Forensic Psychology, Postgraduate Certificate
Program Coordinator/Advisor: Professor Chitra Raghavan
This is a state-registered postgraduate certificate program in forensic psychology, within the Psychology Department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice, CUNY. Students receiving the certificate after 18 credits will be credentialed with postgraduate documentation of coursework within one of the following six forensic psychology tracks*:
*Students may design their own sequence of six courses with the approval of the Certificate Coordinator, as fulfillment of Track #5. They may also substitute courses within each track with the Coordinator's approval.
- Psychological Assessment and Forensic Psychology
- Family Violence and Victims
- Forensic Counseling and Psychotherapy
- Research in Forensic Psychology
- Selected Topics in Forensic Psychology
- Forensic Psychological Assessment and Testimony
This certificate was developed to permit applicants with a clinical graduate degree to receive additional forensic training and focus on the subspecialty of their choice. The postgraduate certificate is designed primarily for those applicants who have already received a master’s or a doctoral degree in psychology, social work, counseling or a related field. The postgraduate certificate is not designed to lead to licensure in any of the mental health professions. However, students who have applied for licensure and have been requested by state licensing boards to take additional courses, may find some of these courses available in the certificate program.
For additional information about the Postgraduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology, please contact: Professor James Wulach at jwulach@jjay.cuny.edu.
Requirements for the Certificate Program
The program seeks individuals who have the academic background, ability, and motivation to receive postgraduate training in forensic psychology. Admission to the program is based upon the following criteria, which will be interpreted flexibly to take into account individual experiences and situations:
- A bachelor’s degree with an undergraduate GPA of 3.0
- A graduate degree in psychology, social work, or counseling (graduates with other degrees will be considered, on an individual basis, but they must then have a minimum of 18 psychology credits in their undergraduate and graduate coursework).
- Articulate personal statement that supports the applicant’s request for admission to the certificate program
- Appropriate letters of recommendation that consider the individual’s intellect, character, maturity, judgment and interpersonal skills
- Research Track applicants must be accepted by a Psychology Department research mentor, in addition to the program coordinator
- Mental health job or externship experience is an asset for admission, but is not required.
Students must maintain a 3.0 grade point average and perform satisfactorily in all practicum and fieldwork counseling courses in order to complete the certificate program. The following course sequences describe the six available tracks that are offered within the postgraduate program. Course descriptions can be found in the Psychology course section of this bulletin.
Psychological Assessment and Forensic Psychology
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 734 | Criminal Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 754 | Advanced Forensic Assessment | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 751 | Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 752 | Projective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 753 | Objective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 761 | Clinical Interviewing and Assessment | 3 |
Family Violence and Victims
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| PSY 705 | Victimology | 3 |
| PSY 708 | Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 742 | Family Violence and Disputes | 3 |
| PSY 761 | Clinical Interviewing and Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 819 | Dissociation and Trauma | 3 |
Forensic Counseling and Psychotherapy
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| PSY 707 | Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender | 3 |
| PSY 708 | Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 716 | Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender | 3 |
| PSY 722 | Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 730 | Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 761 | Clinical Interviewing and Assessment | 3 |
Research in Forensic Psychology
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| PSY 718 | Social Science Evidence in Court | 3 |
| PSY 720 | Social Psychology and the Legal System | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 727 | Eyewitness Identification | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 738 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 794 | Independent Study (Research Paper) | |
Selected Topics in Forensic Psychology
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 705 | Victimology | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 742 | Family Violence and Disputes | 3 |
| | or | |
| | Elective | |
| | | |
| PSY 707 | Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender | 3 |
| PSY 715 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| PSY 720 | Social Psychology and the Legal System | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 730 | Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health | 3 |
| | or | |
| | Elective | |
Forensic Psychological Assessment and Testimony
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| PSY 715 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 722 | Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 716 | Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 734 | Criminal Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 751 | Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 752 | Projective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| | or | |
| PSY 753 | Objective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| | | |
| PSY 754 | Advanced Forensic Assessment | 3 |
This track is open only to licensed psychologists with suitable assessment training and experience.
Course substitutions and electives may be permitted, with the discretionary approval of the Certificate Program Coordinator, from the following list:
| PSY 701 | Criminal Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 703 | Violence and Aggression | 3 |
| PSY 705 | Victimology | 3 |
| PSY 707 | Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender | 3 |
| PSY 708 | Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 714 | Alcoholism and Substance Abuse | 3 |
| PSY 715 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| PSY 716 | Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender | 3 |
| PSY 718 | Social Science Evidence in Court | 3 |
| PSY 720 | Social Psychology and the Legal System | 3 |
| PSY 722 | Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender | 3 |
| PSY 726 | Mental Health Issues in Policing | 3 |
| PSY 727 | Eyewitness Identification | 3 |
| PSY 729 | Terrorism | 3 |
| PSY 730 | Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health | 3 |
| PSY 731 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSY 734 | Criminal Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 737 | Descriptive and Statistical Data Analysis in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 738 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 739 | Clinical Crime Scene Analysis | 3 |
| PSY 741 | Theories of Personality and Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 742 | Family Violence and Disputes | 3 |
| PSY 745 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 746 | Empirical Profiling Methods | 3 |
| PSY 748 | Empirical Crime Scene Analysis | 3 |
| PSY 751 | Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 752 | Projective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 753 | Objective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 754 | Advanced Forensic Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 760 | Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods | 3 |
| PSY 761 | Clinical Interviewing and Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 765 | Group Dynamics and Group Treatment | 3 |
| PSY 766 | Personality Profiles of the Homicidal Offender | 3 |
| PSY 779 | Brain and Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 794 | Independent Study (Research Paper) | |
| PSY 806 | Cults | 3 |
| PSY 819 | Dissociation and Trauma | 3 |
| | An additional graduate course from the MA Program in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, Digital Forensics and Cybersecurity or Public Administration. | |
Total Credit Hours: 18