The course consists of six theoretical modules and a research project/dissertation incorporating research methods training equivalent to two 10-credit taught modules.
Theories of Criminal Behaviour
This module provides an overview of psychological theories associated with crime and offending.
Forensic Child Psychology
This module covers the theories/mechanism, prevention and interventions of family violence and the cycle of violence.
Forensic Mental Health
This module critically examines the relationship between the spectrum of psychological disorders from neurotic disorders to personality disorders and the psychoses - and criminal offending. It will also examine the psychological processes that underlie such a relationship, and developmental precursors of adult criminality.
Law and Criminal Justice
Forensic Organisational Psychology
The module provides an introduction to organisational psychology as applied to forensic settings. Its aims are threefold: (i) to enable students to understand organisations (forensic settings) as systems, (ii) to learn how to manage and sustain healthy working life, (iii) to consider any issue affecting their client groups from a multi-level, systems perspective. Included as topics are: work-related stress, traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, violence at work, discrimination and harassment, leadership, management, white collar crime, multi-agency working, ethics and professional codes of conduct, job search and selection procedures. The module assessment allows each student to develop, in individual discussions with the module convenor and in group presentations, an essay topic of their choice that lends itself to evidence-based, multi-level (individual, group, organisational, community, national) analysis, and that has clear relevance to the work of forensic psychologists.
Forensic Practice Interventions
This module considers the underlying theoretical bases for therapeutic interventions and then the therapeutic methods actually used clinically. The focus will be on treatments addressing criminogenic needs of different sorts and on the scientific evidence relating to whether these interventions are effective.
The modules we offer are inspired by the research interests of our staff and as a result may change for reasons of, for example, research developments or legislation changes. This list is an example of typical modules we offer, not a definitive list.