UNL-LAW/PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAM
TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION
ADMISSIONS
DOCTORAL TRACK DESCRIPTIONS: J.D./Ph.D., J.D./M.A., Ph.D./M.L.S.,
REQUIREMENTS: Interdisciplinary Courses, Degree Requirements, Practicum, Deadlines
EVALUATION AND RETENTION: Psychology Department Standards, Law School Standards, Law/Psychology Standards
FACULTY SUPERVISION: Advisors, M.A. Committees, Ph.D. Supervisory Committees
ADMINISTRATION AND FACULTY: Law/Psychology Program Faculty, Other Core Faculty, Other Participating Faculty
OPPORTUNITIES AND ACTIVITIES: Sponsored Activities, Student Achievement
FINANCIAL INFORMATION: Support and Stipends, Research and Travel Funding
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION: People You Should Know, Research Groups, Registration Tips, Law-Psychology Organizations, Graduate Student Association, Mailboxes, Unlinfo
THE UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY: The University of Nebraska-Lincoln, The City of Lincoln
FOR FURTHER READING
SAMPLE PROGRAMS: J.D./Ph.D., J.D./M.A., Ph.D./M.L.S.
INTRODUCTION
The University of Nebraska Law/Psychology Program, in existence since 1974, is one of the leading programs that trains scholars who are engaged in basic and applied research and writing on psychosocial issues and problems related to the law. The Department of Psychology and the College of Law jointly sponsor the program, which is the world's oldest, on going integrated program in psycholegal studies. It remains unusual in the breadth of training with students specializing in virtually any area of psycholegal studies. Law/psychology students may focus their studies in traditionally important psycholegal areas such as jury decision-making, eyewitness memory, children's decision-making, distributive and procedural justice, domestic violence, criminal responsibility, juvenile justice, the admissibility of scientific evidence in litigation, and so on. They also may focus on less-studied topics, such as tax compliance, altruistic behavior, child support, death penalty issues, sexual harassment, mental health and health care policy issues.
The Law/Psychology Program offers interdisciplinary training in psychology and law. The Program specializes in training scholars who will be able to apply psychology and other social and behavioral sciences to analyses of empirical questions in law and policy. Students in the program study and apply theory and research from social, cognitive, clinical, and developmental psychology to problems in law and public policy. The Law/Psychology Program trains researchers and professionals to identify and evaluate the psychological assumptions underlying laws and court decisions and to apply their psycho-legal expertise to improve understanding of the operation of law in society.
Graduates of the Program work in universities, research or public interest organizations, or in local, state or federal government. Graduates go on to take positions in a variety of settings specializing in diverse tasks and problems. For example, recent graduates work in universities (e.g., John Jay College, Florida International University, University of Florida, Castleton State University, Chicago School of Professional Psychology, California State University – Northridge, and University of Missouri), research or public interest organizations (e.g., Center for Children, Families, and the Law, Institute on Family and Neighborhood Life, UNL Public Policy Center), law firms, jury consulting organizations, and the courts. Faculty and graduate students regularly consult with government and private agencies applying psycholegal scholarship to problems of law in everyday life.
The purpose of this handbook is to provide students and prospective students with a concise reference for guidelines and policies of the Program. This handbook is not meant to replace any policies or procedures found in the current Graduate Studies Bulletin, College of Law Bulletin, or College of Law Student Handbook. These documents should also be obtained and carefully reviewed by current or prospective program participants.
ADMISSIONS
Doctoral admissions are based on GPA, GRE scores (both general and Psychology Subject scores), LSAT score, relevant work and research experience, letters of recommendation, and personal statements. All applicants go through a three-phase admissions process. They must be accepted by the Law-Psychology admissions committee, the admissions committee of another Psychology program (most commonly, Social, Cognitive, Clinical, or Developmental), and the Law College admissions committee. Persons wishing to apply to the J.D./Ph.D. program, the J.D./M.A. program, the Ph.D./M.L.S. program, the forensic specialty program, or the post- doctoral program should email (coslzly@unlinfo.unl.edu) or write to the Admissions Secretary, Law/ Psychology Program, Burnett Hall, Lincoln, NE 68588-0308 (402-472-3121).
