Adler School Of Professional Psychology

Program Information

Degree Offered

Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology Forensic Psychology Specialization

Format: Campus

Program Description:

This program prepares graduates for a highly specialized career that integrates their knowledge of human behavior with their active participation in the criminal justice system. Specialized coursework exposes students to the predominant theories and techniques of forensic evaluation, including the determination of a defendant's competency to stand trial, their sanity at the time of an offense, and their qualification for the death penalty in the event of a conviction for a capital crime. Students also develop a comprehensive understanding of the techniques associated with the forensic practitioner's involvement in criminal investigations; activities such as forensic hypnosis, offender and geographic profiling, and the ongoing review of police interview and witness identification procedures. Students are introduced to such specialized topics as the psychological effects of incarceration, jury selection, the evaluation of sexually-dangerous persons, and the psychosocial development of the criminal personality type. In addition, graduates become familiar with special issues and techniques related to therapeutic intervention with criminal justice professionals and their families.
Employment opportunities in this field are robust and highly resistant to economic downturns. An M.A. Counseling Psychology degree with a specialization in forensic psychology prepares graduates for positions in areas such as:
-Federal, state, and local police agencies.
-Private consulting firms engaged in the testing and evaluation of criminal justice job candidates.
-Federal and state prisons, correctional institutions, county jails, and probation offices.
-Private law firms.
-Federal, state, and local court systems.
-Child Advocacy Centers.
-Counseling Centers that serve the criminal justice community.

Accreditation:

Adler School of Professional Psychology is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, 30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 2400 Chicago, IL 60602-2504, (800) 621-7440.

# of Credits Required:

62

Tuition & Financial Aid

Cost Per Credit Hour:

$980.00 USD

Financial Aid Offered: No

Classification: Other Specialized Institutions

Institution Sector: Private not-for-profit

Locale: Large City

Size & Settings: Under 1,000