PSYC 349 – Forensic Psychology

Description
The course offers an introduction to the field of Forensic Psychology, a fast-developing branch of psychology with a wide range of opportunities for practical application. The course shows how forensic psychologists are required in legal proceedings regarding civil, juvenile, and criminal courts. Topics of the course include juveniles and delinquency, civil litigations, crime, and its punishment. Students are introduced to investigative psychology through exercises in criminal and geographical profiling. Students get hands-on experience on consulting with courts by numerous case studies inserted in the class lectures. Special focus is dedicated to rehabilitation programs and correctional facilities in general. Students are getting inside views to new challenges in the field as society and its laws change.

Objectives After completing the course, students should be able to:

• Understand forensic psychology – legal field and psychology.
• Describe historical developments related to the interface between psychology and the law.
• Cite and discuss research pertaining to psychological assessment and intervention in the criminal and civil justice system.
• Articulate and discuss methods and procedures used by forensic psychologists involved with the criminal and civil justice systems.
• Possess enhanced critical thinking skills and presentation skills.

Course descriptions may be subject to occasional minor modifications at the discretion of the instructor

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