DOCTORAL TRACK DESCRIPTIONS
The Program is primarily research oriented and graduates are trained to work in universities, in research and public interest organizations or in consulting organizations. The program offers three main degree tracks described below:
J.D./Ph.D.
The J.D./Ph.D. track is for interdisciplinary scholars who will be able to apply psychology and other social sciences to analyses of empirical questions in law. J.D./Ph.D. training provides students with all the necessary skills to do basic and applied research on issues in the legal system. Students in the J.D./Ph.D. program may specialize in any sub-specialty of psychology. Graduates of the J.D./Ph.D. program are qualified to sit for the bar exam and ultimately practice law. Students who have completed the J.D./Ph.D. track currently hold positions in a variety of academic departments (e.g., Psychology, Law, and Criminal Justice), law firms, consulting agencies, government positions, and research institutes.
Students shall complete the minimum requirements for the J.D. (as specified by the College of Law) and the Ph.D. (as specified by the Graduate College, the Psychology Department Graduate Committee, and the student's supervisory committee), obtaining the M.A. en route to the Ph.D. Students shall also complete specific requirements as required by the Law/Psychology Program. In the first year, students take the same Law College curriculum as the rest of the first year law students. During subsequent years, students take courses from both the Law College and the Psychology Department tailored for their individual programs. Most students complete the program in about six to seven years.
Ph.D./M.L.S.
The Master of Legal Studies (M.L.S.) Degree Program is for individuals who are not interested in practicing law but who are interested in developing a better understanding of the law as it affects their areas of psychological investigation. All areas of psychological emphasis are open to M.L.S. students including experimental (e.g., social, cognitive, and developmental) and clinical psychology. This is a nonprofessional law degree. Students completing the track are not qualified to sit for the bar examination or practice law. Students spend their first year in the Psychology Department. During subsequent years, students take courses from both the Law College and the Psychology Department tailored for their individual programs. Most students complete the program in about five years.Experimental Psychology focus: The UNL Law Psychology program collaborates with the UNL social, cognitive, and developmental programs in administering the program in law and psychology. It prepares students for careers in research, teaching, and consultation combining behavioral science and legal scholarship. Past graduates of the Ph.D./M.L.S. track currently hold positions in academic departments (e.g., psychology and criminal justice), consulting agencies, and research institutes. Students interested in the interdisciplinary study of law and experimental psychology should contact program faculty with interests similar to their own.
Clinical forensic focus: The UNL Law Psychology program collaborates with the UNL Clinical Psychology program in administering the clinical forensic psychology program. The clinical Ph.D./M.L.S. track prepares students for careers in research and clinical practice that combine behavioral science, mental health and legal scholarship. Areas of study within clinical psychology and law include mental health law and policy, therapeutic jurisprudence (using the law for therapeutic purposes) and forensic psychology. Students interested in forensic psychology should consider the Forensic Psychology Training Program and forensic minor options. Students interested in mental health law, policy, therapeutic jurisprudence or other applications of law in clinical psychology should contact clinical faculty with interests similar to their own.
http://www.unl.edu/psypage/grad/clinical.htm
J.D./M.A.
The J.D./M.A. track is for students who wish to be legal practitioners but who also desire to obtain a strong background in psychology or social science methods. It provides sufficient background in interdisciplinary studies, social science methods, and psychological knowledge to permit thorough evaluation of psychological research and practice and interdisciplinary collaboration in policy formation or implementation. In addition to interdisciplinary courses, J.D./M.A. students take courses designed to provide an overview of psychological research, theory and methods. In the first year, students take the same Law College curriculum as the rest of the first year law students. During subsequent years, students take courses from both the Law College and the Psychology Department tailored for their individual programs. Most students will complete the program in about four years and the M.A. degree is presumed to be terminal.
