Forensic and Criminal Psychology MSc

The MSc Forensic and Criminal Psychology consists of 180 credits which will be completed in a single year. Each module is compulsory, although the research project allows you to tailor your learning to your own area of interest.

The focus of this module is quantitative research of relevance to forensic and criminal psychology. To help you design, conduct and evaluate research within science, you must draw upon a variety of quantitative research methods, assess the appropriateness of different research designs and employ a range of analytical approaches including advanced statistical techniques. You should also be able to interpret the findings in order to draw appropriate conclusions in relation to specific hypotheses and research questions. On this module, you will gain a critical understanding of quantitative research methods and advanced statistical techniques used for different types of research design. You will also consider how statistical tests are performed and analysed using software packages and how the resulting data are interpreted and reported.

By the end of this module, you should have gained the knowledge and skills to progress to working with a range of client groups including different types of offenders, patients and at-risk individuals; victims / survivors; individuals across the lifespan (including children and young people in conflict with the law); males and females; professionals, groups and organisations

This module introduces a range of qualitative methods used within contemporary scientific inquiry. In order to design, conduct and evaluate research within science, you must be able to draw on a variety of qualitative research methods and assess their appropriateness, employ a range of analytical techniques and be able to interpret findings to draw appropriate conclusions. The module will provide you with a critical understanding of various qualitative research methods and their related epistemological backgrounds. You will also gain insights into a range of data generation techniques and will consider how the resulting data are interpreted and reported.

This module enables you to demonstrate a critical understanding of psychological theories and evidence relevant to processes in the justice system, including the legal framework of the civil and criminal justice systems; processes of investigation; the legal process; the process of detention; working with litigants, appellants, and individuals seeking arbitration and mediation; and interdisciplinary and multi-agency working. In addition, the tutorials that accompany this part of the course facilitate your emotional and cognitive development as you progress towards your professional career.

At the end of this module, you should be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of the range of interventions available for offenders, patients and at-risk individuals, victims/survivors, professionals, groups and organisations. You should understand different approaches and be able to identify the strengths and weaknesses of those approaches to inform the selection of appropriate interventions. You should also be able to evaluate the effectiveness of these interventions.

The first outcome of this module is that you will be equipped with the knowledge and skills to progress to working within a range of settings and contexts relevant to forensic and criminal psychology, including prisons; secure units; hospitals; mental health; police; courts (including criminal, family and civil); community settings; charities and social enterprises. You should have an understanding of organisational culture and systems, and the ways in which these impact on the practice of forensic and criminal psychologists and other professionals. The second outcome of the module is that you should be able to demonstrate a critical understanding of different approaches to assessment and formulation in relation to individuals, groups and/or organisations. You should also demonstrate a familiarity with the processes and tools of assessment in line with the particular focus offered by your programme.

The purpose of the independent studies module is to build upon your existing knowledge and understanding of forensic and criminal psychology. Informed by current scholarship and research, it will develop your critical awareness of the latest issues and developments within the discipline. By focusing on a supervised empirical research project (including an extended literature review) and a self-reflective portfolio, you will:

• Propose a suitable area for research; demonstrating its potential scope and appropriateness through an extended literature review
• Consider a range of techniques and research methods, applicable to psychological enquiry, and select the most suitable
• Apply relevant ethical, legal, and professional practice frameworks and boundaries, as set by the university and the BPS
• Gather and critically evaluate relevant evidence and / or data, drawing feasible conclusions and recommendations
• Disseminate your work appropriately in the form of a professional report.

You will also produce a portfolio which critically reflects on and synthesises one of the following:

• your research journey as noted above
• your volunteering experiences (if opted for in semester two)
• one or more of your forensic setting visits taken during semester one and two.

All of which will be used to inform your developing professional identity as a forensic and criminal psychologist.