Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with concentration in Forensic Psychology (STEM) INTO Group - Montclair State University, USA

The Department of Psychology offers a forensic psychology concentration within the MA program in Clinical Psychology. The Forensic Psychology concentration is designed to prepare students to offer master’s level clinical services to legal system-involved populations in settings that do not require licensure. Such settings include, but are not limited to, mental health and drug court settings, offender rehabilitation programs, child and family advocacy settings and bona fide public service agencies exempted by state boards of psychological examiners for non-doctoral providers. Students also receive opportunities for clinical and research experiences to prepare them for doctoral study should they choose that path.

In keeping with our Clinical Psychology MA program’s overall child/adolescent focus, the forensic concentration places an emphasis on child, adolescent and family issues such as domestic violence, child abuse and neglect, and juvenile offender assessment, treatment and rehabilitation.

Courts often rely on psychologists and other mental health practitioners to provide information they need to make legal decisions that impact the safety, security and well-being of justice–system involved individuals and the community. There are relatively few specialized programs that train students in the ethical practice of forensic psychology, especially ones that offer an emphasis on child and family issues. The MA program delivers academic and applied experiential learning necessary to succeed in this challenging career through a faculty of experienced forensic psychologists and researchers and legal practitioners.

Students in the Forensic Psychology concentration can expect to leave the program with strong clinical skills in assessment and psychotherapeutic interventions, an understanding of professional ethics and a sound theoretical foundation in developmental psychology and psychopathology. Students will learn the unique ethical constraints on the practice of psychology within the legal system; gain practical experience in forensic assessment, report writing and the provision of treatment to offender and victim populations; and be exposed to current theories on family and interpersonal violence.