Marshall, WVU Make Their Marks in Forensic Sciences

The forensic science programs at Marshall University and West Virginia University recently obtained an elite distinction- accreditation from the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.

Only nine schools in the country, including Marshall and WVU, have received the accreditation. Marshall received a full, five- year accreditation for its master of science degree in forensic science. WVU received a full, five-year accreditation for its bachelor of science degree in forensic and investigative science.

The standards for accreditation were developed in recent years after what many in the forensic sciences call the CSI effect came about. Americans have developed a keen interest in forensics after shows such as CBS’ “CSI Miami” and Court TV’s “Forensic Files” started filling popular time slots.

Americans have been demanding more information about the brand of science that uses modern scientific techniques to investigate crime. That means more and more colleges are jumping on the forensics bandwagon. And that is where the American Academy of Forensic Sciences comes in.

“Programs have been popping up all over the country, and they’re calling themselves forensic science, but they may really not be,” said Dr. Terry Fenger, director of Marshall’s Forensic Science Center. “That’s the CSI effect. What we’re seeing is curriculum coming out of criminaI justice programs with minimal science. And the keyword here is science.”

Dr. Max Houck, director of the Forensic Science Initiative at WVU, agreed. He said students have a right to know whether their degrees are coming from nationally recognized programs.

“Crime lab directors have said they’re not interested in forensic science degrees any more, because they don’t know what they mean,” Houck said. “That’s why these accreditation standards are so important. … All these replicate programs really cheat students who come into this with an honest discipline for the field. Plus this accreditation system is setting a standard for programs to be accountable in an increasingly difficult science.”

The academy developed an intensive list of standards a program must meet to receive accreditation. The standards cover everything from courses to faculty and even training opportunities for students.

The first round of evaluations occurred in 2004. Marshall and WVU applied for consideration during the second round, which occurred this year. Seven schools were granted full accreditation for their programs, including Florida International University in Miami, which offers both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in the field. Two schools in Pennsylvania were granted either provisional or conditional accreditation.

Marshall is one of three schools nationwide to receive full, unconditional accreditation for a master’s level program. Marshall’s forensic science program offers degrees that focus on one of three specialties – DNA, computer forensics or forensic chemistry.

Students learn a broad range of skills, including techniques in criminal investigations and how to identify perpetrators through DNA.

“I’m really proud of what we’ve developed here and been able to accomplish in a relatively new scientific field,” Fenger said. “Ten years ago, no one was talking about DNA. Now everyone’s talking about it. And our graduates are leaving here and taking jobs all over the country with the most up-to-date skills anyone can offer.”

Marshall’s two-year program got its start in 1994 and has graduated 115 students.

WVU is one of five schools nationwide to receive full, unconditional accreditation for a bachelor’s level program. WVU’s forensic science program offers degrees that focus on computer forensics, forensic accounting or biometrics, such as fingerprint identification.

Students are exposed to modern techniques in crime-scene investigation and ballistics testing.

“Students at WVU really are learning the most modern methods in forensic science, especially when it comes to crimescene investigation. We’re training students how to pull fingerprints from everything like a Coke bottle to underneath the dashboard of a car,” Houck said. “… And we’re using the same technologies that are being used in today’s real-life crime labs.”

Both Houck and Fenger said the programs at Marshall and WVU have good working relationships. Fenger said the key is maintaining niches so the two schools don’t overlap.

“We’re the DNA people, and they’re the fingerprint people,” Fenger said. “WVU has the crime-scene garages and deals with biometrics. We have the DNA lab. The two programs make West Virginia the key to a lot of modern forensic science training.”

Copyright State Journal Corporation Jul 29, 2005