May 14, 2025

2012-2013 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 3, Issue 4

2012-2013 Argosy University Academic Catalog—Graduate Programs | Volume 3, Issue 4 [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Master of Arts in Forensic Psychology Degree Program

Offering Campuses
Program Overview
Program Learning Outcomes
Admission Requirements
Applications to Multiple Campuses
Graduation Requirements
Program Requirements

Offering Campuses

Argosy University, Atlanta; Argosy University, Chicago; Argosy University, Dallas; Argosy University, Denver; Argosy University, Hawai‘i; Argosy University, Inland Empire; Argosy University, Los Angeles; Argosy University, Nashville; Argosy University, Orange County; Argosy University, Phoenix; Argosy University, Salt Lake City; Argosy University, San Diego; Argosy University, San Francisco Bay Area; Argosy University, Sarasota; Argosy University, Seattle; Argosy University, Twin Cities; Argosy University, Washington DC

Program Overview

The Master of Arts (MA) in Forensic Psychology degree program is designed to educate and train individuals who are currently working, or wish to work, in fields that utilize the study and practice of forensic psychology. Curriculum is designed to provide for an understanding of theory, training, and practice of forensic psychology. It is designed to emphasize the development of students who are committed to the ethical provision of quality services to diverse clients and organizations. The program maintains policies and delivery formats suitable for working adults.

The MA in Forensic Psychology degree program is designed to provide coursework in forensic psychology for application to law enforcement, legal and organizational consultation, and program analysis.

Program Learning Outcomes

Outcome One: Psychological Theory and Practice
Apply theoretical concepts and methodological approaches of psychology to forensic practice.

Outcome Two: Legal Theory and Application
Apply theories related to the interaction between the criminal and civil legal systems and psychology.

Outcome Three: Research and Evaluation
Critically evaluate the existing literature and body of knowledge in assessment, evaluation, and research methods in forensic practice.

Outcome Four: Leadership, Consultation, and Ethics
Use leadership, consultative, and ethical knowledge, skills and attitudes to succeed in forensic practice.

Outcome Five: Interpersonal Effectiveness
Achieve personal development and demonstrate positive relationship skills via effective communication, respect for others, and awareness of their impact on others.

Admission Requirements

A bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited institution, a nationally accredited institution approved and documented by the faculty and dean of the College of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences, or an appropriately certified foreign institution
A grade point average (GPA) on (on a scale of 4.0) as described below. Additional requirements may apply.
- 2.7 for the bachelor’s degree, or
- 3.0 for the last 60 hours of coursework (including graduate work), or
- Between 2.0 and 2.7 for the bachelor’s degree. Students seeking admission with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.7 will be required to submit a personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession, current résumé (or career summary), one completed letter from a current employer, and evidence of completing one undergraduate introductory psychology course with a grade of “C” or better. Students admitted with a GPA between 2.0 and 2.7 must enroll in W 5096 Academic Writing within the first 15 week semester and pass within the first 30 weeks. Admission between 2.0 and 2.7 must be approved by the program chair and must be justified, documented, signed, placed, and retained in the student’s academic file.
  - Between 2.0 and 2.4 for the bachelor’s degree. Students are also required to submit three academic or professional letters of recommendation (one from an employer).
A minimum score on an Argosy University pre-approved English language proficiency test is required for all applicants whose native language is not English or who have not graduated from an institution at which English is the language of instruction as specified in Section Five, Admission Policies, “English Language Proficiency Policy ”

The application process for admission into the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program requires the submission of material that will enable the Admissions Department to verify the applicant’s academic qualifications for enrollment in the program.

All applicants to the program must submit the following materials by the application deadline:

Completed Application for Admission Form
Application fee (Non-refundable, except in California and Arizona. In the state of Arizona, the application fee is refundable if the application is canceled within three business days of the applicant signing the Enrollment Agreement.)
Personal/professional goal statement with a self-appraisal of qualifications for the profession
If the basis of admission is an earned bachelor’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher (on a scale of 4.0), an official transcript from the degree granting institution
If the basis of admission is a cumulative GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0) for the last 60 hours of coursework, official transcripts from all post-secondary schools attended during the 60 hours of study

Applications to Multiple Campuses

Applicants who are undecided with respect to the location they wish to attend should submit an application and full set of application materials to their location of first choice. Applicants who are accepted into their location of first choice and who, prior to beginning the program, determine they want to complete the same program at a different location, should notify the initial location of record of that intent. Provided that the same program is available, all previous approvals and credits accepted will remain in force. If an individual requests to change programs, he or she will need to meet all admission requirements of the new program.

Graduation Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program are eligible for graduation when the following requirements are met:

Satisfactory completion of 36 credit hours by the end of the fifth year of matriculation. The total credit hours must include:
- 24 credit hours of core courses
- 9 credit hours of concentration courses*
- 3 credit hours of elective course*
Successful completion of the Comprehensive Examination
Grade point average (GPA) of at least 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0); any course in which a student earns a grade below “B-” must be retaken
Completion of all requirements within five years of matriculation into the program
A completed Petition to Graduate submitted to campus administration

Note

*Alternatively, students may choose to complete a general track which is comprised of four elective courses (12 credit hours).

Program Requirements

Students enrolled in the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program are required to satisfactorily complete 36 credit hours distributed as follows: core course requirements, 24 credit hours; concentration requirements, 9 credit hours, and elective requirements, 3 credit hours. Students who choose to complete a general track must satisfactorily complete 36 credit hours distributed as follows: core course requirements, 24 credit hours; elective requirements, 12 credit hours.

Core Course Requirements

Students in the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program complete eight core courses (24 credit hours).