REQUIREMENTS
Each student's study and research plan is individual, and the courses taken and research topics examined may change over the course of a student's career. Students complete all requirements for either the Ph.D. or the M.A. in psychology and for either the J.D. or the M.L.S. at the Law College, as well as the requirements for the Law/Psychology Program.
Most Psychology Department and Law College courses are available to students in all program tracks. However, there are exceptions to this. For example, certain clinical psychology courses are open to clinical students only and some Law College Courses are closed to M.L.S. students.
Interdisciplinary Courses
The following cross-listed courses are available to dual degree students and credits in these courses count toward degrees in both programs.
Law and Behavioral Science (3 credits). General issues in the interaction between law and behavioral sciences; discussion of the use/misuse/nonuse of behavioral sciences in the law, with attention to ways of making behavioral science input most useful; evaluation of the contribution of theory and research in psychology to the policy formulation process.
Mental Health Law (3 credits). Critical review of the mental health laws throughout the nation and their psychological foundations. Emphasis is placed on research that illuminates problems encountered by the mental health system, and the relevant law. Topics include the insanity defense, competency to stand trial, guardianship/conservatorship, and civil commitment.
Topics in Law and Psychology (3 credits - may be taken three times on different topics approved by the student’s committee). In-depth analysis of specific psycholegal topics. Previous courses have included: Amicus Brief Writing, Privacy, Legal Decision Making, Eyewitness Behavior, Domestic Violence, Jury Decision-making, and Legal Policy and Child Development.
Psycholegal Research Other Than Thesis (3 credits - may be taken twice). A substantial research and writing project on a psycholegal topic generally including a law review quality legal analysis, an empirical study and their integration. The research is supervised and approved by a faculty member in the Law/Psychology program. Absent the prior approval of the Law Dean, only those students enrolled in the Law/Psychology Program may register for this course. Absent the prior approval of the Dean, no student may take more than 6 hours of Research in a Selected Field and/or Psycholegal Research. These credits are typically used to complete the requirements for the M.A. project. Note that no credit will be awarded for projects undertaken for 6 credits until the entire project has been completed.
Degree Requirements * * * J.D. * * *
A total of 96 credit hours are required for a J.D., including the following:
- 36 credit hour 1st year curriculum (see Law College Handbook).
- 60 additional credit hours to include:
Constitutional Law (taken in the fall of the second year) (3 credits).
Legal Profession (3 credits).
Seminar (3 credits) -- Psycholegal Research fulfills this requirement.
- Good foundational courses include but are not limited to: Corporations, Criminal Procedure, Evidence, Remedies, and a statutory course (Tax, Environmental Law, a course examining the Uniform Commercial Code, etc.).
- Electives commonly chosen include but are not limited to: Administrative Law, Employment Discrimination, Family Law, Juvenile Law, Alternative Dispute Resolution, Labor Law, Law and Economics, Law and Medicine, Legislation Seminar, Negotiation, and/or Trial Advocacy.
* * * M.L.S. * * *
A total of 33 credit hours are required for an M.L.S. including the following:
- 3 credits of Legal Research and Writing.
- Common law course (6 credits - Property, Contracts, or Torts).
- Oral examination (administered by 3 professors-- typically 2 law professors and 1 psychology professor). At least one member must be a Core Law/Psychology Faculty Member. (See Core Law/Psychology Faculty in this Handbook.)
Limitations:
- Cannot take courses in lawyering skills (Trial Advocacy, etc.).
- Can only take 6 credits total of seminars and/or independent study
- Cannot take more than 12 credits of first year courses (excluding Legal Research and Writing).
- Cannot take more than 12 credits in interdisciplinary Law/Psychology courses. (See Core Interdisciplinary Courses in this Handbook.)
- Can take 2 courses in Topics in Law and Psychology however, then cannot take Mental Health Law for credit toward the M.L.S. degree (it may still be taken for credit in Psychology).
- Only classes in which a C or better is received will count.
