Legal and Forensic PsychologyMaster’s Degree in Continuing Education

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    Admission

    Subjects

    • Fundamentals of Legal and Forensic Psychology (3 credits).
    • Assessment in Legal and Forensic Psychology (6 credits).
    • Psychology of Testimony (6 credits).
    • Psychology of Criminal Behaviour (3 credits).
    • Victimology (3 credits).
    • Psychological Expert Witnessing (9 credits).
    • Juvenile Delinquency and Justice (6 credits).
    • Prison Psychology (6 credits).
    • External Internships I (6 ECTS)
    • External Internships II (6 ECTS)
    • Master’s Final Project (6 ECTS credits).
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    Teaching methods

    • Presentations delivered by the lecturer on key elements (concepts, procedures, etc.) within the field of study. 
    • Individual and group activities in the classroom: completion of practical exercises, both individual and collective, based on the theoretical knowledge provided, with guidelines for reflection and personal development. Case presentations and analysis, and discussion of assignments.
    • Individual and group activities outside the classroom, undertaken independently: reading and summarising articles, books, and other study materials; preparation of assignments, articles, and presentations (supported by the UD platform); development and analysis of real or simulated cases; as well as attendance at sessions/masterclasses and trials at the Bilbao Court of Justice. Completion of exercises and problem-solving and discussion of assignments. 
    • Tutorials and follow up: one-on-one and group meetings, design and progress of assignments, report development, and feedback on submissions and deliverables.
       

    Un método para aprender práctico y dinámico

    Modelo propio de aprendizaje (MAUD)

    01

    Contexto experiencial

    Sabemos que aprendemos de la experiencia, por lo tanto, en Deusto partimos del conocimiento previo del estudiante. En un primer momento se proponen actividades dirigidas a explorar preconceptos, casos significativos y experiencias previas del alumnado en relación a la temática abordada.

    02

    Observación reflexiva

    Una vez planteados esos esquemas previos, es imprescindible contemplarlos y cuestionarlos. Así, en esta segunda fase se realizan actividades para la reflexión a través del cuestionamiento y la observación sistemática.

    03

    Conceptualización

    Contrastamos nuestro conocimiento previo con la teoría escrita sobre el tema. Seguimos un método expositivo (en soporte directo y on-line), con lectura de textos y/o su ilustración guiada.

    04

    Experimentación activa

    Para poner en práctica lo aprendido, se realizan actividades de aplicación como la participación en sesiones clínicas como coterapeuta o equipo reflexivo, análisis de casos, desarrollo de proyectos y prácticas externas en centros.

    05

    Evaluación

    Por último, en la evaluación se reflexiona sobre lo aprendido y se valora el trabajo realizado. Se llevan a cabo actividades como pruebas escritas, elaboración de informes y otras.

    06

    Tutorías presenciales y online

    Todo este proceso lo seguirás de una forma acompañada. En la universidad existen tutorías, tanto presenciales como a distancia, dirigidas a la supervisión y seguimiento del trabajo (individuales y/o grupales).

    Competences

    Learning outcomes

    This Master's Degree in Legal and Forensic Psychology (Continuing Education) has three key transversal learning outcomes:  

    • Self-awareness, ethics, social and environmental responsibility, and openness to transcendence: To act in an ethical, egalitarian, inclusive, responsible, and sustainable way, with oneself, with others (men and women for others), with society (social justice), and with the planet as a whole (environment), while asking the big questions of life.    
    • Oral and written communication in multicultural environments: To communicate effectively, both orally and in writing, in order to interact with others; expressing and conveying feelings, knowledge, ideas, and arguments in a clear, rigorous, and convincing manner; using a variety of expressive resources in both spoken and written forms; employing appropriate linguistic resources and formats while adapting to different circumstances, types of audience, and diverse cultural contexts, and using different languages. Multilingual communication also requires intercultural understanding, appreciation of cultural diversity and an interest and curiosity in languages and intercultural communication.    
    • To update one's own learningby questioning usual ways of acting, viewing issues from a critical perspective, and reflecting on one's own knowledge and learning process.
       
