What is forensic and legal psychology?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nForensic and legal psychology (or psychology and law) involves the application of scientific and professional aspects of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system.\u00a0This field encompasses contributions made in a number of different areas – research, practice, public policy and teaching\/training among them – from a variety of orientations within the field of psychology.<\/p>\n
While there is some disagreement in the field as to what is meant by forensic psychology (with some equating it to psychology and law), others define it as the application of clinical specialties (e.g., clinical and counseling psychology) to legal institutions and people who come in contact with the law. Forensic psychology is composed of such issues such as competency to stand trial, mental status at the time of the offense, violence risk assessment, and child custody and visitation.<\/p>\n
Legal psychology refers to the application of experimental or research-oriented areas of psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, physiological) to legal issues. Legal psychology also includes the scientific study of the effect of laws on people and the effect people have on laws. Witness identification, deception detection, investigative interviewing, and trial consulting are just some of the issues that comprise legal psychology.<\/p>\n
Forensic and legal psychology professionals work in a variety of areas, such as:<\/p>\n
\n- Law enforcement\/intelligence<\/li>\n
- Corrections<\/li>\n
- Child and victim advocacy<\/li>\n
- Mitigation and sentencing<\/li>\n
- Jury consulting<\/li>\n
- Social\/public policy<\/li>\n
- Psycholegal research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
What is the M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe program focuses on the application of all areas of psychology to the law and the legal system.<\/p>\n
Courses in the program focus on such topics as:<\/p>\n
\n- Forensic assessment (e.g., competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, violence prediction)<\/li>\n
- Treatment of the juvenile offender<\/li>\n
- Eyewitness identification<\/li>\n
- Wrongful convictions<\/li>\n
- Deception detection<\/li>\n
- Intelligence<\/li>\n
- Terrorism<\/li>\n
- Jury decision-making<\/li>\n
- Legal reasoning skills<\/li>\n
- The legal system<\/li>\n
- The war on drugs<\/li>\n
- Capital punishment<\/li>\n
- Abortion<\/li>\n
- Prison conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Students must complete an internship selected from the wide-variety of applicable sites in the DC region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs an undergraduate degree in psychology required?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThere is no specific undergraduate major requirement, but having a major or minor in psychology will be of benefit. It is, however, strongly recommended that applicants have taken a few courses in psychology, criminal justice, and criminology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs a master\u2019s thesis required?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe program does not have a formalized thesis option and does not follow a mentorship model. Students are admitted into the program by committee rather than accepted to work with a particular faculty member.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs there an internship requirement?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nYes, all students are required to complete a total of 300 hours. Students must enroll in, attend, and complete the requirements for FLP 599 during the same semester in which they complete their internship requirement.<\/p>\n
Internship opportunities exist with federal, local, corporate, legal, and nonprofit organizations. Some examples include:<\/p>\n
\n- FBI (including its National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime)<\/li>\n
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service<\/li>\n
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives<\/li>\n
- Fairfax County Public Defender\u2019s Office<\/li>\n
- Arlington County Police Department<\/li>\n
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children<\/li>\n
- Federal Bureau of Prisons<\/li>\n
- Vera Institute of Justice<\/li>\n
- Northern Virginia Capital Defender\u2019s Office<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
More information on the internship requirement can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\nHow do I register for FLP 599 (Internship: Forensic and Legal Psychology)?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nIn order to enroll in FLP 599, students must first complete 18 program credits. Specific information regarding the internship requirements can be obtained from the coordinator of forensic and legal psychology internships. You cannot enroll yourself in FLP 599; only the coordinator can enroll you in this course.<\/p>\n
\n- Once a student has selected an internship that has been approved by the coordinator of forensic and legal psychology internships, an Internship Contract Request Form (obtained from the coordinator) must be completed and returned to the coordinator.<\/li>\n
- Once the internship agreement is created, the student and his\/her internship site supervisor must sign this form and return it to the coordinator.<\/li>\n
- Malpractice insurance must also be obtained from the American Psychological Association (APA). Malpractice insurance can be purchased via the APA\u2019s The Trust. This insurance is good for one year.<\/li>\n
- Upon acquiring the malpractice insurance, the student must provide the coordinator with a copy of the second page of the malpractice insurance policy.<\/li>\n
