Forensic Psychology

If you have seen shows like Criminal Minds, Mindhunter, or CSI, then you are already familiar with the Hollywood version of Forensic Psychology. But what is fact and what is fiction? The aim of this course is to introduce students to the reality of how the field of psychology impacts nearly every aspect of our criminal justice system, from crimes to convictions. Specific topics include criminal profiling, interrogations, lie detection, eye-witness testimony, the insanity defense and insights into the criminal mind. We will discuss many controversial issues in the field of forensics and how research from a psychological perspective might be used to resolve them. Students will receive information from a variety of sources: crime documentaries, textbook readings, popular press articles, and guest speakers to help them learn about both the content and career opportunities in this relatively new and exciting field.