Graduate-Level Certificates

Each graduate certificate program consists of five, 3-credit courses that may be taken as part of a master's program, an extension of a master's program, or as stand-alone programs. Courses in these certificate programs may also be taken by matriculated or non-matriculated students individually.

* All certificates except Health Care Administration are available online.

Graduate Certificate in Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology is a rapidly emerging field where the legal system intersects with the mental health profession. The Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology: Concentration in Forensic Psychology is designed to train practitioners to provide psychological services to, and within, the criminal and civil justice systems, including civil, criminal and family court systems. This 15-credit curriculum satisfies state requirements for education and field experience, preparing students to seek Licensure as a Professional Counselor in Pennsylvania, in addition to fulfilling specialized courses in the field of forensic psychology. Special emphasis will be placed on victimology, offender treatment, mental health law, juvenile justice and delinquency, and family court dynamics. Upon completion of the program, students are qualified to be employed as professional counselors in settings where expertise in forensics is necessary. Such settings include child welfare agencies, state mental health facilities, jails and prisons, community mental health centers, juvenile correction facilities, government agencies, family courts and private practice.

 

Admissions Requirements:


1.    Completed Application for Admission
2.    Official College Transcript
3.    Statement of Purpose

Contemporary Issues in Forensics 

This course provides an overview of forensic psychology to include a comprehensive history of the field and how the field has changed to impact today’s world.  Forensic psychology will be examined as a profession, field of study and participant in the legal system.  Emphasis will be placed on the relationship between psychology and law and the varying and expansive roles forensic counselors play in navigating both the mental health and the legal system.

Victimology

This course introduces students to the central questions and research in the field of victimology beginning with a historical overview through contemporary thoughts and practices.  It is focused on examining the role of victims in the criminal process, problems of adjustment to victimization, the complexities of victim – offender relationships, violence and victimization, issues of victim compensation, restorative justice, victim’s rights, and future directions for victimology as a field of study. Several victim typologies will also be addressed. The course provides students with the tools necessary for critical evaluation and understanding of the often neglected role of the victim before, during, and after the criminal event.

Juvenile Justice, Delinquency and Development

This course is designed to provide a basic understanding of the juvenile justice system.  Major topics to be covered include normal juvenile development, juvenile delinquency, and the juvenile justice process including prevention, intervention and treatment methods and juvenile justice codes and case law.


 “This program is eligible for Title IV financial aid only as a part of the Graduate Counseling Psychology degree program and not as a stand alone certificate.”
 

Certificates Offered

  • Entrepreneurship
  • ePublishing
  • Forensic Psychology
  • Health Care Administration
  • Leadership Studies

 

Tuition

All tuition charges for programs in the Schools of Graduate and Professional Studies are assessed by the number of credit hours in which you enroll for a given semester. When creating your personal budget for your college expenses you will need to estimate costs for books, transportation, and other miscellaneous items. Student loan information is available through the Office of Financial Aid; questions regarding payments and payment plans should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts.

For 2012-2013:
SGPS tuition per credit hour: $615
General fee per credit hour: $35