- Once the coordinator receives all of this paperwork, he\/she will enroll the student in FLP 599.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Will I be a (forensic) psychologist after completing this program?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nNot yet. Forensic psychologists must graduate from a psychology doctoral program which provides students with the coursework, practical, and internship experiences necessary to meet licensure requirements at the state level. Many state jurisdictions also require postdoctoral experience.<\/p>\n
In certain states, the practice of professional psychology is limited to those who graduate from an APA-accredited doctoral program (e.g., clinical, counseling, school). Passing scores on exams (e.g., EPPP, state written or oral exam) are also required.<\/p>\n
According to some, one must pursue additional training and credentialing (e.g., ABFP certification) before being able to call oneself a forensic psychologist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nWhat about criminal profiling?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nCriminal profiling is just one of the vast issues and functions within the field, and comes with its own perils and limitations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nWill I receive clinical training in this program?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThis program does not offer specialized clinical training, and graduates will not be able to conduct therapy, clinical assessment, or other practices that require a license.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nCan I be licensed as a clinical psychologist or counselor after graduating from this program?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThis program does not offer courses in clinical assessment or counseling; therefore, students are not eligible for licensure as a counselor (LPC) after graduating from the program. Typically one must have a doctorate before being eligible for licensure as a clinical psychologist.<\/p>\n
Students who are interested in pursuing a career in counseling should consider the dual program, in which students earn dual M.A. degrees in clinical mental health counseling and forensic and legal psychology. Students who complete this option would be eligible for licensure as an LPC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs this program APA-accredited?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nNo. The APA accredits only doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nWhat global education opportunities are available?<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nProgram faculty have led trips to London, Israel\/Palestine, The Netherlands, Cambodia, Prague, and Sweden. More information on these opportunities can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
Forensic and legal psychology (or psychology and law) involves the application of scientific and professional aspects of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system.\u00a0This field encompasses contributions made in a number of different areas – research, practice, public policy and teaching\/training among them – from a variety of orientations within the field of psychology.<\/p>\n
While there is some disagreement in the field as to what is meant by forensic psychology (with some equating it to psychology and law), others define it as the application of clinical specialties (e.g., clinical and counseling psychology) to legal institutions and people who come in contact with the law. Forensic psychology is composed of such issues such as competency to stand trial, mental status at the time of the offense, violence risk assessment, and child custody and visitation.<\/p>\n
Legal psychology refers to the application of experimental or research-oriented areas of psychology (e.g., social, cognitive, physiological) to legal issues. Legal psychology also includes the scientific study of the effect of laws on people and the effect people have on laws. Witness identification, deception detection, investigative interviewing, and trial consulting are just some of the issues that comprise legal psychology.<\/p>\n
Forensic and legal psychology professionals work in a variety of areas, such as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Law enforcement\/intelligence<\/li>\n
- Corrections<\/li>\n
- Child and victim advocacy<\/li>\n
- Mitigation and sentencing<\/li>\n
- Jury consulting<\/li>\n
- Social\/public policy<\/li>\n
- Psycholegal research<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
What is the M.A. in Forensic and Legal Psychology?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe program focuses on the application of all areas of psychology to the law and the legal system.<\/p>\n
Courses in the program focus on such topics as:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Forensic assessment (e.g., competency to stand trial, criminal responsibility, violence prediction)<\/li>\n
- Treatment of the juvenile offender<\/li>\n
- Eyewitness identification<\/li>\n
- Wrongful convictions<\/li>\n
- Deception detection<\/li>\n
- Intelligence<\/li>\n
- Terrorism<\/li>\n
- Jury decision-making<\/li>\n
- Legal reasoning skills<\/li>\n
- The legal system<\/li>\n
- The war on drugs<\/li>\n
- Capital punishment<\/li>\n
- Abortion<\/li>\n
