PSY 506: Intermediate Research Methods II. An examination of the array of research methods used in the behavioral sciences and helping professions. Emphasis is placed on critically evaluating psychological research and understanding its application to counseling. Semester II will address survey research methods and program evaluation. Prerequisite: PSY 505 or consent of instructor. CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS.
PSY 551: Psychology & Law. A review of the ways in which mental health issues interact with the law and the criminal justice system. Topics will include mental health testimony as it relates to civil commitment, the rights of mental patients, competency to stand trial, the insanity defense, the antisocial personality, child custody disputes and determinations, and consideration of the utility and limitations of mental health expertise as it relates to the legal system. CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS.
PSY 552: Law & Social Science. This course will focus on the ways in which behavioral and social science information is being used in court. The course will examine the empirical issues raised in criminal law, tort law, trademark law, etc. The use, misuse and nonuse of social science information in court will be considered. Will also apply behavioral and social science knowledge to the criminal and civil justice systems. Topics such as social psychology of justice institutions, environmental social science, socialization into roles and identity, collective behavior, research on juries, attitude formation and change, and criminal identification will be included. CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS.
PSY 661: Theories of Offending & Corrections. Reviews the many approaches to the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders in the context of the various goals of offender dispositions. Will survey the contexts of offender treatment through the criminal justice system, with particular emphasis on prisons, jails, halfway houses and special treatment programs. Issues such as mandatory vs. voluntary treatment, confidentiality, and the agency and the individual client will be discussed. Students will review the range of therapeutic and other interventions utilized in dealing with offender populations, with attention to evaluations of their effectiveness. CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS.
PSY 662: Psychology of Criminal Behavior. An in-depth analysis of research on the psychological bases and dynamics of criminal, aggressive, and antisocial behavior. Review of historical and contemporary issues, such as the interface of the mental health system and the criminal system, civil commitment, diminished capacity, the insanity defense, sentencing, capital punishment, competency to stand trial, and the use of research in court. CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS.
PSY 663: Aggression & Violence. Critical evaluation and examination of violence and aggression, their origins and determinants, and their impact on the individual and society. Application to forensic issues will be emphasized through the liberal use of clinical and research material. CREDIT: THREE SEMESTER HOURS.