2022-2023 Graduate Bulletin

Forensic Psychology, Master of Arts

Interim Program Director: Professor Abbie Tuller

The Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology is designed to provide a strong foundation in forensic psychology that can be applied to, and within, the criminal and civil justice systems, as well as to prepare students for doctoral study in psychology. The 42-credit curriculum focuses on understanding, serving and studying both offenders and victims. Through the curriculum, students are provided with an advanced understanding of psychological development and psychopathology, personality assessment, psychotherapeutic techniques and research methods.

In the Forensic Psychology Program, students may take an externship consisting of a minimum of 300 hours in an appropriate psychological setting, under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or other trained mental health professional approved by the program director. Alternatively, qualified students may complete a thesis.

For information on the Doctoral Program in Psychology, please see designated chapter in this bulletin.

Degree Requirements

All new matriculants in the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology program are required to complete 42 credits. This includes 39 credits of coursework plus 3 credits for an externship of 300 hours or the prospectus/thesis.

Permission from the program director and completion of PSY 791 are required for those who hope to complete their degree with a thesis. In addition, enrollment in PSY 791 will be open only to students who received an A or A- in PSY 715, PSY 737, PSY 738 and PSY 769. Students should take PSY 715 and PSY 769 in their first semester and PSY 737 and PSY 738 during their second semester.

There is no qualifying exam for this degree.

Required Courses

PSY 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

PSY 715Research Design and Methods

3

PSY 745Psychopathology

3

PSY 769Intermediate Statistics in the Social Sciences

3

*PSY 700, PSY 715, and PSY 745 must be taken within the first 24 credits of the program.

Select two of the following psychological testing courses:

PSY 734Criminal Psychological Assessment

3

PSY 751Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment

3

PSY 752Projective Personality Assessment

3

PSY 753Objective Personality Assessment

3

PSY 779Brain and Behavior

3

*PSY 745 is a prerequisite for all testing courses.

Select one course:

PSY 731Human Growth and Development

3

PSY 741Theories of Personality and Counseling

3

Select one course:

PSY 760Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods

3

PSY 761Clinical Interviewing and Assessment

3

Total Credit Hours:24

Forensic Psychology Electives

All PSY courses numbered 800-899 also satisfy forensic psychology elective distribution requirements.

PSY 701Criminal Behavior

3

PSY 703Violence and Aggression

3

PSY 705Victimology

3

PSY 707Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender

3

PSY 708Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling

3

PSY 714Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

3

PSY 716Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender

3

PSY 718Social Science Evidence in Court

3

PSY 720Social Psychology and the Legal System

3

PSY 722Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender

3

PSY 726Mental Health Issues in Policing

3

PSY 727Eyewitness Identification

3

PSY 729Terrorism

3

PSY 730Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health

3

PSY 733Dissociation and Trauma

3

PSY 734Criminal Psychological Assessment

3

PSY 742Family Violence and Disputes

3

PSY 754Advanced Forensic Assessment

3

PSY 764Hypnosis, Psychology and the Law

3

PSY 766Personality Profiles of the Homicidal Offender

3

PSY 779Brain and Behavior

3

PSY 791Prospectus Seminar

3

Total Credit Hours:9-15

General PSY Electives and Cognate Courses

PSY 728Social Psychopathology

3

PSY 731Human Growth and Development

3

PSY 737Descriptive and Statistical Data Analysis in Psychology

3

PSY 738Advanced Research Methods

3

PSY 741Theories of Personality and Counseling

3

PSY 747The Treatment and Prevention of Childhood Psychopathology

3

PSY 760Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods

3

PSY 761Clinical Interviewing and Assessment

3

PSY 763Behavior Modification and Learning Theory

3

Total Credit Hours:0-6

Note: Students may substitute, with permission of the program director, any additional required course or forensic psychology elective for cognates. They may also substitute appropriate courses offered in any John Jay College graduate program.

Thesis Track

39 Credits + 3 Credits of PSY 791 Forensic Psychology Prospectus Seminar

Students who choose to complete their degree by writing a master’s thesis must complete 39 credits of coursework as indicated, and the Forensic Psychology Prospectus Seminar (PSY 791). Students must obtain approval from a full-time faculty mentor serving as a thesis sponsor and permission of the Program Director before enrolling in the Prospectus Seminar.

Enrollment in PSY 791 also requires an A or A– in the following four courses, except with permission of the program director.

PSY 715Research Design and Methods

3

PSY 769Intermediate Statistics in the Social Sciences

3

PSY 737Descriptive and Statistical Data Analysis in Psychology

3

PSY 738Advanced Research Methods

3


*Students hoping to complete the thesis track should enroll in PSY 715 and PSY 769 in their first semester. Students should enroll in the two additional thesis preparation courses, PSY 737 and PSY 738, during their second semester.

Externship Track

39 Credits + 3 Credits of PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling

Students who choose to complete their degree by the alternative to the thesis, the externship, must complete 39 credits of coursework as indicated, plus 3 credits of PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling.

Externship/Thesis Combination

42 Total Credits, Including PSY 791 Thesis Prospectus and PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling

Students may opt to do both a thesis and an externship by taking PSY 780 and PSY 791. To do so, they must fulfill all the requirements for the thesis and take PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling. PSY 791 will count as a forensic psychology elective in that case.

Total Credit Hours: 42