PSGA-6190 -Forensic Assessment (3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
This course is designed to provide an introduction overview to the interaction between psychology and the to the major forensic assessment techniques and instruments. Both clinical rating scales (e.g., PCL-R, HCR-20, etc) and standardized instruments (e.g., VIP, TOMM, Comprehension of Miranda Rights) are covered in this course. In addition to addressing issues of reliability, validity, and admissibility, students learn to administer, interpret, and write forensic reports based on psychological test data.
PSGA-7010/HEGL-0366 -Psychology and Criminal Law (3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
This course is designed to provide an overview to the interaction between psychology and the criminal law by focusing primarily on three major aspects of forensic clinical psychology: competence to stand trial, mental state at the time of the offense (mens rea and the insanity defense), and the assessment of risk/prediction of future dangerousness. Readings and class discussion are evenly divided between legal standards/case law and psychological research, theories and techniques related to these issues. More global topics such as forensic psychological assessment, report writing, and expert testimony are also covered. This course is co-taught with Professor James Cohen in the Law School, and is open to both Law and Psychology students.
PSGA-7020/HEGL-0369 -Psychology and Civil Law (3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
The role of psychologists in non-criminal forensic matters is both diverse and important. This course covers a number of the areas in which psychologists consult on forensic matters outside of the criminal arena. The semester will be divided relatively evenly between the reviewing case law and legal standards and issues related to clinical practice. Specific legal issues discussed include the concept of torts and malpractice, causation, best interest standards, and standards of proof. We then focus on several of the areas of civil law in which psychologists play a significant role, including personal injury, sexual harassment, disability law, and psychological autopsies. The second area of focus concerns issues that arise in the elderly and medically ill such as informed consent, decision-making competence, physician-assisted suicide, and testamentary capacity. Issues such as psychological testing, report preparation, and expert testimony are discussed in the context of these issues.
PSGA-7111-Psychopathology(3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
This class provides an overview of the primary types, causes, and symptoms of mental disorders. We begin with discussions of the issues involved in classification of mental disorders, as well as reviewing the currently accepted taxonomical structure (DSM-IV). Subsequently, we will focus on many of the more commonly encountered disorders, both within and outside of the DSM-IV taxonomy. Considerable emphasis will be placed on understanding the etiologies of these various disorders, assessing racial/gender/cultural issues involved in the development and assessment of mental disorders, and empirical research surrounding these theories and issues
PSRU-1000-Introductory Psychology (3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
The objective of this course is to provide an introduction to the contents and methods of scientific psychology as a life science. It is a survey of the facts, principles, and theories of psychology relating to learning, sensation, perception, cognition, motivation, developmental, personality, abnormal, and social psychology.
PSRU-2900-Abnormal Psychology (3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
Analysis of the development and structure of the abnormal personality. Consideration of neuroses and major psychoses as well as the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mental disorders is given. Prerequisite: PSRU 1000.
PSRU-4340-Psychology and Legal Issues (3) Syllabus via Blackboard, eRes, or email.
An introduction to (a) the issues relevant to understanding human behavior from the perspectives of law and psychology and (b) the contributions of psychology as a behavioral science to such legal issues as legal evidence, juries, and criminal and civil responsibility. Prerequisite: PSRU 1000.
