Juvenile Forensic Psyc (JPSY)

Courses

JPSY 5311 Psychology and the Juvenile Law: 3 semester hours.

Reviews the various areas, and ways, in which psychology interacts with the law and, in particular, the juvenile justice system. Explores topics such as psychological and psychiatric testimony, civil commitment, the rights of mental patients competency to stand trial, the insanity defense, the antisocial personality; trial child custody disputes and determinations, the psychology of the courtroom, and legal rules and regulations governing the practice of psychology. Considers the utility and the limitations of psychological expertise in relation to the legal system.

JPSY 5312 Psychology of Crime and Delinquency: 3 semester hours.

Focuses on the major psychological theories of criminal and aggressive behavior as they apply to juvenile delinquency. Viewpoints from cognitive, psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, behavioral, social learning, descriptive, and development psychologies are discussed and compared with current psycho-diagnostic classification systems. Case examples are used to illustrate the various theories.

JPSY 5342 Conflict Mediation/Resolution: 3 semester hours.

Examines the nature and uses of mediation as a conflict resolution method while taking into consideration the adversarial legal system. The course expands upon the variety of dispute resolution methods applicable to settings in families, neighborhoods, classrooms and juvenile justice agencies.

JPSY 5343 Counseling: 3 semester hours.

An-in-depth evaluation of counseling as it is applied in the juvenile justice and juvenile correction settings. Emphasizes a psychosocial approach to the study of behavior with priority given to immediacy. Explores various treatment models, interviewing, interpersonal communication, and crisis intervention.

JPSY 5345 Childhood Psychopathology: 3 semester hours.

A focus on the psychological treatment and prevention of select examples of childhood psychopathology. Emphasis will be placed on those disorders that result in contact with the criminal justice system. Child disorders will be selected from among the following diagnostic categories; conduct disorders, attention deficit disorders, borderline, and schizophrenic disorders. Emphasis will be placed on children who grow up under unusually stressful conditions or experience forms of serious psychological trauma early in life.

JPSY 5378 Ethics: 3 semester hours.

The analytical and nonnative inquiry into the philosophical foundations of decisions. Emphasis is placed on understanding dilemmas faced by juvenile justice professionals.

JPSY 5384 Personality Assessment I: 3 semester hours.

Intelligence and Cognition. Provides practical experience in the evaluation of cognitive and intellectual functioning in children, adolescents, and adults. Focuses on the administration, scoring and interpretation of instruments such as the W AIS-R, the WISC-R, the WPPSI, and the Stanford Binet. Discusses general issues such as the nature of human intelligence and its measurement with explicit linkage to issues in forensic psychology. Required of externship option.

JPSY 5385 Personality Assessment II: 3 semester hours.

Objective Personality Assessment. Provides advanced experience in the administration and interpretation of objective personality tests such as the MMPI, MCMI, and CPI. Surveys the literature regarding the development and validity of objective measures of personality. Forensic applications of objective personality measures are discussed.

JPSY 5397 Field Work in Psychology: 3 semester hours.

Provides supervised experience assisting psychologists in the assessment, management, and treatment of patients. Students work in an applied institutional setting, such as a juvenile facility, special treatment clinic, hospital, or rehabilitation setting. Training includes interviewing, taking case histories, observations, and staff and case conferences. This field work course provides supervision and experience with emotionally disturbed pre-delinquent and delinquent children in institutional, school, and community settings. Develops skills in evaluation and treatment of such youths. Field work training is supplemented by conferences with a faculty advisor.
Prerequisites: JPSY 5385 or JPSY 5853.

JPSY 5398 Thesis: 3 semester hours.

Independent and original research leading to an acceptable master's thesis. Required of thesis option.