work are required of those students choosing thepracticum track.

Admission Requirements

From the website: Applicants to the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology program must hold a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, or related field from an accredited college or university and have achieved an overall GPA of 3.0 or greater in undergraduate work. Applicants must have scored a minimum of 1000 on the original version of the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) or a minimum of 300 on the revised Graduate Record Exam (GRE) to be considered for admission. Applicants must have also satisfactorily completed undergraduate courses in both Statistics and Research Methods.

Tuition & Fees

In-State Residents

$724/credit

Out-of-State Residents

$724/credit

Coursework

Required Core Courses (27 credits)

PSYCH 501 Research Design

PSYCH 502 Quantitative Methods I

PSYCH 503 Forensic Psychology

PSYCH 504 Psychology and the Law

PSYCH 505 Introduction to Clinical Assessment: Objective Tests

PSYCH 532 Cross Cultural Psychology

PSYCH 550 Ethics in Professional Psychology

One of the following:

PSYCH 506 Assessment in Criminal Law

PSYCH 507 Assessment Issues in Civil Law

One of the following:

PSYCH 520 Developmental Psychopathology

PSYCH 521 Adult Psychopathology

PSYCH 525 Psychology of Criminal Behavior

Advanced Electives (12 credits)

Choose four from the following:

PSYCH 508 Forensic Report Writing

PSYCH 509 Methods of Psychotherapy I

PSYCH 510 Quantitative Methods II

PSYCH 511 Children, Adolescents and the Law

PSYCH 512 Child Assessment

PSYCH 513 Vocational Training

PSYCH 515 Introduction to Group Counseling

PSYCH 519 Methods of Psychotherapy II

PSYCH 530 Special Topics in Psychology

PSYCH 531 Family Violence

PSYCH 533 Law and Mental Health

PSYCH 534 Advanced Developmental Psychology

PSYCH 535 Group Dynamics: Methods and Design

PSYCH 540 Advanced Personality Psychology

PSYCH 550 Professional Ethics in Psychology

Thesis or Practicum Work (6 credits)

PSYCH 597 Thesis

PSYCH 598: Practicum

Concluding Comments

This masters program is intended to prepare students for work in forensic settings or for further study at the doctoral level in psychology. The coursework provides foundational information in both research design and statistics, which is important for preparing students to take on clinical roles or for further study at the doctoral level. This program appears to be a solid option for students who are interested in clinical forensic psychology, whether they desire a master’s degree as a terminal degree or further education at the doctoral level. Those desiring to continue their education at the doctoral level are advised to complete the thesis track in this program.

Photo courtesy of schoolguides.com

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Master’s Degree in Forensic Psychology @ Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

January 6, 2012 By Comments

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alforensicpsychology.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/MassachusettsSchoolofProfessionalPsychology.jpg” alt=”" width=”200″ height=”86″ />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 – Massachusetts School of Professional Psychology

Program Description

From the website: This program examines the relationship between psychology and the legal system, and trains students at this intersection as it relates to applying psychological principles to legal issues in judicial, correctional, clinical, administrative, and education systems. The full-time two-year course of study combines intensive on-site weekends and online learning over a two-year period. Although the primary goal is to prepare master’s level clinicians, this program will also provide students with some of the necessary foundations for pursuing further graduate study. Graduates of this program will have fulfilled all educational requirements to qualify for licensure in the state of Massachusetts as Mental Health Counselors (LMHC).

“Students enrolled in the Master of Arts in Forensic & Counseling Psychology are trained to work as master’s level practitioners with individuals, families and systems that interface with the legal and criminal justice arena. Our aim is to prepare clinicians who will be able to assess, treat, consult and apply counseling psychology in forensic settings. When so many individuals involved with the criminal justice system have great need for trained professionals in this area, we are providing clinicians that are thoroughly trained and sensitive to their particular challenges.”

—Nilda M. Clark, Psy.D.
Head, Counseling Psychology Department

Specializations

No concentrations are available. All students take the same series of courses, including two years (960) hours of fieldwork placement.

Credits

The program consists of 60 credits (18 courses, and two years (960 hours) of fieldwork placement, as well as a Capstone Project).

Thesis

Not required. Students complete a Capstone Project and Presentation in lieu of a Masters Thesis.

Externship/Practicum

Required. Students must complete two years (960 hours) of fieldwork placement as part of the degree requirements. This includes a 360-hour practicum in the first year and a 600-hour internship in the second year. Students who complete this degree are eligible for licensure in Massachusetts as Mental Health Counselors.

Admission Requirements

From the website: Eligible applicants must hold a four-year college degree from a regionally-accredited institution (or its equivalent). Although not required, at least some coursework in the field of psychology is strongly recommended. Although cutoff scores are not strictly applied, the most competitive candidates for admission will have an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or higher. The GRE is not required. For applicants whose primary language is not English, the preferred TOEFL combined scores will be 637 (paper-based). 270 (computer-based), or 110 (internet-based). Applicants whose scores are substantially lower than these should qualify the reasons for this in their application. The written components of the application (i.e., the required work samples) are also vital for this evaluation.

Tuition & Fees

In-State Residents

$1011/credit

Out-of-State Residents

$1011/credit

Coursework

Required Foundational Courses (42 credits)

COU CX510 – Theories of Counseling and Psychotherapy
COU LS659 – Lifespan Development
COU CC523 – Psychology of Diversity and Difference
COU PS635 – Professional Issues and Ethics
COU FS620 – Forensic Internship Seminar I
COU FS621 – Forensic Internship Seminar II
COU CS500 – Clinical Practicum Seminar I – Helping Relationships I
COU CS501 – Clinical Practicum Seminar II – Helping Relationships II
COU SB515 – Substance Abuse and Treatment
COU GR501 – Group Counseling and Psychotherapy
COU PA530 – Psychological Appraisal and Assessment
COU RS510 – Research and Evaluation in Psychology
COU PR625 – Forensic Capstone Project Seminar
COU PY522 – Adult Psychopathology

Required Specialized Courses (12 credits + 6 credits of fieldwork)

COU FS500 – Behavioral Criminology
COU MH530 – Psychology and the Legal System
COU FS550 – Consultation and Testimony in Forensic Psychology
COU FS501 – Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment or COU TR602 – Trauma, Treatment and Theory

Concluding Comments

The website also indicates that students can complete this program on a part-time basis, with the 60 credit hours being distributed over the course of 8 consecutive semesters (and a maximum time to completion of 3 years).

This masters program is intended to prepare students for work in forensic settings and to become licensed mental health counselors in the state of Massachusetts. While there does not appear to be a strong emphasis on research in this program, the point of this program is to prepare students to work in clinical and applied settings, rather than to prepare them for further education at the doctoral level. Those students who desire to continue their education at the doctoral level are advised to evaluate other masters program with a stronger emphasis on research training. This program appears to be a good option for those students who are interested in working in applied forensic settings as licensed mental health counselors, an area for which there appears to be a growing need.

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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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