Regardless of which common law course a student elects to take, the course must be taken during the student's first year in the Law College. If the demands of another academic program make it impossible for the student to take any of the common law courses during the student's first year in the Law College, the student may request permission from the Associate Dean of the Law College to delay satisfaction of the common law course requirement until the student's second year in the Law College. The request must be in writing and must be submitted as soon as reasonably possible but no later than one week before the first day of regularly scheduled classes. If the request is granted, the student may be permitted to take a limited number of alternative law courses prior to the student's second year in the Law College.
* * * Ph.D. * * *
A minimum of 90 credit hours are required for a Ph.D., including the following: (Hours may vary somewhat by program: social, cognitive, developmental, and clinical psychology)
- 4 proseminars (3 credits each for a total of 12 credits), which must include Social and Cognitive Psychology and two other courses selected from the following list: Comparative, Conditioning and Learning, Developmental, Personality, Physiological, Sensation and Perception, Human Learning and Cognitive Processes, Clinical-Community, Psychopathology, and History and Philosophy of Psychology. The elective proseminars will be based upon the student's program area and interests.
- Law and Behavioral Science (Psy-985) (3 credits)
- 9 credits of statistics classes (a "minor" in statistical methods is recommended and can include classes in program evaluation and field methods).
• Psychology 941 is required (3 credits) and is taken during the first semester in the Psychology Department.
• To satisfy the remaining 6 credits, students may take statistics courses in the Psychology Department or in other departments (e.g., Sociology, Educational Psychology, etc.). Consult with your advisor and/or committee.
• In the Psychology Department, the options are:
Psychology 942 (3 credits) - Multivariate Statistics (almost all students take this course, Psychology 943 (3 credits) - Test Construction, Statistics modules (1 credit each, topics vary), Psychology 975 (3 credits)- Advanced Experimental Psychology
• Completion of the 9 credits satisfies the graduate school language/research tool requirement.
- Ethics courses (2 credits) including: Introduction to Professional Ethics for Psychologists (1 credit) and Advanced Professional Ethics for Psychologists Law/Psychology (1 credit).
- Psychology 974 (1 to 3 credits),Teaching Methods for Psychology
- Core Interdisciplinary Law/Psychology courses (6 courses - 3 credits each - count toward both degrees) These include: Law and Behavioral Science (3 credits). Mental Health Law (3 credits).Topics in Law and Psychology (3 credits - may be taken twice). Psycholegal Research Other Than Thesis (3 credits - may be taken twice). (see Core Interdisciplinary Courses in this Handbook).
- Comprehensive exam. Typically done at end of 4th year. Form is determined by student's supervisory committee and may consist of traditional essay examination, integrative paper, or both.
- Dissertation (18-24 credits). Shall involve the integration of psychological research with analysis of a legal issue. The Graduate College maintains certain specifications to be fulfilled on the format of the dissertation (see Graduate Studies Bulletin).
- Students will receive an M.A. en route to the Ph.D. The M.A. will be awarded when the requirements for an M.A. in the Law/Psychology program have been completed (see M.A. requirements below).
-Notes:
• Students in the Law/Psychology Program are required to attend “Brownbag” sessions while they are in residence at UNL. Students earn 1 credit of independent study as a result of participation in the “Brownbag” series.
• Students may take up to 6 credits of Practicum (see Practicum section below)
• Students may take an extra Topics in Law and Psychology Course as an elective toward the Ph.D. degree but the course will not count toward the M.L.S. or J.D.* * * M.A. * * *
A total of 36 credit hours are required for an M.A., including the following:
- 9 interdisciplinary credits.
Law and Behavioral Science (3 credits).
Mental Health Law (3 credits).
Topics in Law and Psychology (3 credits).
- 3 proseminars (9 credits - 3 credits each).
- 6 credits of statistics (Psychology 941 (3 credits) is required).
- Psycholegal Research Other Than Thesis (6 credits).
- 6 credits of electives.
Practicum
Students may participate in a practicum for up to 2 semesters. The purposes of the practicum are as follows:
- To familiarize students with real-world settings, in order to generate research questions of applied significance.
