Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) In Clinical Psychology Program

Forensic Psychology Concentration

For questions, contact linda_daniels@mspp.edu

Forensic psychologists practice at the intersection of psychology and the law. Practice opportunities exist within court clinics, the prison system, mental health clinics that service adults, children and families, psychiatric hospitals, and private practice. Forensic psychologists frequently provide psycholegal evaluations, forensic consultations , treatment and expert testimony to the courts in both criminal and civil cases on a broad array of topics, such as mental status at the time of a criminal offense, competence to stand trial, “aid-in-sentencing”, the legal significance of trauma-related diagnoses (e.g., “battering and its effects”, etc.), threat assessments, child maltreatment and child custody assessments and evaluations, juvenile delinquency evaluations, law enforcement candidate screenings and fitness for duty appraisals and civil commitment evaluations.

MSPP offers a pre-doctoral concentration in Forensic Psychology that consists of core forensic coursework, prerequisite courses to be completed by the end of the second year, two year-long internships at approved forensic field placement sites, and a Doctoral Project in an area relevant to forensic psychology. The Forensic Psychology concentration provides students with a breadth of experience, knowledge and skills to meet the demands of this exciting specialty field of study. Current doctoral students apply to the Forensic concentration in the second year and formally begin the concentration at the beginning of their third year.

Prerequisite Courses

• Psychological Testing II (Cognitive Testing)
• CLI PA520-Personality Assessment or Projective Methods
• CLI CC533 Diversity and Cross Cultural Psychology
• CLI PY522-Adult Psychopathology
• CLI PY521-Psychopathology of Childhood and Adolescence

Core Courses

• CLI MH501-Foundations of Forensic Psychology
• CLI MH512-Forensic Psychology I: Children and Families
• CLI MH513-Forensic Psychology II: Adults
• CLI MH515- Special Topics in Forensic Psychology
• CLII MH520-Law and Mental Health
• CLI MH550-Consultation and Testimony
• Predoctoral Internship in Forensic Psychology

PLEASE NOTE: THE INTENT OF THE FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY CONCENTRATION PROGRAM IS TO BE INTEGRATIVE AND CULMULATIVE. THEREFORE, NO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY CONCENTRATION STUDENT SHOULD TAKE MORE THAN TWO OF THE ABOVE CORE COURSES IN ANY GIVEN SEMESTER WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION FROM THE CONCENTRATION DIRECTOR.

Current Electives

• Forensic Assessment**
• Police Psychology
• Consultation and Testimony for the Professional Psychologist
• Sex Offender Evaluation and Treatment (offered in MA in Counseling and Forensic Psychology Program)

**Strongly Recommended

Pre-Doctoral Internships in Forensic Psychology

Pre-doctoral internship sites include court clinics, forensic hospital units or hospital units with forensic beds, correctional facilities, child and family forensic or mental health clinics, forensic residential treatment facilities, among others. Students must spend one year at a site related to child/adolescent and family forensic psychology and a second year at a site involving adult forensic work. Students will gain experience in assessment, evaluation, testing and treatment methods that will prepare students to work with a diverse forensic populations.

Doctoral Project

Students accepted into the Forensic Psychology concentration are required to complete a Doctoral Project germane to the specialty field of Forensic Psychology.

Upon completion of all clinical doctoral requirements and Forensic Psychology Concentration requirements, the student will receive a certificate of completion in the pre-doctoral training program in Forensic Psychology.

Faculty

Linda Daniels, PsyD, Director
Email: linda_daniels@mspp.edu

 

Frequently Asked Questions

> Forensic & Counseling MA Program vs. PsyD Forensic Concentration

Updated 1/17/13