Forensic Psychology Specialization

Forensic psychology is one of the fastest growing specializations within the field of psychology, and enrollment in our forensic courses continues to grow. By popular demand, we have added several core forensic classes (such as Forensic Assessment) and several forensic electives (such as Personality Disorders). In addition, new opportunities have emerged for forensic research, fieldwork, and thesis topics. Over the past two-year cycle, we have offered the following Forensic Psychology courses:

Basic Forensic Psychology

Advanced Forensic Psychology

Forensic Assessment

Advanced Forensic Assessment

Psychology of Violence

Traumatic Stress Reactions

Personality Disorders

Psychology of Addiction

Research Methods and Experience, taught with a forensic focus.

In the context of the broader requirements of the MA program, here are the suggested options for a 36-credit curriculum with a forensic specialization. Note that the curriculum is flexible, and students will work individually with a faculty advisor to develop a study plan tailored to specific career goals in forensic psychology.

General MA Core courses (choose a total of three,including at least one Core A, and at least one Core B):

Core A: Physiological Psychology OR Cognitive Psychology OR Cognitive Neuroscience

Core B: Foundations of Psychopathology OR Theories of Personality OR Social Psychology

Statistics (choose one)

(MA level) OR Doctoral

Research Methods (choose one)

Clinical Research Design OR Research Methods and Experience OR Applied Forensic Research (beginning 2009-2010].

 
Forensic Core courses (choose at least four)

Basic Forensic Psychology

Advanced Forensic Psychology

Forensic Assessment

Advanced Forensic Assessment

Psychology of Violence

Traumatic Stress Reactions

Recommended Forensic Electives (choose at least one)

Personality Disorders

Psychology of Addiction

Affective Neuroscience

Foundations of Psychopathology

Theories of Personality

Social Psychology

Gender Roles

MA Thesis

Students are encouraged to write a forensic thesis as an alternative to taking the general comprehensive examination. The thesis can be a revised and expanded version of the empirical paper written for one of the required research methods classes. Alternately, a thesis can be a scholarly literature review of a topic of special interest. Either way, the thesis is an opportunity to develop specialized forensic expertise in preparation for specific career objectives. This includes admission to forensically oriented doctoral psychology programs, which are naturally somewhat specialized, according to faculty research interests.

Over the next two years, NYU’s MA program plans to implement a formal concentration in forensic psychology. The specializations currently available are informal tracks that do not appear on students’ transcripts, whereas a concentration is a formal course of study designed to meet standards set by the NYS Board of Regents. In actuality, NYU students can already take a full load of forensic courses, but it is clearly advantageous to have an official concentration. This would appear on student transcripts as a Masters in General Psychology with a Concentration in Forensic Psychology.

For more information on the field of forensic psychology, including careers, we recommend that you begin with APA’s American Psychology-Law Society (Division 41). We will have a Links page online shortly, as well as a customized forensic psychology search engine.

NYU MA Forensic Psychology Faculty

Barry Cohen, Interim Forensics Coordinator*

Jennifer Francisco

Pamela Karp

Scott Nolen

Jessica Pearson

Margaret Rombone

Barry Winkler

Our forensic professors are all licensed psychologists with active clinical practices and/or research programs. Some hold law degrees and other postdoctoral credentials. They have extensive experience in outpatient and inpatient clinical-forensic assessment and psychotherapy. As a group, they have worked with multiple populations and disorders: violent offenders, sexual predators, stalkers, substance abusers, trauma victims, and pathological family systems (including domestic violence, child abuse, and delinquency). Beyond the basics, their diverse experiences include police and detective work; psychological evaluation of police; civil and criminal law practice, expert witness work, forensic media consultation, and published social science research.

* Temporarily replacing Dr. Tom Ettinger, Forensics Founder and Coordinator (2006-2009)

Forensics @ NYU:

As the largest private University in the country, NYU has multiple Schools, Centers, and Departments with forensic interests and courses. There are multiple opportunities to absorb and integrate the broader multidisciplinary field of forensics. This includes the physical and social sciences (e.g., biology, anthropology, criminology); clinical practice (social work, psychiatry); media studies (the CSI phenomenon: creative journalism); computer science (cybercrime); business (forensic accounting); and the arts (e.g., forensic graphics for law enforcement agencies). Other relevant disciplines include politics and foreign languages (the most recent CIA employment openings for psychologists specify profiling of foreign leaders and governments). Finally, the prestigious School of Law at NYU is affiliated with the interdisciplinary Law and Society MA Program within the Graduate School of Arts & Science, where qualified forensic psychology students can take courses.

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