Psychology of Investigative and Legal Processes
UndergraduateUSA-JUST30072025
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 10 weeks
- Start dates
- 13 Jan 2025
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Psychology of Investigative and Legal Processes
About this subject
By the end of this 10-week course, you’ll be able to:
- Discuss the role of psychology in the investigative process.
- Explain effective and ethical techniques for investigative interviewing.
- Identify effective expert witness communication skills.
- Identify and explain external factors that impinge on legal decision making.
- Examine psychological responses to problems within, or limitations of the criminal justice system.
- Psychology, law and criminal justice
- Law for psychologists – registration and ethics
- Police recruitment, conflict, crisis and vicarious trauma
- Investigative psychology and profiling
- Detecting deception and cognitive interviewing
- Eyewitness testimony, memory and jury decision-making
- Expert witness
- Forensic mental health: competency, risk and dangerousness
- Mental illness, personality disorder and violence
- Criminal justice and mental health
This course explores the intersections between law and psychology. Examine the role of psychology in criminal justice processes, focusing on policing and the court system. Cover a broad range of topics such as investigative psychology, deception, eyewitness research, expert evidence, and jury and judicial decision making. Please note that the course will at times cover topics which you may find disturbing. If you suspect that an aspect of the course will be emotionally challenging for you, please contact a member of the teaching team, who can direct you to appropriate support resources.
UniSA Online’s 10-week short courses give you the flexibility to up-skill in a certain area, stay current with developments in your field, diversify your knowledge, or even explore a new direction in your career – without having to commit to the time and cost of a full university degree.
Delivered 100% online, you’ll be able to study where and when it suits you. Access online academic and student support seven days a week, fit study around work and life commitments, view learning resources 24/7, and log in to the interactive online environment anywhere, any time and on any device.
This is a third-year course from UniSA Online’s Bachelor of Psychological Science and Sociology degree. Please note: you are responsible for completing any relevant prerequisite courses before enrolling in this course.
Should your course have an exam it will be scheduled for Australian Central Standard Time or Australian Central Daylight Time, depending on the time of the year.
- Case Study and Research Essay (70%)
- Portfolio - 1350 words (30%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Students must be aged 17 or older by the time teaching commences for their course of study, in accordance with UniSA’s Selection and entry to programs policy.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
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