FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

Forensic Psychology (M.A.)
Forensic Psychology with Community Counseling Option (M.A./M.A.)

Forensic Psychology (M.A.)

This program provides graduates with the skills and knowledge they need to provide effective, high quality services in a variety of forensic settings. These include probation and parole, victim assistance, law enforcement, intelligence, trial consultation, policy, and advocacy. To accomplish this goal, the program balances traditional psychological knowledge and skills with a specialized understanding of the criminal justice and legal systems. The Forensic Psychology program has ongoing research with the Behavioral Science Unit of the FBI, Quantico, Virginia. The Forensic Psychology program also periodically offers short-term study opportunities in London, England.

Admission Requirements: In addition to Universitywide requirements for graduate admission, the following are required:

a bachelor’s degree and satisfactory GPA (an undergraduate major in Psychology is preferred, however candidates from other fields will be considered);
official transcripts of all postsecondary education;
satisfactory scores on the GRE (including the Analytical Writing score), as determined by the Department;
two letters of recommendation that speak directly to the applicant’s academic and interpersonal skills;
a current résumé; and
a personal statement, maximum 500 words, describing the applicant’s background and motivation for entering the field of study for which he/she is applying, as well as the applicant’s rationale for applying to Marymount’s Forensic Psychology program.

Deadlines:
Students are admitted for the fall semester only. Applications must be received by February 16. Applications received after February 16 will be considered for a future academic year.

Internship Prerequisite: In order to be admitted to an internship, students must have completed the internship application process, which includes a review of academic progress, completion of appropriate paperwork, submission of the $65 required application fee, and permission of the faculty. See the Forensic Psychology Student Handbook for additional details.

Research Requirement: All graduate students are required to log a minimum of 20 hours of research assistance under the guidance of one or more members of the Forensic Psychology faculty. See the Forensic Psychology Student Handbook for details.

Transfer Policies: Students in the program requesting course substitutions or course transfer from other institutions will be required to submit paperwork for review by the Forensic Psychology faculty.

Degree Requirements
39 credits

PS 500 Research and Evaluation
PS 501 Bases of Psychopathology
PS 507 Applied Social Psychology
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
Two (2) courses from the following: CE 508 Crisis Intervention; CE 509 Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention*; CE 524 Theories and Techniques of Family Counseling;* CE 551 Multicultural Counseling; PS 519 Personality Theories; PS 529 Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence; 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 592 Foundations of Political Psychology; PS 598 Project; 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. SOC 507 Juvenile Justice or PS 584 Psychology of Criminal Behavior can be chosen as an elective if not taken as part of the core requirements.

*Students pursuing the M.A. in Forensic Psychology and M.A. in Community Counseling should select either CE 509 or CE 524 as one of their electives.

With prior approval of faculty, graduate credit for other elective courses can be applied toward the student’s degree.

Forensic Psychology with Community Counseling Option (M.A./M.A.)

Marymount offers a Community Counseling option for students in the Forensic Psychology program. This is an opportunity to earn both a Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology and a Master of Arts in Community Counseling, while completing the academic requirements needed for licensure as a professional counselor (LPC). Graduates of the program are eligible to sit for the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC) examination and begin the supervised experience necessary to become a licensed professional counselor.

Marymount’s Community Counseling program focuses on clinical techniques applicable to specific populations, providing experiences that are transferable to the contemporary workplace. For additional information about the M.A. in Community Counseling program.

Marymount’s Forensic Psychology program prepares students to work in a variety of forensic settings through interdisciplinary coursework in psychology, counselor education, sociology, criminal justice, and public policy.

Admission Requirement: To be admitted to this program, students must first seek admission to the Forensic Psychology program. After completion of 26 credit hours in the Forensic Psychology program, the student must apply, and be admitted, to the Community Counseling program. An interview is required as part of the Community Counseling program admission process.

Total Program Requirements
75 credits

In addition to courses required for the M.A. in Forensic Psychology, students will complete the following courses to earn an M.A. in Community Counseling:

CE 502 Foundations, Ethics, and Professional Issues in Community Counseling
CE 503 Advanced Human Growth and Development
CE 509 Substance Abuse Assessment and Intervention*
CE 510 Survey of Testing and Assessment
CE 520 Theories of Counseling
CE 522C Counseling for Individuals
CE 523C Group Counseling Techniques
CE 524 Theories and Techniques of Family Counseling*
CE 530C Career Development Counseling
CE 536 Advanced Counseling: Theories and Techniques
CE 551 Multicultural Counseling
CE 597C Practicum in Community Counseling
CE 599C Internship: Community Counseling (instead of PS 599F) — 6 credits

*Students who have taken CE 509 or CE 524 as part of their Forensic Psychology program should consult an advisor for an acceptable elective to meet the 75-credit program requirement.