    • Describe and apply the legal foundations of the practice of Legal and Forensic Psychology, with the aim of understanding and practising good professional practice. 
    • Describe and apply the theoretical knowledge of good practice in Legal and Forensic Psychology across its various fields. 
    • Apply the principles of good practice and the Code of Ethics as the standard of conduct governing the psychology profession to the specific aspects of the legal and forensic context.
    • Plan and carry out a forensic evaluation in a critical, reflective, and evidence-based manner, applying appropriate specific techniques and instruments based on the purpose of the expert report and across the different fields of Legal and Forensic Psychology. 
    • Interpret the information gathered during the expert evaluation and integrate the results from all sources and methods, presenting the conclusions coherently with a good practice approach and evidence-based focus. 
    • Effectively communicate expert reports, both in written and/or oral form, incorporating a professional style appropriate to the purpose of the report and its field of application. 
    • Describe and apply the processes that govern human memory and eyewitness memory within the framework of Legal and Forensic Psychology, as well as the relevant theoretical models associated with the recollection and memory of criminal events.
    • Identify the factors that affect the credibility of both child and adult testimony, as well as the challenges related to the credibility, reliability, and accuracy of humans as a source of information.
    • Appropriately apply the available tools for assessing credibility.
    • Integrate knowledge of different types of crimes and the behaviour, conduct, and psychological characteristics associated with them.
    • Critically analyse explanatory models of criminal behaviour.
    • Describe, analyse, and interpret information gathered related to the psychological determinants of personality and criminal behaviour..
    • Identify and describe the different types of victimisation and victims, and understand the main psychological effects of victimisation.
    • Identify and describe the principal dimensions of victimisation (primary, secondary and tertiary).
    • Use the variouspsychological treatment approaches available for victims of different traumatic events, globally assessing the level of distress experienced by the victim, in order to guide them towards the most appropriate treatment or community resources.
    • Identify the etiological factors associated with antisocial and criminal behaviour, as well as prevention and intervention in juvenile justice. 
    • Apply the available tools for assessing the needs of young offenders, in order to plan and implement effective intervention strategies. 
    • Identify and apply prevention and intervention strategies in juvenile justice. 
    • Recognise the organisation and functioning of Prison Institutions (prison regimes, treatments). 
    • Apply the necessary skills to assess and treat individuals convictedof committing a crime. 
    • Describe the prison system and the specific psychological intervention programmes that have proven effective in reducing reoffending.
    • Apply the necessary methodologies for conducting psychological research, assessments and interventions on aspects of behaviour and activity within the field of Legal and Forensic Psychology.
    • Critically analyse and use clinical-legal information sources.
    • Communicate and manage emotions appropriately for effective interaction in a forensic examination.
    • Write expert psychological reports appropriately, considering the purpose of the expert assessment and its field of application.
    • Develop work from the perspective of quality and continuous improvement, with the self-critical capacity necessary for responsible professional performance.
    • Communicate and interact with other professionals, mastering the necessary skills for teamwork and working in multidisciplinary groups.
    • Design, plan and carry out psychological research processes or expert reports in a rigorous manner in the field of legal and forensic psychology.
    • Integrate knowledge and tackle the complexity of making judgments based on incomplete or limited information, while considering the social and ethical responsibilities linked to the application of their knowledge and judgments.
    • Effectively communicate research papers and/or expert reports, including the conclusions and the underlying reasons, to both specialised and non-specialised audiences in a clear and unambiguous manner.
       
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    What will be my career options?

    Career opportunities

    Legal and Forensic Psychology

    What will be my career options?

    Career opportunities

    Career opportunities in the field of Legal and Forensic Psychology include:

    • Working as a technical advisor to judges and courts (in both public and private sectors); as a forensic expert in criminal and civil cases; in forensic medical clinics; in youth justice teams; in court-based psychosocial teams; in victim support services; in prison institutions; in mediation; in youth centres and family contact centres; or in support assessment teams for individuals with disabilities, among others.

     

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    Calendar

    From September 2025 to June 2026.

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    Timetable

    Thursday, from 15:00 to 19:00, and Friday, from 9:00 to 13:00 and 14:30 to 18:30.