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.
Two courses are specifically required of all students: CJ 3408 Forensic Psychology and 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.
Through the two elective courses, students will be able to hone in on a specific area of concentration within forensic psychology (from working in the community corrections, and rehabilitation to victims' services, and everything in between). The certificate will emphasize critical thinking, writing, and verbal skills. 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 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: 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.
Contact Information
Kimberly Campanese, Criminal Justice Program Coordinator
522 Gladfelter Hall
215-204-7919
kimberly.campanese@temple.edu
Please contact the College of Liberal Arts' Center for Academic Advising for more information on minors, certificates or other CLA programs.
Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CJ 2401 | Nature of Crime | 3 |
| CJ 3408 | Forensic Psychology | 3 |
| Electives | ||
| Select two of the following: | 6 | |
| Criminal Behavior | ||
| Victims in Society | ||
| Drugs, Crime, and Justice | ||
| Special Topics in Forensic Psychology | ||
| The American Jury System | ||
| Community Corrections | ||
| Rehabilitation of the Offender | ||
| Foundations of Psychopathology | ||
| Total Credit Hours | 12 | |