2022-2023 Graduate Bulletin

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.

  1. Psychological Assessment and Forensic Psychology
  2. Family Violence and Victims
  3. Forensic Counseling and Psychotherapy
  4. Research in Forensic Psychology
  5. Selected Topics in Forensic Psychology
  6. 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 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

 

PSY 734Criminal Psychological Assessment

3

or

PSY 754Advanced Forensic Assessment

3

 

PSY 751Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment

3

PSY 752Projective Personality Assessment

3

PSY 753Objective Personality Assessment

3

PSY 761Clinical Interviewing and Assessment

3

Family Violence and Victims

PSY 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

PSY 705Victimology

3

PSY 708Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling

3

PSY 742Family Violence and Disputes

3

PSY 761Clinical Interviewing and Assessment

3

PSY 819Dissociation and Trauma

3

Forensic Counseling and Psychotherapy

PSY 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

PSY 707Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender

3

PSY 708Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling

3

PSY 716Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender

3

PSY 722Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender

3

 

PSY 730Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health

3

or

PSY 761Clinical Interviewing and Assessment

3

Research in Forensic Psychology

PSY 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

PSY 718Social Science Evidence in Court

3

PSY 720Social Psychology and the Legal System

3

 

PSY 727Eyewitness Identification

3

or

PSY 738Advanced Research Methods

3

 

PSY 794Independent Study (Research Paper)

PSY 794: Research Paper.

Selected Topics in Forensic Psychology

PSY 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

 

PSY 705Victimology

3

or

PSY 742Family Violence and Disputes

3

or

Elective

 

PSY 707Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender

3

PSY 715Research Design and Methods

3

PSY 720Social Psychology and the Legal System

3

 

PSY 730Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health

3

or

Elective

Forensic Psychological Assessment and Testimony

PSY 700Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law

3

PSY 715Research Design and Methods

3

 

PSY 722Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender

3

or

PSY 716Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender

3

 

PSY 734Criminal Psychological Assessment

3

 

PSY 751Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment

3

or

PSY 752Projective Personality Assessment

3

or

PSY 753Objective Personality Assessment

3

 

PSY 754Advanced 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 701Criminal Behavior

3

PSY 703Violence and Aggression

3

PSY 705Victimology

3

PSY 707Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender

3

PSY 708Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling

3

PSY 714Alcoholism and Substance Abuse

3

PSY 715Research Design and Methods

3

PSY 716Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender

3

PSY 718Social Science Evidence in Court

3

PSY 720Social Psychology and the Legal System

3

PSY 722Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender

3

PSY 726Mental Health Issues in Policing

3

PSY 727Eyewitness Identification

3

PSY 729Terrorism

3

PSY 730Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health

3

PSY 731Human Growth and Development

3

PSY 734Criminal Psychological Assessment

3

PSY 737Descriptive and Statistical Data Analysis in Psychology

3

PSY 738Advanced Research Methods

3

PSY 739Clinical Crime Scene Analysis

3

PSY 741Theories of Personality and Counseling

3

PSY 742Family Violence and Disputes

3

PSY 745Psychopathology

3

PSY 746Empirical Profiling Methods

3

PSY 748Empirical Crime Scene Analysis

3

PSY 751Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment

3

PSY 752Projective Personality Assessment

3

PSY 753Objective Personality Assessment

3

PSY 754Advanced Forensic Assessment

3

PSY 760Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods

3

PSY 761Clinical Interviewing and Assessment

3

PSY 765Group Dynamics and Group Treatment

3

PSY 766Personality Profiles of the Homicidal Offender

3

PSY 779Brain and Behavior

3

PSY 794Independent Study (Research Paper)

PSY 806Cults

3

PSY 819Dissociation 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