Victimology Concentration
The Concentration in Forensic Victimology prepares students to work with, and on behalf of, victims of crime. Students apply the 9 elective units included in their core program, plus an additional six units, beginning in the Fall of their second year and continuing through the Fall of their third year (including the Summer session between the second and third years).
Section I of the Program focuses upon Foundational Concepts in Victimology, including its history, relationship to the criminal justice system, and influence upon public policy. Students also learn quantitative and qualitative research methods which will be applied toward the completion of a research effort that will become the basis for a submission to a peer-reviewed journal. At the conclusion of Section I, students will have a working hypothesis for their individual research efforts.
Section II focuses upon Prevention of Victimization. Students gain knowledge of victimization antecedents and develop the skills necessary to conduct threat and suicide assessments in various milieus (public venues, households, the workplace, school campuses). Students will also learn safety planning strategies that potentially prevent victimization. At the conclusion of Section II, students will be expected to have completed the literature review and methodology sections of their research paper. Students in Section II may also begin a 250-hour clerkship, which includes experiential education within a community setting such as a domestic violence shelter, district attorney’s office, emergency medical service team or coroner’s office.
Section III focuses upon the role of victimology in offender identification and apprehension. Students learn how to conduct a comprehensive Victimology Assessment, the role of the victim in judicial proceedings, and approaches to working with Victim-Witnesses. Students are expected to finalize data collection and begin analysis related to their research endeavors during Section III. Those who have not already done so will begin their clerkships during Section III.
Section IV provides students with the knowledge and skills to administer trauma-related screening and assessment tools, as well as to support crime victims through the application of trauma-informed therapies. Additional issues, such as the evaluation of malingering of traumatic symptomology, will also be explored. Section IV will also focus upon possible syndromes affecting victimologists including secondary victimization, vicarious trauma and compassion fatigue. The Concentration in Forensic Victimology is offered in 6, two-day course sessions which typically occur on Fridays and Saturdays. Additionally, students receive individual faculty support for their research and publication project, and one-hour group supervision for the duration of their clerkship. Certain coursework topics are offered as continuing education credit to practitioners within the community, providing students with the opportunity for classroom-based mentorship and networking with professionals in the field.
To be accepted into the program, students must meet the following requirements:
- Successfully complete all G1 course requirements.
- Be in good academic standing.
- Receive the recommendation of their Program Director.
- Receive the approval from a two-person review committee composed of Victimology Program faculty.
The review will include submission of an essay as well as an interview.
Additionally, students must meet the following Program standards:
- Complete all four coursework sections.
- Complete one research endeavor of a caliber appropriate to submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
- Complete a 250-hour clerkship.
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