Online Legal and Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology Course

COURSE SYLLABUS: Legal and Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology

Course Title:
Department:
Instructor:

PY539 - Legal and Ethical Issues in Forensic Psychology
Forensic Psychology
Dr. Matthew D. Geyer, Psy.D. E-Mail - Vita

Required Texts: - Online Bookstore

Parsons, R. D. (2001). The Ethics of Professional Practice. Boston: Allyn and Bacon.
ISBN #: 0205308783

Required Reading: American Psychological Association's Code of Ethics: available at www.apa.org

Other readings will be referenced throughout the lectures. Each of these required readings will be available on-line.

Goals For This Course:

This course is designed to introduce the student to ethical issues commonly presented in psychology and the mental health professions, with a special emphasis placed on the ethical issues presented in forensic practice venues. Students will be required to read the text material, lecture material, and outside reading materials in order to demonstrate they have the basic knowledge necessary to function ethically in a forensic setting. Upon completing this course, students will have a broader understanding of the role of the forensic psychologist and mental health professional face on a daily basis.

METHODS OF INSTRUCTION:

This course will use a variety of instructional techniques employed in a distance learning format. These will include, but are not limited to the following methods:

Prepared lectures by the instructor on topics related to the subject area.
Required text readings and other assigned readings.
Use of message boards maintained by Canyon College.
Use of chat rooms maintained by Canyon College when scheduled.
Use of e-chalkboards maintained by Canyon College when scheduled.
Use of e-mail messages from students to the instructor and from the instructor to the student.
Completion of the clinical skills presentation paper.

Instructional Format:

The student is required to read the lecture material and the required readings before the mid-term and final examinations. Any questions that remain upon completing these tasks will be first addressed via e-mail by the instructor. If the student wishes to further discuss the matter, she/he will schedule a meeting time to meet the instructor in one of the virtual classrooms.

GRADES:

The student will be graded on the basis of their performance on the mid-term and final examinations. The mid-term examination may be comprised of true-false questions, multiple choice questions, and short answer questions. The final examination will follow the same format. Each examination will consist of 100 points thereby producing a possible 200 points for the class through examinations. Based on this point system, the following grading scale will be utilized in order to assign a letter grade for the student's performance at the conclusion of the class.

200 - 180 = A
179 - 160 = B
159 - 140 = C
139 - 120 = D
Below 120 = F

Due to this being a graduate course, no opportunities for extra credit exist. There will be no exceptions made to this rule.

NOTE: The instructor reserves the right to make changes in this syllabus at any time. All students enrolled in this class will be advised of the changes when they are made.

CLASS SCHEDULE:

Week One: An introduction to forensic practice Helping: The role and influence of the helper	Required Readings: Text: Chapters 1 and 2 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: One
Week Two: Helping: The role and influence of the helper	Required Readings: Text: Chapters 1 and 2 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Two
Week Three: Ethics and Standards of Practice: The Profession's Response	Required Readings: Text: Chapters 3 and 4 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Three
Week Four: The Nature of the Helping Relationship: Part One - Conflicts and Consent	Required Readings: Text: Chapters 5 and 6 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Four Mid-Term Examination Due
Week Five: The Nature of the Helping Relationship: Part Two - Confidentiality	Required Readings: Text: Chapter 7 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Five
Week Six: The Nature of the Helping Relationship: Part Three - Boundaries and the Ethical Use of Power	Required Readings: Text: Chapter 8 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Six
Week Seven: The Process of Helping - Efficacy of Treatment	Required Readings: Text: Chapter 9 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Seven
Week Eight: The Process of Helping - Evaluation and Accountability	Required Readings: Text: Chapter 10 APA Code of Ethics Lecture: Eight Final Examination Due

A Word On Academic Integrity:

This should really go without saying, but cheating is not allowed. If there is any indication that you have cheated, I will notify the Canyon College administration of the suspicion of cheating. If I have evidence that a student is cheating, I will provide the student with the grade of 'F' and will petition the college to expel the student.

Finally, A Brief Mention of Your Examinations:

Your mid-term examination will be over everything from week one to week four. This includes the text information, lectures, and outside readings. The final examination will be over weeks five through eight, lecture and text material. However, the final may also include ethics issues presented in the code of ethics and the introductory lectures.