- To give students experience in working in organizations to build an appreciation of the practical problems of field research, knowledge diffusion, and application.
These placements are pursuant to contracts with state and community agencies. Previous placements have included: Courts, Governor's Office, Department of Public Institutions, Nebraska Mental Health Association, Department of Social Services, the legislature's Health and Social Services Committee, and Lancaster County Public Defender's Office.
Placements should be multidisciplinary and educational. The nature of the practicum training must be consistent with the focus of the Program. Agency staff and Law/Psychology faculty provide student supervision.
Psychology Department Standards
Before students acquire a supervisory committee, the Psychology Graduate Committee comprised of tenured faculty and some advanced assistant professors evaluates student progress and provides feedback. The Psychology Departmental standard is a minimum of a "B" grade in all coursework. The Graduate Committee rarely allows a student with more than one "C" grade to continue toward the Ph.D. At the evaluation meeting, a student's performance may be evaluated as satisfactory or meriting commendation. If performance is inadequate, the Committee may place a student on departmental warning or probation, in which case performance must improve for the student to complete the program. Specific conditions of probation depend on the circumstances, but, at a minimum, a student on probation cannot form a doctoral supervisory committee. Students on probation may be ineligible for funding. A student judged not to be performing up to the standard of a Ph.D. student may be terminated. After appointment of the student’s supervisory committee, that committee is responsible for evaluating the student’s progress in the program. Students are evaluated at least yearly.
Law College Standards
Grading at the Law College is based on a numerical scale from 9 to 0. The equivalent letter grades are as follows:
9=A+ 6=B 3=D+
8=A 5=C+ 2=D
7=B+ 4=C 0=F
GPAs at the Law College are computed four times during a student's course of study. The first time is at the end of the first year at the Law College. The second time is at the end of the semester or summer session in which the student has completed 27 credits beyond the first year curriculum. The third time is at the end of the semester or summer session in which the student has completed 60 credits beyond the first year curriculum. The final time is when the student has completed all of the requirements for graduation from the Law College.
The student must achieve a minimum GPA of 4.0 to continue at the Law College and to receive a J.D. Any student who has achieved the minimum average of 4.0 but whose average is no higher than 4.5 will be placed on Law College probation. Students on Law College probation are subject to such limitations and requirements as the faculty and the Dean may prescribe.
Additional details regarding grading at the Law College can be found at http://www.unl.edu/lawcoll/
* * * M.L.S. Standards * * *
A student will be ineligible to continue if he or she fails 6 credit hours or has less than a C average.
Law/Psychology Standards
The Law/Psychology faculty expects graduate students to be actively involved in all aspects of the program. The faculty requires students attend Brownbag sessions whenever they are scheduled, that they are actively involved in research every semester that they are in graduate school, and satisfy the College of Law and the Graduate Schools course performance standards. Subjects who fall below these standards will be subject to a programmatic review and will be subject to probation with conditions as appropriate. The faculty meet at least once a year and evaluate student progress toward program goals. Unsatisfactory progress may result in a student being placed on probation or ineligible for funding.
FACULTY SUPERVISION
A committee consisting of the core Law/Psychology faculty and an elected student representative (see Graduate Student Association in this Handbook) administer the program. The committee sets policy for the program including the curriculum and student rules. The Program Director and Associate Director are responsible for Day-to day program operations.
Advisors
Upon the student’s entry into the Program, the faculty in consultation with the student will select a member of the Law/Psychology Program faculty as an academic advisor. As research interests are clarified, students may choose to switch to another Program faculty member or another faculty member approved by the Program Faculty (see the Psychology Department Website for a list of faculty members).
M.A. Committees
Students must have three readers for their Masters Equivalent Research Project (MERP). All members on the examining committee MUST be on the Graduate Faculty. One must have a primary appointment in Psychology, one must have a primary appointment in Law, and one must be a Program faculty member or be selected with approval of the Program faculty (a single member may fulfill more than one requirement).
