Masters Degree Review: University of Liverpool (UK)

Master of Science in Investigative Psychology:

The overall aims of the MSc in Investigative psychology course are to enable students to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience that will enable them to develop professional roles as investigative psychologists in law enforcement and similar agencies; and contribute to the growth of the discipline of investigative psychology through research, teaching and similar scholarly pursuits.

To achieve these aims the course provides the opportunity to gain relevant knowledge by providing the opportunity for students to gain a sound conceptual basis for the understanding of:

The available explanations of criminal behaviour.
The varieties of criminal activities and approaches to their classification, including:

arson

burglary

fraud

homicide, single and serial

threat and extortion

rape

robbery

stalking

criminal violence

organised crime and drug networks

Approaches to the treatment and assessment of criminals.
Psychological processes in investigative decision making.
Procedures available for linking crimes to a common offender.
The psychology of interviewing and approaches to training interviewers
Basic, relevant issues in the British legal system.
Professional and ethical issues of relevance to Investigative Psychology.
The history and critiques of 'offender profiling'.
The processes of publication and dissemination of academic material.
The nature and processes of police investigations.
The procedures available for statement validation and detecting deception.
The IT procedures drawn on from Crime Analysis.
Approaches to inferring offender characteristics from crime information.
Processes relevant to understanding police organisations and criminal networks.



Professor David Canter, internationally known for his pioneering work in police investigations, is one of the key lecturers on the course and its Director. Dr Ian Donald convenes the methodology course, and Dr Graham Wagstaff the Investigative Actions theme. Other lecturers are drawn from the staff of the Psychology Department and other associated departments at Liverpool University, including the Faculty of Law and Department of Clinical Psychology. Visiting lecturers from British and Overseas police forces and universities also contribute. A team of Post-Doctoral Fellows who are members of the Centre for Investigative Psychology, in which the course is based, also provide guidance and support.

Other Information



Contact Information

Further details about the course can be obtained from:

Director of Postgraduate Studies
Centre for Investigative Psychology
The University of Liverpool
Eleanor Rathbone Building
Bedford Street South
Liverpool L69 7ZA

Telephone: (0151) 794 3910

e-mail: enquiries@i-psy.com

Click Here To Visit The Centre For Investigative Psychology

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Forensic Degree Review: Rhode Island, (USA)

Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island (USA):



Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology:

This two-year program, the Master of Arts degree in Forensic Psychology is designed to prepare students to provide assessment and treatment services in a forensic setting or 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. Interested students may also train in court clinic settings.

Mission of the Program

The Psychology Department strives to provide assessment and treatment skills for students interested in employment in a forensic setting or further training at the doctoral level. Faculty members work closely with students to help them develop an understanding and appreciation of the role of psychologists in legal proceedings and the law. Students are prepared to apply these skills to the problems of community and of the larger society. The department stresses tolerance for the views of others and an appreciation of the value of diversity. Other departmental objectives include preparing students to evaluate published research and think critically about their own ideas and the ideas of others.

Typical Study Path



The Master of 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 Masters level Forensic Practitioners), and (2) Thesis (for students seeking Masters level training in psychology as preparation for future study toward a doctoral degree in psychology). The seven-course core sequence provides students with the breadth and depth needed in theoretical foundation, research and skills 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.

Other Information



Application Requirements

An earned bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Criminal Justice, or related field from an accredited 4-year college or university.

Personal statement (two pages maximum) describing your interest in Forensic Psychology, career goals, and how you can positively contribute to the graduate program at Roger Williams University.

Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate records.

Achieved an overall GPA of 3.00 or greater in undergraduate work.

Submission of GRE scores (minimum combined score of 1000; quantitative and verbal scores should not be below 500).

Three letters of recommendation attesting to the candidate’s academic accomplishments and potential to succeed in graduate school.

Application accompanied by the $50 application fee.

Completed prerequisite psychology courses in statistics and research methods.

Contact Details

Donald R. Whitworth, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology
Feinstein College of Arts and Sciences
Roger Williams University
One Old Ferry Road
Bristol, Rhode Island 02809

Tel: (401) 254-3509

e-mail: dwhitworth@rwu.edu

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Forensic Psychology Degree Review

University of Denver (USA):



Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology:

The Master of Arts in forensic psychology was first offered at the GSPP in 1999 in response to the growing interest in the rapidly developing field of forensic psychology. The degree supplements fundamental master's level clinical psychology training with course work and practicum experiences in the area of psychology and law.

The Masters Degree in forensic psychology concerns the application of psychological theory, knowledge, skills and competencies to the civil and criminal justice systems. It is designed to train students to become mental health professionals, able to work in a variety of clinical settings within the criminal and civil legal system, including but not limited to: adult, juvenile and child populations; victim assistance; police consultation; correctional institutions; domestic violence and child abuse programs; and trial consulting.

Typical Study Areas



Issues in Forensic Psychology I

Forensic Psychology I is the first course of a three quarter series designed to provide an overview of the practice of clinical forensic psychology. Issues in Forensic Psychology I addresses the structure of the American criminal and civil legal system, with an emphasis on those areas relevant to forensic clinical psychology, including expert testimony, rules of evidence, and neuropsychology of violence and aggression.

Issues in Forensic Psychology II

Further exploration of the relationship between the legal system and clinical psychological theory, research, and practice, with an emphasis on correctional psychology, psychopathy, and treatment of the offender population.

