Program Description
The Clinical Forensic Psy.D. program, offered at the L.A. and Irvine campuses, provides students with a broad range of applied and real-world learning experiences within the diverse L.A. and Orange County communities. Students benefit from a broad range of applied and real-world learning experiences through the Campus' Forensic Training Institute and may participate in projects such as working on a city-wide Prison Re-Entry Project; providing forensic assessment, clinical treatment, and program measurement services; and conducting staff training for prosecuting and defense attorney and LAPD officers. Forensic students have also served as lead presenters at an annual Chicago School crisis intervention conference for representatives from the Mayor's Office, LAPD, Homeland Security, and other local and national government agencies.
Forensic psychology students also benefit from countless opportunities to bolster their knowledge and expertise by participating in frequent educational seminars on topics such as hostage negotiation and police de-escalation techniques.
Graduates of the Psy.D. program are qualified to sit for national licensure as a clinical psychologist and to provide a broad range of assessment and treatment services within the community and for the criminal, civil, and family court systems. The program integrates the eight core competencies informed by the educational model of the National Council of Schools and Programs of Professional Psychology (NCSPP), helping prepare students to sit for the national licensure exam in clinical psychology. Students may tailor their coursework to meet particular educational and professional goals.
Department
Forensic Psychology
Concentrations
Licensure
Prepares students to sit for the national licensure exam in clinical psychology and for the California Board of Psychology exam.
Total Credits
104
Fieldwork Requirements
Sample Courses
Family Systems and Family Treatment
Introduces students to treatment within the major models of family therapy. Primary theorists, assumptions, and techniques of each family systems model are discussed and students have the opportunity to learn through video examples of various theoretical approaches. This course focuses attention on working with multi-stressed and diverse families.
Group Processes of Therapy
Explores the key concepts of the theory and practice of group counseling with particular emphasis on group therapy in forensic settings. Various theoretical approaches are discussed along with issues such as group development, group process, group leadership, and the use of group counseling with diverse client populations.
Diversity in Forensic Psychology
Engage students in a level of self-awareness through self-reflection to identify their personal value systems, culture, and biases. In addition, students gain knowledge with regard to the worldview of others in the context of psychological, socio-political, historical, privilege/power, and economic factors that form social identity. This course specifically addresses individual and group differences across racial, ethnic, gender, age, disability, social class, sexual orientation, and religious boundaries. Attention is given to diversity-related issues within the forensic context.
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