Forensic Psychiatry, Criminal Behaviour & Law Intercalated BSc

Course detail Description

The Forensic Psychiatry, Criminal Behaviour & Law course will be delivered by a multidisciplinary department combining experts in: clinical forensic psychiatry and psychology, epidemiology, neuroscience, criminology and medico-legal practice. The new course will build on the expertise of leading academic staff and offer a unique experience for medical students who are interested in the interface between psychiatry, criminal behaviour and law to train in forensic psychiatry.

The course provides students with a thorough understanding of forensic services including risk assessment, management, treatment and service provision for mentally disordered offenders. It explores the interface of forensic psychiatric practice with the legal and criminal justice systems, the relevant mental health law and the wide-ranging roles of the forensic psychiatrist beyond the hospital into prison and court.

This iBSc in Forensic Psychiatry,Criminal Behaviour & Law develops students knowledge of research methodology and statistics and skills in independent evaluation of research publications and clinical guidance, all of which influence clinical decision-making in forensic mental health. This course teaches students to balance the clinical needs of an individual with the legal aspects, ethical issues and any wider impact on society.

The course offers a host of practical and transferable skills which include, but are not limited to:

• Assessment and Management of a ‘forensic’ patient
• Risk assessment
• Expert witness and court skills in giving evidence to a lay/legal audience
• Competency in research methods, analysis and interpretation
• Communication of results of studies orally and in writing
• Presentation of data analysis and results
• Interpretation of extant relevant scientific literature

Teaching

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

Module name Lectures
Seminars / tutorialsField / lab/ studio /
supervised learning
PlacementSelf-directed
study
Total hours Prosocial & antisocial behaviours across the lifespan 30 10 110 150 Specialist Forensic Services: assessment, treatment & development 30 10 110 150 Forensic mental health in practice in the Criminal Justice System: legal & investigative processes 30 10 110 150 Research Methodology & Statistics 47 10 93 150 Clinical Placement 30 240 30 300 Research Placement 30 240 30 300 Clinical Dissertation 30 270 300 Research Dissertation 30 270 300

Contact time is based on 24 academic weeks. On average students are expected to allow somewhere in the region of 100 to 150 hours personal study time per module.

Assessment

You are assessed through a combination of coursework and examinations and may typically expect assessment by:

Year Examination CourseworkPractical 1 12.5% 70% 17.5%

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.

Regulating body

King’s College is regulated by the Higher Education Funding Council for England.

Further information

Please email for further information regarding the course.

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Structure

Year 1 Courses are divided into modules. You will normally take modules totalling 120 credits. Required Modules You are required to take:

• Prosocial and Antisocial Aehaviours across the Lifespan (15 credits)
• Specialist Forensic Services: assessment, treatment and development (15 credits)
• Forensic mental health in practice in the Criminal Justice System: legal and investigative processes (15 credits)
• Research Methodology and Statistics (15 credits)

Students will have the option to choose either the Clinical Pathway or Research Pathway.

Clinical Pathway

• Clinical Placement (30 credits)
• Clinical Dissertation (30 credits)

Research Pathway

• Research Placement (30 credits)
• Research Dissertation (30 credits)

Optional Modules

There are no optional modules for this course.

King’s College London reviews the modules offered on a regular basis to provide up-todate, innovative and relevant courses of study. Therefore, modules offered may change. We suggest that you keep an eye on the course finder on our website for updates.