Ph.D. Supervisory Committees
The Department Graduate Committee appoints the supervisory committee when it is satisfied that the student has the capacity to complete doctoral level work. Students typically must have completed 18 hours of psychology coursework including two proseminars, Behavioral Science and Law, and two statistics classes. In addition, the student’s advisor must have approved the MERP proposal. The Graduate Committee is responsible for evaluating students without a supervisory committee and it does so semi-annually.
- There must be a minimum of four graduate faculty members (including the chair) on the supervisory committee.
- The student and the chair will select the other committee members.
- One member must be a Law/Psychology Program faculty member. One member must be from an outside department (this member can be from the Law College).
- Committee membership can be (and often is) reorganized as students progress through the program.
- Click here for the committee forms
- Click here for the core and affiliated faculty membersStudent Opportunities
The record of students in scholarly presentations and publications has been excellent. Students have the opportunity to present papers at scholarly meetings including the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), the Law and Society Association, the European Association of Psychology and Law, the Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA), the American Psychological Association (APA), the Canadian Psychological Association, and meetings of several specialized societies.
Students have obtained credentials, which may be helpful in legal careers. Students have become members of the Nebraska Law Review (several in editorial positions) or Moot Court Board. Many students have also sought and obtained judicial clerkships while enrolled in the Program.
The placement record of the Program has been excellent. Among the students who have graduated from the Program, a number have accepted faculty positions in departments of psychology, criminal justice, and at law colleges. Other placements have included positions in state government, private law practice, the Department of Justice, and many public and private research institutes.
Support and Stipends
A variety of sources fund students in the Program. To date, the Program has been able to offer support for all graduate students while they continue to work toward their final degrees. Although funding is not guaranteed, we anticipate that funding at this level will continue. The program faculty may deny funding to students who are on academic probation. Potential sources of funding are as follows:
- Law College and University Scholarships/Fellowships.
A completed Application for Graduate Fellowship form is required to be considered for UNL fellowships. This form is available from the Office of Graduate Studies.
- Research Assistantships and Teaching Assistantships.
Psychology Department assistantships typically include tuition remission (12 credits) during the semester of the appointment and may include tuition remission for the summer. They normally require 15 to 20 hours of service per week. While these research assistantships are usually within the Department of Psychology, students sometimes work for agencies affiliated with the Law/Psychology Program such as the Center on Children, Families and the Law and the Public Policy Center. Many students have provided their own research assistantships by obtaining research grants.
- Practicum placements (see Practicum below).
- Clerkships with law firms.
Clerkships are competitive and coordinated through the Law College. Students who clerk do so during the first summer in the program (i.e., after the first full year at the Law College).
- Many assistantships, scholarships, and fellowships have outside employment restrictions. Additionally, there may be a limit on the number of credits that are paid for in a given semester if you have an assistantship.
Research and Travel Funding
The Law and Psychology Program works hard to support all students’ professional development (e.g., conference activities). Some of the available funding sources include:
- Warden Funds (Psychology Department).
Students can apply each year for Warden funds for the support of research and travel expenses. Proposals for Warden Funds are received at the beginning of each semester. Contact the Chair of the Warden Committee (Monte Page) for additional information.
-Law and Psychology Resources. The Law and Psychology Program maintains limited funding for student research and travel expenses.
- National and Local Sources.
Students have received funding from such sources as the American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS), the Society for the Scientific Study of Social Issues (SPSSI), and American Academy for Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for research and conference expenses. Students are encouraged to apply to other state and federal sources for additional funding (e.g., NSF, NIMH, NIJ).People You Should Know
- Cathy Oslzly - Cathy O. is the Law/Psychology Program Administrative Assistant (among other things!). If you have any questions, she is likely the best source of answers. She can be reached at Burnett 221, 472-3121.
- Beki Colberg - Beki is the Admissions Assistant at the Law College and works with incoming MLS students.
- Vicki Lill – Vicki Lill is the registrar at the Law College. Can help explain how to register for cross-listed courses and answer most "Law School-Type" questions or direct you to someone who can.
