Forensic Psychology Concentration

Forensic Psychology

Integrate Psychology and the Law

William James College provides an opportunity for students in the Clinical Psychology doctoral program to pursue a concentration in Forensic Psychology. The American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS; Division 41 of the American Psychological Association) defines forensic psychology as “all professional practice by any psychologist working within any subdiscipline of psychology...when the intended purpose of the service is to apply the scientific, technical, or specialized knowledge of psychology to the law and to use that knowledge to assist in solving legal, contractual, and administrative problems.”

The forensic psychology concentration allows students to expand upon the general clinical knowledge and training that they receive at William James College by providing specialized knowledge and training in areas such as civil matters (e.g. child custody evaluations; lawsuits involving employment, personal injury, discrimination, and professional malpractice; child protection cases; involuntary civil commitment) and criminal matters (e.g. capacity to waive Miranda rights, competence to stand trial, criminal responsibility, aid in sentencing, transfer of juveniles to adult criminal court). Forensic psychologists may also be engaged in providing threat assessments, risk assessment, and management evaluations for violent and/or sexual offenders. Finally, opportunities are provided for education in the areas of correctional and police psychology.

PsyD in Clinical Psychology

Offered as part of the PsyD in Clinical Psychology program

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Testimonial

Photo of woman in circle

I got my master's in forensic psychology, and I wanted to learn and gain more skills to effectively work with those who are forensically involved when I came to WJC. I also came to the program wanting to be a forensic psychologist. A highlight has been the peers and faculty that I have met with such impressive backgrounds as well as the forensic courses. I believe that the classes and the professors have prepared us well so we can do the work at practicum/internship.”

Ashley Hernandez

Clinical Psychology PsyD, Forensic Psychology Concentration

Curriculum Overview and How to Enroll

The doctoral Forensic Psychology (FP) Concentration is open to clinical psychology students. There is a yearly internal information session scheduled early in the fall semester that provides students with an overview of the concentration and declaration process.

Qualified applicants will have completed all first-year requirements, resolved any incomplete grades, have maintained a consistent record of good academic standing. Eligible students can declare the concentration starting October first in the fall of year 2 (or year 1 for advanced standing students) with the understanding that they will be seeking forensic-related field education training in year three.

To enroll, students must complete the Concentration Declaration Form and schedule a meeting with their academic advisor to discuss how the concentration requirements fit with the rest of their program requirements. If the student and the advisor agree that the concentration is appropriate for the student, the student and advisor must sign the form. The student will then submit the form to the Forensic Psychology Concentration Director, who will review, sign (if appropriate), and submit it to the Registrar’s Office.

Course Requirments (10 or 11 credits)

Field Education Requirements (10 credits)

Students are required to engage in field experience related to forensic work. Sites include outpatient treatment clinics; child, adolescent, or adult treatment facilities; court clinics; forensic hospital units or hospital units with forensic beds; correctional facilities; legal advocacy agencies; forensic residential treatment facilities, among others. Students will gain experience in assessment, evaluation, testing and treatment methods, and treatment that will prepare them to work with diverse forensic populations.

Students can complete the field placement requirement in one of two ways:

  • Pathway 1: One field placement in a forensic or correctional setting in years 3, 4, or 5 (forensic-approved site in Sonia or approved by the concentration director)
  • Pathway 2: Complete 360 cumulative hours of practicum and/or pre-doctoral internship training primarily with people who are legally involved or at risk for legal involvement across all years of training (tracks in Time2Track and approved by the concentration director). At least half of these hours must be in years 3-5.

Students should strongly consider and discuss with their advisors and/or mentors seeking a field placement for year 2 in a setting with a crisis evaluation component, an inpatient setting, and/or a setting offering comprehensive psychological testing. Students should search for sites that provide opportunities to complete assessment batteries that include intelligence testing and measures of personality and psychopathology (e.g., MMPI-3, PAI).

Dissertation Requirements (10 credits)

All students are required to complete a dissertation. Students in the concentration are strongly recommended but not required to complete a dissertation germane to the overlap of law and mental health

Concentration Faculty

Please contact program director Tracy Fass if you have any questions about the program.

Tracy Fass
Concentration Director
Tracy L. Fass, JD, PhD
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Lindsey Davis
Lindsey Davis, PhD
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Robert Kinscherff
Robert Kinscherff, PhD, JD
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Kimberly Larson
Kimberly Larson, JD, PhD
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The workshop took place at Harvard Law School June 11-13 and was offered by the Center for Law, Brain and Behavior at Mass General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, the Federal Judicial Center, and Harvard Law School. Dr. Robert Kinscherff and Dr. Tracy Fass were joined by students Danielle LaPenta, Tin Huang, Darian Martin, Rachel Moreno, Noelle Quintana, Lisa Saunders, Tanjira Spaulding, and Stella Black. Together, they helped judges and probation officers integrate information they learned from an impressive team of mental health, medical, and legal professionals into their decision-making processes.

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