| Forensic Science Distance Education Program | |
| Director: | Dr. Ian Tebbett, Ph.D. |
| City: | Gainesville, Florida |
| Website: | www.forensicscience.ufl.edu |
| Image Alt: | University of Florida |
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.
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.
| Founded | 1999 | |
|---|---|---|
| Degree programs | 4 | |
| Certificate programs | 6 | |
| Newsletter | Investi-Gator |
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.