- Gail Latta –Gail is the Psychology Librarian at Love Library. She can help with research and is responsible for the Library's collection of psychological publications. She can be reached at 201 Love Library South, 472-2521.
- Claudia Price-Decker – Claudia is the Department of Psychology Administrator and can help out with problems that Cathy O. is unable to resolve. Claudia coordinates department assistantships.
Research Groups
Many faculty members in the Psychology Department run research groups on particular topics. Current topics include jury decision making, sexual harassment, the death penalty, discrimination, eyewitness identification. These groups meet periodically (i.e., weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) to develop and carry out research projects on problems in these areas. Group members give and receive feedback on research projects at all stages. Students are encouraged to participate in one or more groups.
Graduate Student Association
- Every student who is accepted into the Graduate Psychology Program is a member of the Graduate Student Association (GSA) in the Department of Psychology.
- GSA has three votes in faculty meetings and has a representative on the departmental Executive Committee.
- GSA can serve to make your concerns and suggestions heard more clearly in the department.
- GSA representatives are elected in the Spring of each year--the Law/Psychology Program has one representative.
- The Law/Psychology representative of GSA is a member of the Law/Psychology Committee.
Law-Psychology Organizations
The following are organizations you may want to join. Each professional organization offers conferences, publications, and other services at inexpensive student rates. This is not a comprehensive list of all of the organizations.
- American Psychology-Law Society (AP-LS) - Division 41 of APA.
Most students become members of this organization.
AP/LS holds an Annual conference.
Members of AP/Ls receive Law & Human Behavior, the premier journal in the discipline, every other month.
There are opportunities for student leadership in the AP-LS Student Section.
See the webpage for information on becoming a member: http://www.unl.edu/ap-ls/
- American Psychological Association.
- Law and Society Association
- European Association of Psychology and Law
- American Psychological Society.
- American Bar Association/Law Student Division
- Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues
- Psychonomic Society
- Society for Personality and Social Psychology
- Society for Judgment and Decision Making
- American Society of Trial ConsultantsThe University of Nebraska-Lincoln
The University of Nebraska was chartered in 1869 and was the first Ph.D. granting institution west of the Mississippi. UNL includes Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Education, Business, Architecture, and Law. Current undergraduate and graduate enrollment is approximately 25,000. The UNL campus is divided into two parts: the main campus (which includes the Psychology Department) and the East Campus (which includes the Law School). A free shuttle bus connects the two campuses, which are about 2 miles apart.
The University Library consists of a main library (Love Library) and several specialized libraries including a recently renovated law library at the Law College. However, most faculty and students use easily accessible online services to access most periodical publications.
The City of Lincoln
Lincoln is the capitol of Nebraska and is the state's second largest city (approx. population 200,000). The main campus of UNL is in a large park-like setting next to the downtown area. There is a wide variety of activities within easy walking distance of the campus including theaters, restaurants, parks, and shopping.
Lincoln is easily accessible by road via Interstate 80, and is serviced by Amtrak, Greyhound and a number of national air carriers. The city is located about one hour southwest of Omaha and two and one half hours northwest of Kansas City.
The cost of living in Lincoln is relatively low. A student can rent a one-bedroom apartment in Lincoln for between $300 and $400 a month. Most students are able to find affordable housing within a short distance of the Main Campus or of the East Campus.
SAMPLE PROGRAMS
The sample programs on the following pages are examples of the most expeditious routes through the various programs. Additional activities undertaken as part of the course of studies will extend the time needed for completion. Examples of these activities include: summer employment (such as clerkships with law firms), timing of required/desired courses, research considerations, judicial clerkships, law review, moot court, teaching, taking the bar exam, etc.
Notes Regarding the Sample Programs
For specific program requirements see Degree Requirements in this Website [Link to degree requirements].
For law electives, see the current College of Law Bulletin. [Link].
Examples of Psychology Electives are: psychology courses such as seminars, Field Methods, Program Evaluation, etc.; practicum credits; research credits; courses in other departments as approved by supervisory committee.
