Collecting evidence
Forensic Science from Daily Orange on Vimeo.Someone just committed a brutal murder, and three strangers turn into suspects.
With no witnesses or motives cited, the conviction of the perpetrator and the freedom of the two other suspects hang in the balance. It’s up to the forensic scientists in the crime laboratory to analyze the evidence and decide the suspects’ fate.
Committing to the rising crime-fighting career due to the popularity of forensic science shows like ‘CSI,’ Syracuse University begins a new 34-credit master’s program in forensic science starting Fall 2009. SU is one of the few schools to offer forensic sciences as a master’s option.
The program at SU will stretch across different schools, including faculty from The College of Arts and Sciences, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, the College of Law, the College of Human Ecology, the State University of New York Upstate Medical University, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry and the Wallie Howard, Jr. Center for Forensic Sciences located in Syracuse, N.Y.
‘This program really fits in with things on campus being interdisciplinary, it’s massively interdisciplinary,’ said Jim Spencer, professor of chemistry and director of the forensic science program. ‘The faculty is all very dedicated and heavily on board.’
The program is broad so students can understand the whole picture of forensic science – covering chemistry, linguistics, biogenetics, math and law courses – said Spencer.
The program offers about 25 courses that are a mix between classes that have already been taught at the university and new courses.
Many of the professors are experts in their fields. Onondaga County Chief Medical Examiner Mary Jumbelic will be teaching ‘Practicum in Forensic Science’ along with other SU faculty. This class combines classroom and hands-on experience, where students also visit the crime lab in the Wallie Howard, Jr. Center for Forensic Sciences.
‘There are a lot of practical parts in the forensics lab, so our students are doing a lot of practical components as well as classroom experience,’ Spencer said.
While in the process of creating the program, the faculty talked about the idea of creating an undergraduate program instead of a master’s program, but in the end, they decided that it wasn’t a great idea.
‘At the undergraduate level students are grasping the basics such as biology, psychology and chemistry,’ Spencer said. ‘It’s easier to learn forensics if you have the basis of another science beforehand.’
For undergraduates interested in the program, Spencer recommends a path that partners an anthropology or chemistry degree with a minor in forensics, which is also a new addition to the science department.
Ultimately, Spencer feels the program serves better as a master’s program rather than an undergraduate program because those who have the basic science basis in a bachelor’s degree and master’s in forensics make better job candidates.
The major also comes at the right time as the Department of Labor predicted that the job market for forensic science majors should increase by 30 percent by 2014.
Careers in forensic science land degree-holders a variety of jobs from working on crime scenes such as what is seen on shows like ‘CSI’ (though rare) to a crime laboratory or even testifying in the courtroom for a murder trial. Spencer says the field of forensics can also pioneer new techniques in court room procedures.
Senior accounting and finance major, Johnny Ng thinks the new program is a good idea and provides students with more options.
‘I think it gives a more viable task to a lot of science majors because of the weak pre-med program here,’ Ng said. ‘Maybe students would consider forensics instead.’
Junior computer engineering Sergio Talavera agrees with Ng that the forensic science program could be a good substitute for those dissatisfied with pre-med. He also said that it could give good grad ideas for science majors.
‘It’s nice to see SU expanding itself and gaining new programs,’ Talavera said.
The application process for the program officially begins in October, but so far there has already been a lot of interest expressed through e-mails and calls to the department, Spencer said. Recruitment for the program is still in process through mailings and the new Web site will be up and running in two weeks.
‘I’ve always had an interest in the subject and after talking with other faculty members, it really just took off from there,’ Spencer said. ‘It was a real grassroots start.’
Spencer said the idea to create the program came about six or seven years ago, when he wanted to change the CHE 113 class he was teaching, which was then science for non-majors into a forensic class.
‘The field of science is constantly changing,’ Spencer said. ‘It’s the right place and the right time. It makes sense to have this program here because we already have all the resources in place.’
Published on September 15, 2008 at 12:00 pm
