The Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology is designed to provide a strong foundation in forensic psychology that can be applied to, and within, the criminal and civil justice systems, as well as to prepare students for doctoral study in psychology. The 42-credit curriculum focuses on understanding, serving and studying both offenders and victims. Through the curriculum, students are provided with an advanced understanding of psychological development and psychopathology, personality assessment, psychotherapeutic techniques and research methods.
In the Forensic Psychology Program, students may take an externship consisting of a minimum of 300 hours in an appropriate psychological setting, under the supervision of a licensed psychologist or other trained mental health professional approved by the program director. Alternatively, qualified students may complete a thesis.
Degree Requirements
All new matriculants in the Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology program are required to complete 42 credits. This includes 39 credits of coursework plus 3 credits for an externship of 300 hours or the prospectus/thesis.
Permission from the program director and completion of PSY 791 are required for those who hope to complete their degree with a thesis. In addition, enrollment in PSY 791 will be open only to students who received an A or A- in PSY 715, PSY 737, PSY 738 and PSY 769. Students should take PSY 715 and PSY 769 in their first semester and PSY 737 and PSY 738 during their second semester.
There is no qualifying exam for this degree.
Required Courses
| PSY 700 | Mental Health Professionals, Social Science and the Law | 3 |
| PSY 715 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| PSY 745 | Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 769 | Intermediate Statistics in the Social Sciences | 3 |
*PSY 700, PSY 715, and PSY 745 must be taken within the first 24 credits of the program.
Select two of the following psychological testing courses:
| PSY 734 | Criminal Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 751 | Intellectual and Cognitive Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 752 | Projective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 753 | Objective Personality Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 779 | Brain and Behavior | 3 |
*PSY 745 is a prerequisite for all testing courses.
Select one course:
| PSY 731 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSY 741 | Theories of Personality and Counseling | 3 |
Select one course:
| PSY 760 | Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods | 3 |
| PSY 761 | Clinical Interviewing and Assessment | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 24 |
Forensic Psychology Electives
All PSY courses numbered 800-899 also satisfy forensic psychology elective distribution requirements.
| PSY 701 | Criminal Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 703 | Violence and Aggression | 3 |
| PSY 705 | Victimology | 3 |
| PSY 707 | Counseling and Rehabilitation of the Offender | 3 |
| PSY 708 | Crisis Intervention and Short-term Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 714 | Alcoholism and Substance Abuse | 3 |
| PSY 716 | Assessment and Counseling of the Juvenile Offender | 3 |
| PSY 718 | Social Science Evidence in Court | 3 |
| PSY 720 | Social Psychology and the Legal System | 3 |
| PSY 722 | Evaluation and Counseling of the Sex Offender | 3 |
| PSY 726 | Mental Health Issues in Policing | 3 |
| PSY 727 | Eyewitness Identification | 3 |
| PSY 729 | Terrorism | 3 |
| PSY 730 | Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health | 3 |
| PSY 730 | Ethical Issues in Forensic Mental Health | 3 |
| PSY 734 | Criminal Psychological Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 742 | Family Violence and Disputes | 3 |
| PSY 754 | Advanced Forensic Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 764 | Hypnosis, Psychology and the Law | 3 |
| PSY 766 | Personality Profiles of the Homicidal Offender | 3 |
| PSY 779 | Brain and Behavior | 3 |
| PSY 791 | Prospectus Seminar | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 9-15 |
General PSY Electives and Cognate Courses
| PSY 728 | Social Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 731 | Human Growth and Development | 3 |
| PSY 737 | Descriptive and Statistical Data Analysis in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 738 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
| PSY 741 | Theories of Personality and Counseling | 3 |
| PSY 747 | The Treatment and Prevention of Childhood Psychopathology | 3 |
| PSY 760 | Counseling and Psychotherapy Methods | 3 |
| PSY 761 | Clinical Interviewing and Assessment | 3 |
| PSY 763 | Behavior Modification and Learning Theory | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 0-6 |
Note: Students may substitute, with permission of the program director, any additional required course or forensic psychology elective for cognates. They may also substitute appropriate courses offered in any John Jay College graduate program.
Thesis Track
39 Credits + 3 Credits of PSY 791 Forensic Psychology Prospectus Seminar
Students who choose to complete their degree by writing a master’s thesis must complete 39 credits of coursework as indicated, and the Forensic Psychology Prospectus Seminar (PSY 791). Students must obtain approval from a full-time faculty mentor serving as a thesis sponsor and permission of the Program Director before enrolling in the Prospectus Seminar.
Enrollment in PSY 791 also requires an A or A– in the following four courses, except with permission of the program director.
| PSY 715 | Research Design and Methods | 3 |
| PSY 769 | Intermediate Statistics in the Social Sciences | 3 |
| PSY 737 | Descriptive and Statistical Data Analysis in Psychology | 3 |
| PSY 738 | Advanced Research Methods | 3 |
*Students hoping to complete the thesis track should enroll in PSY 715 and PSY 769 in their first semester. Students should enroll in the two additional thesis preparation courses, PSY 737 and PSY 738, during their second semester.
Externship Track
39 Credits + 3 Credits of PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling
Students who choose to complete their degree by the alternative to the thesis, the externship, must complete 39 credits of coursework as indicated, plus 3 credits of PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling.
Externship/Thesis Combination
42 Total Credits, Including PSY 791 Thesis Prospectus and PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling
Students may opt to do both a thesis and an externship by taking PSY 780 and PSY 791. To do so, they must fulfill all the requirements for the thesis and take PSY 780 Fieldwork in Counseling. PSY 791 will count as a forensic psychology elective in that case.