Suvarna Garge (Editor)

University of Florida forensic science distance education program

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Director
  
Dr. Ian Tebbett, Ph.D.

Location
  
Gainesville, Florida

University of Florida forensic science distance education program

Website
  
www.forensicscience.ufl.edu

The University of Florida’s (UF) online forensic science distance education programs cater to working professionals and students who have completed their Bachelor of Science degrees. It is the largest forensic science program in the world and has been awarded the Award for Excellence in Distance Education by the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC).

Contents

The program offers six areas of concentration, each as a certificate and/or master’s degree. The faculty involved in these programs represent the fields of forensic science, toxicology, DNA & serology, drug chemistry, environmental forensics, death investigation, and veterinary forensics.

Each course within UF’s program is conducted online and is made up of specific topic modules. Most modules contain course notes supplemented with images, animations, and case studies. Students are provided constant access to course modules, which are released over the duration of the UF semester.

Degree and certificate programs currently offered

UF currently offers four Master of Science (MS) programs, one Professional Science Master's (PSM), and six graduate certificates in forensic science.

Degree programs

  • MS in Forensic Toxicology
  • MS in Drug Chemistry
  • MS in Forensic DNA & Serology
  • MS in Forensic Science (with core courses and electives)
  • PSM (Professional Science Master's) in Forensic Science

    • Certificate programs

  • Environmental Forensics
  • Forensic Death Investigation
  • Forensic Toxicology
  • Drug Chemistry
  • Forensic DNA & Serology
  • Veterinary Forensic Sciences

    • Master of Science in Forensic Toxicology

    The forensic toxicology concentration is offered by the UF College of Veterinary Medicine. It is geared toward general and advanced principles of toxicology, forensic toxicology, and drug metabolism, providing a foundation in analytical techniques, pharmacokinetics, drug elimination and toxicology. Courses in pharmacology, postmortem toxicology, expert testimony, and laboratory quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures are also featured.

    Common student backgrounds: crime laboratories, medical examiners offices, police departments, criminal defense and prosecution attorneys, hospital and clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and high school and college science teachers.

    Master of Science in Drug Chemistry

    The forensic drug chemistry concentration is offered by the UF College of Pharmacy. It is structured to provide foundations in analytical techniques, drug pharmacology, forensic drug chemistry and organic synthesis. The program specifically features courses in pharmacology, medicinal chemistry of drugs of abuse, drug synthesis, expert testimony, and laboratory QA/QC procedures.

    Common student backgrounds: law enforcement agencies, military services, and the pharmaceutical industry.

    Master of Science in Forensic DNA & Serology

    The forensic DNA & serology concentration is offered by the UF College of Pharmacy. It is intended to provide foundations in serology, blood spatter interpretation, molecular biology, biochemistry, genetics and the theory of DNA analysis. This program has been designed to meet the FBI National Standards education requirements for DNA technical leaders and supervisors.

    Common student backgrounds: law enforcement agencies, military services, medical professionals, crime laboratories, and high school and college science teachers.

    Master of Science in Forensic Science

    The forensic science concentration is offered by the UF College of Pharmacy. It consists of 18 credits of required courses and an additional 14 credits of electives covering a range of forensic disciplines. Courses in forensic medicine, forensic anthropology, drug analysis, toxicology, entomology, criminalistics, environmental forensics, biological evidence, blood spatter, and forensic DNA analysis are also offered within the program.

    Common student backgrounds: crime laboratories, medical examiners offices, police departments, criminal defense and prosecution attorneys, hospital and clinical laboratories, the pharmaceutical industry, and high school and college science teachers.

    Professional Science Master’s in Forensic Science

    The Professional Science master's degree is offered as a cooperative effort between UF's College of Pharmacy and Webber International University's Graduate School of Business. It consists of 36 credits, 27 credits focused on technical forensic science content from UF and 9 credits focused on professional business content from Webber International University.

    Common student backgrounds: crime laboratories, medical examiners offices, hospital and clinical laboratories, and hospitals and other medical facilities.

    Master’s in Veterinary Medical Sciences with concentration in Veterinary Forensic Science

    The University of Florida's Maples Center for Forensic Medicine offers a MS degree concentration in veterinary forensic sciences. This program is in partnership with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It is the only program of its type in the United States. The program is unique for its application of forensic science and medicine to veterinary medicine and animal related crimes including animal cruelty cases.

    Common student backgrounds: veterinarians, law enforcement, animal welfare, crime laboratories.

    Environmental Forensics

    The graduate certificate in environmental forensics is offered by the UF College of Pharmacy. It offers courses in collaboration with the University of Canberra in Australia. The certificate is designed to give the environment law enforcement officer a background in the principles of contaminant analysis and transport in the environment with the ultimate aim of determining liability for pollution.

    Forensic Death Investigation

    The graduate certificate in death investigation is provided by the UF College of Pharmacy. This certificate provides courses in collaboration with UF’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences department of anthropology and the University of Edinburgh College of Medicine. It focuses on the investigation of crime and death using forensic pathology, anthropology, and DNA analysis. Modules in sexual offenses, drug health, forensic odontology, and wounds are also featured.

    Forensic Toxicology, Drug Chemistry, and Forensic DNA & Serology

    These graduate certificates are similar to the master’s program concentrations offered by the university and are typically 15 credits of graduate coursework that can then be transferred toward the MS degree. These certificates provide students with foundations in various aspects of forensic science.

    Veterinary Forensic Sciences

    The University of Florida's Maples Center for Forensic Medicine offers a graduate certificate in veterinary forensic sciences. This program consists of five courses at the MS level with a focus on the application of forensic science and medicine to veterinary medical sciences. This program is in partnership with the University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA). It is the only program of its type in the United States. The program is unique for its application of forensic science and medicine to veterinary medicine and animal related crimes including animal cruelty cases. UF Veterinary Forensic Sciences

    Wildlife Forensic Sciences

    The University of Florida's Maples Center for Forensic Medicine offers a graduate certificate in wildlife forensic sciences. This program consists of three courses at the MS level with a focus on the application of forensic science and medicine to wildlife crime. It is the only program of its type in the United States. The program is unique for its application of forensic science and medicine to crime against wildlife including illegal trafficking and poaching. UF Wildlife Forensic Sciences

    Rankings and Recognitions

  • The UF online forensic science program is the largest forensic science program in the world with over 700 graduates and students from 33 different countries who are either enrolled or have completed their master's degree.
  • Winner of the 2006 Award for Excellence in Distance Education from the American Distance Education Consortium (ADEC).
  • Program director Dr. Ian Tebbett, Ph.D., was awarded the Irving Award by ADEC in 2011 and the 2010 Outstanding Leadership Award by the U.S. Distance Learning Association.

    • About the University of Florida

  • The University of Florida is the fourth largest academic institution in the US. It is accredited by both the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS) and the Association of American Universities (AAU).
  • UF enrolls more than 6,500 distance students and has more than 330,000 alumni throughout the world.

    • References

    University of Florida forensic science distance education program Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA