Forensic Mental Health

Course detail Description

Students join this course from a range of backgrounds – you might be a psychologist or psychiatrist, work as nurse or occupational therapist or have a background in criminology. Being part of this multidisciplinary community gives you a real flavour of working in this field.

You’ll take a developmental approach to understanding why people develop prosocial or antisocial behaviour. Then we’ll help you explore the relationship between neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and schizophrenia, and offending.

An important element of this course is looking at how forensic services are set up. You’ll think about different ways to effectively manage offenders in the community and explore the journey through the criminal justice system – from the point of arrest to sentencing.

As a student on this course, you’ll have access to highly specialist services including prisons, secure units and the courts. The amount of time you spend in practice depends on your pathway – the clinical pathway has a 60 day placement whereas the research and forensic psychology pathways have ten days of observation.

“The IoPPN is the main postgraduate research and education centre in this field, in the UK. Because we explore psychology, psychiatry and neuropsychiatry, students develop a multidisciplinary understanding of the area”

Dr Nigel Blackwood, Course Leader

Further literature

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Course format and assessment

Format

You will be taught through a mix of lectures, seminars and tutorials.

Prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (267 hours)

Research Dissertation Forensic Mental Health

Seminars / Tutorials (8 hours) | Self-study time (592 hours)

Specialist forensic services: assessment, treatment and development

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (267 hours)

Research Methodology and Statistics A

Lectures (44 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (10 hours) | Self-study time (96 hours)

Research Methodology and Statistics B

Lectures (41 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (2 hours) | Self-study time (107 hours)

Forensic mental health practice in the criminal justice system: legal and investigative processes

Lectures (35 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (3 hours) | Self-study time (262 hours)

Forensic Psychology Practice in Context (Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway only)

Lectures (30 hours) | Seminars / Tutorials (15 hours) | Placement Hours ( 420) | Self-study time (135 hours)

Typically, one credit equates to 10 hours of work.

Assessment

You will be assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations.

Year 1

Examination (20%) | Coursework (60%)| Practical (20%)

The study time and assessment methods detailed above are typical and give you a good indication of what to expect. However, they may change if the course modules change.

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Structure

Year 1

You will be required to choose one of three pathways. This means that the combination of modules chosen will lead to a qualification which reflects your chosen focus of study. There are specific entry criteria for each pathway.

The two pathways are:

• Clinical Forensic Psychology (full-time only)
• Forensic Mental Health Research

Students on the Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway will undertake a 60-day (minimum) clinical forensic placement working at the level of an assistant clinical psychologist and complete a module on Forensic Psychology Practice.

Students on the Forensic Mental Health Research pathway will complete additional research methods training and can also benefit from a 10-day voluntary clinical observation period in a forensic setting. Required Modules

Courses are divided into modules. A total of 180 credits is required for the MSc degree. Part-time students typically achieve 90 credits in each of their two years on the course.

Students select one of the following pathways, which determines their module selection for the course:

Clinical Forensic Psychology

• Research Dissertation Forensic Mental Health (60 credits)

• Forensic Mental Health Practice in the Criminal Justice System: legal and investigative processes (15 credits)

• Prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan (15 credits)

• Specialist Forensic Services: assessment, treatment and development (15 credits)

• Research Methodology and Statistics A (15 credits)

• Forensic Psychology Practice in context (Clinical Forensic Psychology pathway only) (60 credits)

Forensic Mental Health Research

• Research Dissertation Forensic Mental Health (60 credits)

• Forensic Mental Health Practice in the Criminal Justice System: legal and investigative processes (30 credits)

• Prosocial and antisocial behaviours across the lifespan (30 credits)

• Specialist Forensic Services: assessment, treatment and development (30 credits)

• Research Methodology and Statistic A & B (30 credits)

Optional Modules There are no optional modules for this course.