Core Course Requirements—Students Are Required to Take the Following

Core Course Requirements—24 Credit Hours

Concentration Requirements

Students in the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program may choose to complete one of the following concentrations:

Assessment
Homeland Security
Law Enforcement
Treatment

Assessment Concentration

The Assessment concentration is designed to prepare students whose career goals are in the area of evaluating offenders primarily for use in criminal justice dispositions.

Assessment Concentration—Students Are Required to Take the Following

Assessment Concentration Requirements—9 Credit Hours

Homeland Security Concentration

The Homeland Security concentration is designed to develop working knowledge of essential interrogation, interviewing, counterintelligence and other skills needed for forensic psychologists working in this field.

Homeland Security Concentration Requirements—Students Choose Three of the Following

Homeland Security Concentration—9 Credit Hours

Law Enforcement Concentration

The Law Enforcement concentration is designed to prepare students whose career goals are in law enforcement agencies.

Law Enforcement Concentration Requirements—Students Are Required to Take the Following

Law Enforcement Concentration Requirements—9 Credit Hours

Treatment Concentration

The Treatment concentration is designed to prepare students whose career goals are in the area of evaluation and treatment interventions for offenders and for those who are victims of criminal behavior.

Treatment Concentration—Students Choose Three of the Following

Treatment Concentration Requirements—9 Credit Hours

Elective Requirements

Students in the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program complete one elective course (3 credit hours) that has not already been taken to fulfill the concentration requirements.

Elective Requirements—Students Choose One of the Following

Elective Requirements—3 Credit Hours

Note

**Requires permission of the Counselor Education and Forensic Psychology program chairs.

General Track Requirements

Students in the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program who do not pursue a specific concentration or who seek a customized concentration have the opportunity to complete a general track. Students opting to complete the general track select four courses (12 credit hours) from the list of available elective courses and will be required to consult with their advisor and seek department approval for their selected concentration.

General Track Requirements—Students Choose Four of the Following

General Track Requirements—12 Credit Hours

Note

**Requires permission of the Counselor Education and Forensic Psychology program chairs.

Forensic Psychology Seminar Requirements

This seminar (not for students in the Forensic Psychophysiology Track) will include students that are either completing field experience or who wish to conduct a review of a special topic in the field of forensic psychology. During the end of the first year of study, the student will determine with their advisor if they will select a Forensic Field Experience or a Special Topics Paper.

Students completing the Special Topics Paper review an issue related to forensic psychology that becomes the focus of their contribution to the seminar. Field Experience students gain training in a forensic setting which becomes the focus of their contribution to the seminar.

Forensic Psychophysiology Track Requirements (Argosy University, Washington DC Only)

The Forensic Psychophysiology track of the program is offered at Argosy University, Washington DC. This track has been designed for the continued professional development of Department of Defense (DoD) personnel, non-DoD federal personnel, and state and local criminal justice and intelligence agency employees. This track is designed to provide the opportunity for students to receive the theoretical and empirical foundation to apply techniques of forensic psychophysiology and to understand the role of these methods in the broader forensic psychology systems.

The MA in Forensic Psychology degree program with the Forensic Psychophysiology track requires the satisfactory completion of 39 semester credit hours by the end of the fourth year of matriculation, distributed as follows: core course requirements, 21 credit hours; Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment (DACA) course requirements, 15 credit hours; and elective requirements, 3 credit hours.

Core Course Requirements—Students Are Required to Take the Following

Students Choose One of the Following

Core Course Requirements—21 Credit Hours

Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment (DACA) Course Requirements —Students Are Required to Take the Following

PDD501 Interview Techniques (4)
PDD503 PDD Analysis II (2)
PDD505 PDD Methods II (2)
PHY501 Physiology of PDD (4)
PSY501 Psychology of PDD (3)

Defense Academy for Credibility Assessment (DACA) Course Requirements — 15 Credit Hours

Elective Requirements—Students Are Required to Take One of the Following Options

Option 1	PDD600 PDD Internship (offered through DACA)
Option 2	One additional course from the Argosy University, Washington DC
Forensic Psychology Program [must be completed in an on-campus or blended format]

Elective Requirements—3 Credit Hours

Comprehensive Examination Requirements

All students must successfully complete a Comprehensive Examination. The examination requires students to integrate course material into a form demonstrating both mastery and the ability to organize the material coherently and logically. Students who do not pass the Comprehensive Examination will receive feedback concerning their performance on the examination, and assistance in gaining additional experience to facilitate successful completion of this program requirement. A student who does not pass all parts of the comprehensive exam within three attempts will be automatically dismissed from the program.

Prior to taking the Comprehensive Examination, students must successfully complete all required first- and second-year courses, excluding the Forensic Seminar, as demonstrated by earning a grade of “B-” or better in all coursework. They must also submit an application to take the exam to the campus dean or program chair. Transferred courses are considered successfully completed.

Students taking the Comprehensive Examination must be in good academic standing, with a GPA of 3.0 (on a scale of 4.0).

Comprehensive Examination Procedures

The Comprehensive Examination is offered during class a minimum of two times a year. The schedule of the exams will be distributed by the department. Students interested in taking the Comprehensive Examination should complete a request form at least two months before they intend to take the exam and return it to the department.

More information concerning preparation for the Comprehensive Examination will be provided as students become eligible to take the exam.

Course/Credit Transfer

Students may transfer a maximum of 12 credit hours towards the MA in Forensic Psychology degree program. (For students in the Forensic Psychophysiology track, up to 3 credit hours may be transferred.) For further information on course/credit transfer criteria, please refer to “Section Seven, Academic Policies and Procedures .”