Issues in Forensic Psychology III

Relationship and application of psychological principles and practice to varied law enforcement functions; violence risk assessment and management; violence in the workplace; trauma debriefing; and hostage negotiations.

Statistics

General statistical principles and techniques and their application to psychological and psycho-legal issues.

Research Methods

The course provides a review and critique of psychological research, epistemology, design and method, with a focus on forensic and clinical populations.

Issues in Measurement

Critical assessment of various psychological tests, with an emphasis on validity, reliability and issues of standardization.

Psychopathology and Diagnosis

Causes, classification and treatment of behavioral disorders, including adjustment disorders, anxiety disorders, behavioral disorders of childhood and adolescence, mood disorders, psychotic disorders, substance abuse disorders, sexual disorders and personality disorders.

Trauma and Crisis Intervention

Theory, techniques and research relating to various types of trauma (e.g. childhood abuse, combat veterans, natural disaster survivors); crisis intervention techniques as a system of managing trauma related difficulties.

Mental Health Law

This is an introductory course designed to provide the mental health practitioner with a working understanding of the laws that affect the mental health provider as well as the rights of persons with mental disabilities.

Family Law

Psychological and legal problems related to marital dissolution and divorce, child support, child custody, paternity, adoption and juvenile justice. Special attention given to child abuse & neglect, foster care, termination of parental rights and medical neglect and endangerment.

Conflict Resolution

This course provides an overview of law and the legal system in the United States with a focus on conflicts and conflict resolution within the system; the legal system as a means of resolving conflicts; limitations and alternatives to resolving conflicts; basic negotiating concepts; and alternative dispute resolution systems.

Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology

Discussion of ethical and legal conflicts and dilemmas as a psychologist within the legal system, and consideration of ways to resolve such conflicts, including standards applicable to the science and practice of forensic psychology and the role of the expert witness.

Evaluation and Treatment of the Juvenile Offender

Theories of juvenile delinquency and studies concerned with the etiology, development and prediction of such; review of the various psychological treatment options utilized with juvenile offenders; consideration of the legal responses to juvenile crime; the role of the psychologist within the juvenile justice system; and identity development and gang affiliation.

Evaluation and Treatment of the Adult Offender

Psychological theories related to etiology, development and prediction of violent crime; types of intervention possible within the criminal justice setting. Topic areas may include special offender populations (e.g. sexual offender, offenders with developmental disabilities or those classified as mentally retarded, female offenders).

Cognitive-Behavioral Interventions

Theory, techniques and research relating to cognitive-behavioral therapy, focusing on assessment, case conceptualization and intervention approaches within a forensic setting.

Socio-Cultural Issues in Forensic Psychology

This course is designed to introduce students to multicultural issues such as race, ethnicity, and sexual orientation as they pertain to the practice of psychology. The class aspires to promote awareness and sensitivity to alternative beliefs, values, and practices.

Key Concepts in Interviewing and Psychotherapy

Theoretical and practical issues related to clinical interviewing within forensic and non-forensic settings.

Cognitive Assessment

This class is designed to help clinicians-in-training develop administration, scoring, and interpretation skills in the formal assessment of cognitive abilites using standardized tests. The course will also explore the concept of "intelligence" and examine how this type of assessment fits within the broader context of diagnostic formulation.

Personality Assessment - Objective

Administration and interpretation of objective personality instruments and discussion of their utilization within a forensic setting; use of the MMPI-2, MCMI-III, and Beck.

Personality Assessment - Projective

This course is designed to help students develop administration, scoring, interpretation and critical thinking skills in the projective assessment of personality using the TAT, projective drawings, and other projective measures.

Psychology of Criminal Behavior

This course will provide an introduction to several of the most prominent psychological theories of criminal and aggressive behavior; historical conceptions of criminal behavior will be explored, leading to contemporary theoretical conceptualizations that cover behavioral, social learning, cognitive, psychoanalytic, psychodynamic, developmental, biological, and sociocultural perspectives.

Case Conference I, II, III

These courses will serve as a supplement to students' academic and field placement experience. Within a small group setting, students will gain a broader awareness and understanding of the interaction between psychology and the legal and criminal justice system. Focus of the courses will be to assist students in making the linkages between their academic work and their field placement experience.

Weekly small group supervision in conjunction with students' second year field placements will continue to assist students in making the linkage between their academic work and their clinical experience, with an emphasis on theoretical models and basis for individual therapy in forensic practice.

Substance Abuse

Substance use and abuse, with focus on symptom formation, classification, causes, socio-cultural factors and treatment modalities; various theoretical approaches to the etiology and treatment of substance abuse; resultant psychological and physiological effects of various drugs.

Group Interventions

Interpersonal dynamics of small groups and larger organizational settings; understanding of group processes (such as group formation and development, group conflict and group resistance); skills enabling positive group intervention.

Criminal Evaluations

This course will provide an overview of criminal assessment topics, with an emphasis on the literature, theory, prodecure, and tools, including criminal violence, risk assessment, legal competencies, and criminal responsibility.

Other Information



Application Deadline:

January 5th 2007

Click Here To See The Application Checklist

Contact Information

Click Here To Request an Application Pack, or E-Mail/Telephone an Admissions Counselor

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