Bachelor of Arts in Psychology - Forensic Psychology

These questions have consumed professional psychologists for decades in their quest to understand and treat the criminal mind and protect society. They are questions that have also consumed the legal system. Particularly, the issue of what a criminal’s mental state was at the time of the offense. That’s where forensic psychology comes in — also known as the merger between psychology and law. One of the primary jobs of a forensic psychologist within the legal system is to determine competency to stand trial. This requires the forensic psychologist to understand mental competency not just in a psychological sense but also in a legal sense and present the determination of sanity or insanity in a way that the court can understand. Trial lawyers, law enforcement agencies, and crime victims are some of the people that forensic psychologists come into contact with, besides criminal and juvenile offenders. The University of New Haven offers an enhanced academic experience for students interested in pursuing forensic psychology that will better prepare them for future careers and graduate school placement. Housed in the Department of Psychology in the College of Arts and Sciences, the forensic psychology concentration also incorporates courses and faculty from the Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.