Program Overview

Overview

The Certificate in Forensic Psychology is a qualification offered by the Department of Criminal Justice to all matriculated undergraduate students and is only awarded at the time of the completion of the first bachelor's degree. This is a four-course certificate program.

Program Details

Two courses are specifically required of all students:

• CJ 3408 Forensic Psychology
• CJ 2401 Nature of Crime In these classes, students will explore the role of forensic psychologists in the areas of courts, corrections, victims' services, and law enforcement, and the challenges they face that are unique to these areas; the understanding and application of psychological theory; insight into the nature of crime and deviance and its impact on the offender, victims, and society at large; the importance of stress management and well-being for the forensic psychologist, as well as helping others in the criminal justice field manage their own stressors.

Elective Courses

Through the two elective courses, students will be able to hone in on a specific area of concentration within forensic psychology (from working in community corrections and rehabilitation to victims' services, and everything in between). The certificate will emphasize critical thinking, writing, and verbal skills.

Faculty and Expertise

The Criminal Justice Department at Temple consists of three full-time faculty and one part-time faculty who have degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology and will bring a wealth of knowledge and firsthand experience to our students pursuing this certificate.

Declaring the Certificate

Declaring the Forensic Psychology certificate will allow students to identify their academic interests in forensic psychology and to supplement their focus on their major field of study. Students should view this certificate as a tool to shape and organize their coursework in this particular area of study in addition to demonstrating to graduate schools and employers their exposure to behavioral forensics.

Campus Location and Program Code

• Campus Location: Main
• Program Code: LA-FPSY-CERT

Double Counting of Courses

Students enrolled in the Forensic Psychology certificate as well as one of the following programs may overlap one or two courses depending on the specific curricula:

• Students enrolled as a Criminal Justice major may overlap CJ 2401 Nature of Crime plus one of the certificate elective options offered in Criminal Justice.
• Students enrolled as a Criminal Justice minor may overlap CJ 2401 Nature of Crime.
• Students enrolled in another certificate program in Criminal Justice may overlap one course.
• Students enrolled in the Psychology major or minor may count CJ 3408 Forensic Psychology and/or PSY 2201 Foundations of Psychopathology towards both programs.

Requirements

Course List