Overview
The Department of Psychology offers a forensic psychology concentration within the MA program in Clinical Psychology. The Forensic Psychology concentration is designed to prepare students to offer master’s level clinical services to legal system-involved populations in settings that do not require licensure. Such settings include, but are not limited to, mental health and drug court settings, offender rehabilitation programs, child and family advocacy settings, and bona fide public service agencies exempted by state boards of psychological examiners for non-doctoral providers. Students also receive opportunities for clinical and research experiences to prepare them for doctoral study should they choose that path.
In keeping with our Clinical Psychology MA program’s overall child/adolescent focus, the forensic concentration places an emphasis on child, adolescent, and family issues, such as domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and juvenile offender assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.
Courts often rely on psychologists and other mental health practitioners to provide information they need to make legal decisions that impact the safety, security, and well-being of justice–system involved individuals and the community. There are relatively few specialized programs that train students in the ethical practice of forensic psychology, especially ones that offer an emphasis on child and family issues. The MA program delivers academic and applied experiential learning necessary to succeed in this challenging career through a faculty of experienced forensic psychologists and researchers and legal practitioners.
Competencies
Students in the Forensic Psychology concentration can expect to leave the program with strong clinical skills in assessment and psychotherapeutic interventions, an understanding of professional ethics, and a sound theoretical foundation in developmental psychology and psychopathology. Students will learn the unique ethical constraints on the practice of psychology within the legal system, gain practical experience in forensic assessment, report writing and the provision of treatment to offender and victim populations, and be exposed to current theories on family and interpersonal violence.
Curriculum
Students must complete 36 credits, to be earned by satisfying the following requirements:
a. Clinical Core Coursework
Complete the following four courses for 12 credits:
PSYC 565 Developmental Psychopathology
PSYC 574 Cognitive Assessment
PSYC 575 Clinical Assessment
PSYC 678 Ethics and Professional Issues in Psychology
b. General Core Coursework
Complete the following four courses for six credits:
PSYC 561 Developmental Psychology
PSYC 578 Psychometrics
c. Forensic Coursework
Complete the following two courses for six credits:
PSYC 650 Theories of Interpersonal and Familial Violence
PSYC 670 Treatment and Rehabilitation in Forensic Settings
Complete one of the following courses for three credits:
PSYC 620 Forensic Psychology in Criminal Proceedings
PSYC 621 Forensic Psychology in Family Proceedings
Complete one of the following courses for three credits:
PSYC 664 Criminal Forensic Assessment
PSYC 665 Child/Family Forensic Assessment
d. Externship
Complete the following course two times for six credits (fall and spring)
PSYC 680 Externship in Clinical Psychology
You may find descriptions of all courses here. Please note that the above curriculum reflects minor revisions pending University approval.
If you have any questions about this program, please email gradclinical@montclair.edu.