This program is offered through the Departments of Psychology, Child and Youth Studies, and Political Science. Program Director Voula Marinos Program Coordinator Samantha MacNeil |
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Forensic Psychology and Criminal Justice (FPAC) approaches the study of criminal behavior and criminal justice from multiple theoretical perspectives. This transdisciplinary program will include the study of individual (psychological) factors, social and cultural factors, and factors relating to the criminal justice system and other relevant institutions. Students will take courses from the Psychology, Child and Youth Studies, and Political Science departments. Our program combines the approaches of these disciplines to the study of criminal and aggressive behaviour. Rather than assuming that a behaviour, or a system’s response to behaviour, stems from any one factor or perspective, FPAC is premised on the idea that factors across disciplines are required in order to provide more nuanced, critical, and complex understandings of behaviour and responses. Courses specific to the FPAC program include a transdisciplinary course at the 3rd year level that examines crime from multiple perspectives, a quantitative methods course (3rd year), and a qualitative methods course (3rd year). |
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Students will learn about the study of human behaviour in relation to psychological theory. First- and second-year courses will provide the background knowledge needed for the third- and fourth-year courses that focus on various types of aggression, antisocial, and criminal behaviour. |
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The Child and Youth Studies contribution to FPAC is three-fold. First, the Child and Youth Studies department is, itself, transdisciplinary in nature. Students will get their first exposure to transdisciplinarity through the introductory courses that focus on multiple approaches to the study of children and youth. Child and Youth Studies courses address issues and topics that are rooted within psychology, sociology, and other theoretical perspectives. Upper-year courses in Child and Youth Studies that are included in the FPAC curriculum focus specifically on children and youth in relation to the criminal justice system. Importantly, issues are placed within broader social, economic and political contexts and the effects on marginalized social groups. These courses are taught from a critical sociocultural and criminological perspective. |
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Finally, courses housed in Political Science will provide students with a background in how the criminal justice system operates. Through the required political science courses, students will also gain knowledge regarding policy and government, providing them with a backdrop for the more senior courses that focus on the criminal justice system. As in Child and Youth Studies, the Political Science department houses a wide variety of ontological, philosophical, and methodological approaches. |
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Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4 Depending upon the major average and other departmental requirements, students may select one of three options: Individual Thesis option:
Course-Based option:
Practicum option:
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Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Year 4
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Note that not all courses are offered in every session. Refer to the applicable term timetable for details. # Indicates a cross listed course * Indicates a primary offering of a cross listed course |
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Students must check to ensure that prerequisites are met. Students may be deregistered, at the request of the instructor, from any course for which prerequisites and/or restrictions have not been met. Transdisciplinary Study of Aggression, and Crime Multiple approaches to the study of crime and aggression. Emphasis on breadth and integration of theoretical approaches and methodologies. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week Restriction: open to FPAC majors with a minimum 7.0 overall credits. Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term. Qualitative Research Methods in Child and Youth Studies (also offered as CHYS 3P10) Philosophical assumptions, common qualitative methodologies, their design and procedures, and techniques for writing effective proposals. Overview of contemporary critical thought impacting qualitative research in the social sciences and beyond. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Restriction: open to CHYS (single or combined) and CHYS BA (Honours)/BEd (Primary/Junior) and FPAC majors with a minimum of 7.0 overall credits. Prerequisite(s): two of CHYS 2P10, 2P35 or 2P38; CHYS 2P51, or SOCI 2P00 and 2P11; for FPAC students, CHYS 2P51 Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term. Advanced Quantitative Statistics Data screening and descriptive statistics, univariate procedures for correlation and group comparison, multiple regression, data assumptions and statistical software application, including data management and interpretation of results. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Restriction: open to FPAC majors with a minimum of 7.0 overall credits. Prerequisite(s): PSYC 2F23 Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term. Youth, Mental Health, and the Law Law surrounding mental disorders in youth (including fitness to stand trial, criminal responsibility and diversion) with attention to the role of mental illness and responses of the criminal justice system. Lectures, seminar, 3 hours per week. Restriction: open to FPAC majors until date specified in Registration guide. Students must have a minimum of 7.0 overall credits. Prerequisite(s): CHYS 2P38 or SOCI 2P38. Note: this course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term. Practicum Supervised practice in an appropriate community organization, which may include law enforcement, mental health, or other relevant agencies. Practicum, 10 hours per week for 8 weeks; seminar, 3 hours per week for 2 weeks per term Restriction: open to FPAC majors with permission of the Program Director. Note: Transportation to the setting is a student responsibility. Students may be required to make arrangements for a police record check with a vulnerable sector screening. Cost associated with the police record check is a student responsibility. Students may also be required to complete mandatory training (i.e., Health and Safety, AODA). This course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term Honours Thesis Individual study and research with a faculty supervisor and bi-weekly seminar. Restriction: open to FPAC majors with a minimum 80 percent major average, and an achieved grade of 75 percent in FPAC 3P15 or FPAC 3P10. Students must have a topic approved by the Program Director and a faculty supervisor prior to registration. Prerequisite(s): FPAC 3P15 (minimum 75 percent) or FPAC 3P10 (minimum 75 percent). Note: topics may come from any field in the discipline and may involve library research, field work and empirical analysis. This course may be offered in multiple modes of delivery. The method of delivery will be listed on the academic timetable, in the applicable term. |
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2024-2025 Undergraduate Calendar
Last updated: June 19, 2024 @ 03:27PM