Navigating the Expanding Field of Law and Psychology: A Comprehensive Guide to Graduate Education

Abstract

Graduate programs in psychology and law are growing enormously in number and type. The Teaching, Training, and Careers Committee of the American Psychology-Law Society conducted a survey for the purpose of compiling a comprehensive guide to graduate programs in legal and forensic psychology. The resulting guide was intended to be a source of valuable information for prospective graduate students and faculty advising them and for the community of psychology-law educators and professionals who are developing and shaping the discipline. This article traces the history of program development in psychology and law and the process involved in developing the Guide to Graduate Programs in Legal and Forensic Psychology

A historical review and resource guide to the scholarship of teaching and training in psychology and law and forensic psychology.

“…Some notable exceptions are models for others hoping to introduce innovative courses (Cohen et al, 1977) or teaching techniques (Morris, 2003) into the psychology and law curriculum. Insightful reviews of psychology and law graduate programs certainly exist (e.g., Hall et al, 2010;Helmus et al, 2011), but future research is needed to compare the actual efficacy of different training models in producing students who are prepared and knowledgeable, and This document is copyrighted by the American Psychological Association or one of its allied publishers.…”

“…who can find APA-accredited internships, postdoctoral placements, and job placements (see, e.g., Hall et al, 2010), which is necessary for maintaining quality psychology and law graduate programs. Controlled evaluations are needed to provide an empirical basis for addressing what type of teaching and training is best for what purposes, including the appropriateness of training at each level.…”

“…In 1990, Ogloff (1990) found that 54% of Canadian graduate psychology programs reported student interest in psychology and law, but only 12% actually offered relevant courses. Two decades later, Hall et al (2010) identified 34 graduate programs in legal and forensic psychology across America and Canada. (See also c ; Tomkins & Ogloff, 1990; Simourd & Wormith, 1995; Helmus et al, 2011; and Burl et al, 2012).…”

“…Such programs, growing in popularity (Burl et al, 2012), tend to offer more varied coursework than doctoral programs, and provide similar career paths in assessment, treatment, and government work. Even so, fewer Master’s than doctoral graduates obtain academic and private industry positions (Hall et al, 2010).…”

“…coursework than doctoral programs, and provide similar career paths in assessment, treatment, and government work. Even so, fewer Master's than doctoral graduates obtain academic and private industry positions (Hall et al, 2010). Psychology and law programs.…”