Department of Psychology

Minor in Forensic Psychology

This interdisciplinary minor provides foundation and depth courses in both psychology and criminal justice that will assist students in coming to understand the legal system and the workings of the court from both legal and psychological perspectives. Issues of law, evidence, competency, insanity defense, criminal profiling, personality theory, mental health and the law, among others will be explored.

A few of the many questions to be addressed by students include
  a.) What theories are used to explain crime?
  b.) Will an eyewitness's testimony will be believed?
  c.) How do we determine competence to stand trial?
  d.) How do juries function as a group?
  e.) What is "competence" and why is it important?

Forensic is defined as, "evidence" or as "relating to, used in, or appropriate for courts of law." This minor looks at forensic issues from both psychological and criminal justice perspectives. The minor is suitable for criminal justice majors or any individual wishing to pursue a background in psychology and criminal justice. The minor also would be good preparation for those individuals wishing to pursue pre-law or social work and for individuals considering graduate coursework in forensic psychology. Students wishing to pursue this minor need to complete a minor declaration form in the Psychology Department Office.

Downloads
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Notes for Forensic Psychology minors

1. Psychology majors pursuing the forensic psychology minor cannot double count courses toward their major and the minor.


2. Enrollment in the required Psychology courses assumes that non-psychology majors will have completed the PSY1300 introduction course as part of their social science core curriculum component. If the Psychology 1300 course is not taken as part of the social science component, PSY 1300 is a prerequisite for PSY 4390E, 3315, 3316, 3331.


3. The prerequisite requirements for CJ 3329 and CJ 4340 will be waived only for students pursuing this minor. This is justified by the fact that students will be exploring many of the issues covered in those requisite courses in the psychology coursework portion of the minor.