BCJ – FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
PROGRAM ASSESSMENT PLANS & REPORT
AY 2011-2012
Program Rationale/Purpose Statement:
Forensic psychology is a historically new field. It is an outgrowth and sub-field of one of the most
modern areas in psychology. At its core, forensic psychology is the unity and application of
psychological principles to the law. It has experienced explosive growth as a field world wide. While
forensic psychology can be said to contain the same broad divisions as traditional psychology (clinical,
experimental, and applied), it does contain it’s own unique areas of concentration. The domain of
forensic psychology encompasses all areas of the law, including offender issues, victim issues, and
legal issues. It is for this exact reason that it finds itself most comfortable in criminal justice as a
‘home’. Forensic psychology is also recognized as a division within the American Psychological
Association (division 41), and American Psychological Society. There are many separate division
areas that exist for forensic psychology (core domain areas) within the Academy of Criminal Justice
Sciences).
The purpose of the major as it exists at Tiffin University is manifold. The overall purpose is to provide
students with a broad understanding of the field. Students are expected to demonstrate proficiency for
understanding of these broad concepts in their required classes.
Preparation for graduate study, program administration, and employment at all levels (public, private,
local, state, or federal), is another goal of the program. Similarly, students who gain employment in
these areas will be prepared to confront the issues covered within the discipline, as well as be able to
work well with the diverse population that one would expect them to encounter. The major offers
opportunity for students to grow intellectually, professionally, and personally over the course of their
study.
Marketing / Recruitment Target Statement:
Students interested in a career in forensic psychology have many opportunities for employment.
Because forensic psychology has many broad divisions and sub-areas of interest, a student is free to
explore the particular area of interest through many options. Students wishing to continue to graduate
school will receive a firm foundation of the area. They will develop skills that will enable them to be
successful in graduate school.
All students who wish to concentrate on a particular area of interest can work as interns via the SCJSS
internship program. This will expose them to the realities of their chosen area prior to graduation so
that they can learn how their area of choice ‘works’ in real world settings. There are opportunities for
students to take additional internships, a semester-long internship (at federal agencies), and research
internships.
Students wishing to hone their skills for graduate study are able to take a research internship, mentor
with a professor on a research project, and become involved in regional and professional meetings of
the field.
Program Learning Outcomes:
Goals of the Program/Corresponding Classes:
Demonstrate the application of psychological theories and research to legal issues, prepare empirical
research project. FOR460 / SCS300
Demonstrate the psychological impact of crime and violence on victims. FOR105 / FOR460
Be able to critically evaluate empirical research. SCS300 / FOR460 / SOC250
Be able to design, collect data, analyze results, and write APA style paper for an original empirical
research project. SCS300 / FOR460
Diagnose mental disorders and understand different approaches to treatment by constructing ITPs.
PSY362 / COR430
Learn how their own knowledge, skills and values matches different career choices and be able to act
professionally in a real world setting. JUS470/461
Program Executive Summary:
Section One: Describe all department activities with respect to improving student learning in the
major. This may include new faculty hires, course revisions, assignment creation, rubric revisions,
goal evaluations, etc.
Section Two: Describe which program goal(s) in the Major Program Plan was assessed during the
academic year.
Section Three: Describe analysis of assessment data and action plans for upcoming academic year.
Intended Outcomes/Assessment Criteria:
Intended Outcomes 1: (D – Career Readiness – Program Specific / D – Critical Thinking) Graduates
will demonstrate an ability to apply psychological theories and research to legal issues.
Assessment Criteria: Students will able to construct research (design) that would empirically answer
a current legal issue (prepare a research proposal based on a legal question, to empirically answer this
question). 80% of students to do this for their final research project in SCS300, and FOR460, and earn
a “B” or better on this project.
Section One - Activity Statement:
NO DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THIS MAJOR. Review of the Assessment Criteria by faculty
resulted in a finding that the existing criteria lacked reliability. A full review and revision of
assessment criteria is considered necessary.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
N/A
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
New plans will be designed during the 2012 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of
outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this
coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
Intended Outcomes 2: (D – Career Readiness – Program Specific) Understand the psychological
impact of crime and violence on victims.
Assessment Criteria: 80% of students in the FOR105, and FOR460 classes to receive a “B” (85%) or
better on the final exam.
Section One - Activity Statement:
NO DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THIS MAJOR. Review of the Assessment Criteria by faculty
resulted in a finding that the existing criteria lacked reliability. A full review and revision of
assessment criteria is considered necessary.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
N/A
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
New plans will be designed during the 2012 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of
outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this
coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
Intended Outcomes 3: (D – Research Skills) Be able to critically evaluate empirical research.
Assessment Criteria: 70% of students would be able to identify research items in studies exam #3 at a
“C” (75%) or better. (SCS300, FOR460, SOC250)
Section One - Activity Statement:
NO DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THIS MAJOR. Review of the Assessment Criteria by faculty
resulted in a finding that the existing criteria lacked reliability. A full review and revision of
assessment criteria is considered necessary.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
N/A
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
New plans will be designed during the 2012 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of
outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this
coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
Intended Outcomes 4: (D – Research Skills) Students will be able to design, collect data, analyze
results, and write APA style paper for an original empirical research project.
Assessment Criteria: 75% of students to obtain a “C” or better on their final research project in
SCS300 and FOR460.
Section One - Activity Statement:
NO DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THIS MAJOR. Review of the Assessment Criteria by faculty
resulted in a finding that the existing criteria lacked reliability. A full review and revision of
assessment criteria is considered necessary.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
N/A
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
New plans will be designed during the 2012 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of
outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this
coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
Intended Outcomes 5: (D – Career Readiness – Program Specific) Diagnose mental disorders and
understand different approaches to treatment by constructing ITPs.
Assessment Criteria: 80% of students to be able to correctly complete a set ITPs (final project) at a
grade of “B” or better in PSY362 and COR430.
Section One - Activity Statement:
NO DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THIS MAJOR. Review of the Assessment Criteria by faculty
resulted in a finding that the existing criteria lacked reliability. A full review and revision of
assessment criteria is considered necessary.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
N/A
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
New plans will be designed during the 2012 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of
outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this
coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
Intended Outcomes 6: (D – Career Readiness – Program Specific) Graduates will demonstrate
preparedness for employment in the field.
Assessment Criteria: 85% of students in JUS470 – (Internship) would receive a grade of (“B”) 85%
or better on the internship evaluation form and 85% of students would receive a “B” (85%) or better on
the final portfolio in JUS461.
Section One - Activity Statement:
NO DATA WAS COLLECTED FOR THIS MAJOR. Review of the Assessment Criteria by faculty
resulted in a finding that the existing criteria lacked reliability. A full review and revision of
assessment criteria is considered necessary.
Section Two - Results of Outcomes Activity:
2011-2012
Met/Not Met Data Details
N/A
Section Three - Analysis and Action Plans:
New plans will be designed during the 2012 fall semester with direct consultation from the director of
outcomes assessment, The director has been working in-depth with one school each year and this
coming year it will be with the School of Criminal Justice and Social Sciences.
Updated: September 2012