- Prison conditions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Students must complete an internship selected from the wide-variety of applicable sites in the DC region.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs an undergraduate degree in psychology required?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThere is no specific undergraduate major requirement, but having a major or minor in psychology will be of benefit. It is, however, strongly recommended that applicants have taken a few courses in psychology, criminal justice, and criminology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs a master\u2019s thesis required?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThe program does not have a formalized thesis option and does not follow a mentorship model. Students are admitted into the program by committee rather than accepted to work with a particular faculty member.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs there an internship requirement?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nYes, all students are required to complete a total of 300 hours. Students must enroll in, attend, and complete the requirements for FLP 599 during the same semester in which they complete their internship requirement.<\/p>\n
Internship opportunities exist with federal, local, corporate, legal, and nonprofit organizations. Some examples include:<\/p>\n
- \n
- FBI (including its National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime)<\/li>\n
- Naval Criminal Investigative Service<\/li>\n
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives<\/li>\n
- Fairfax County Public Defender\u2019s Office<\/li>\n
- Arlington County Police Department<\/li>\n
- National Center for Missing and Exploited Children<\/li>\n
- Federal Bureau of Prisons<\/li>\n
- Vera Institute of Justice<\/li>\n
- Northern Virginia Capital Defender\u2019s Office<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
More information on the internship requirement can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nHow do I register for FLP 599 (Internship: Forensic and Legal Psychology)?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nIn order to enroll in FLP 599, students must first complete 18 program credits. Specific information regarding the internship requirements can be obtained from the coordinator of forensic and legal psychology internships. You cannot enroll yourself in FLP 599; only the coordinator can enroll you in this course.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Once a student has selected an internship that has been approved by the coordinator of forensic and legal psychology internships, an Internship Contract Request Form (obtained from the coordinator) must be completed and returned to the coordinator.<\/li>\n
- Once the internship agreement is created, the student and his\/her internship site supervisor must sign this form and return it to the coordinator.<\/li>\n
- Malpractice insurance must also be obtained from the American Psychological Association (APA). Malpractice insurance can be purchased via the APA\u2019s The Trust. This insurance is good for one year.<\/li>\n
- Upon acquiring the malpractice insurance, the student must provide the coordinator with a copy of the second page of the malpractice insurance policy.<\/li>\n
- Once the coordinator receives all of this paperwork, he\/she will enroll the student in FLP 599.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
Will I be a (forensic) psychologist after completing this program?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nNot yet. Forensic psychologists must graduate from a psychology doctoral program which provides students with the coursework, practical, and internship experiences necessary to meet licensure requirements at the state level. Many state jurisdictions also require postdoctoral experience.<\/p>\n
In certain states, the practice of professional psychology is limited to those who graduate from an APA-accredited doctoral program (e.g., clinical, counseling, school). Passing scores on exams (e.g., EPPP, state written or oral exam) are also required.<\/p>\n
According to some, one must pursue additional training and credentialing (e.g., ABFP certification) before being able to call oneself a forensic psychologist.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nWhat about criminal profiling?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nCriminal profiling is just one of the vast issues and functions within the field, and comes with its own perils and limitations.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nWill I receive clinical training in this program?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThis program does not offer specialized clinical training, and graduates will not be able to conduct therapy, clinical assessment, or other practices that require a license.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nCan I be licensed as a clinical psychologist or counselor after graduating from this program?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nThis program does not offer courses in clinical assessment or counseling; therefore, students are not eligible for licensure as a counselor (LPC) after graduating from the program. Typically one must have a doctorate before being eligible for licensure as a clinical psychologist.<\/p>\n
Students who are interested in pursuing a career in counseling should consider the dual program, in which students earn dual M.A. degrees in clinical mental health counseling and forensic and legal psychology. Students who complete this option would be eligible for licensure as an LPC.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nIs this program APA-accredited?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nNo. The APA accredits only doctoral programs in clinical, counseling, and school psychology.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n\nWhat global education opportunities are available?<\/h3>\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\nProgram faculty have led trips to London, Israel\/Palestine, The Netherlands, Cambodia, Prague, and Sweden. More information on these opportunities can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n