MASTER OF SCIENCE IN FORENSIC TECHNOLOGY

What Criminal Justice Has Been Waiting For: Forensic Analysis at the Scene of the Crime. Our M.S. in Forensic Technology is the first of its kind in graduate-level forensic science programs. It combines the forensic science discipline with cutting-edge technology to put on-the-spot forensic capabilities in the hands of those first to arrive at the scene.

Student using forensic tools

Master the New Capabilities

You will study, and receive hands-on practice with, various forms of forensic field technology, including laser scanners, portable and handheld instrumentation, and biometric devices. The utilization of these technologies are critical to modern criminal investigations. Restricted electives offered within the program allow you to develop specialized knowledge in areas such as bloodstain pattern analysis, firearms evidence, fingerprint analysis, and accident reconstruction.

You will complete a minimum of 42 credits of graduate coursework, which includes a required internship or research project designed to fulfill the Master of Science Capstone requirement. Participation in this Capstone requirement allows students to benefit from the strong connections that the University of New Haven has forged with crime scene and death investigation units within local, state, and federal agencies across the country.

Who Should Apply to this Program?

  • Those with an undergraduate degree in criminal justice, investigative services, natural sciences, Anthropology, or any other forensic science-related field
  • Current law enforcement officers
  • Novice/beginner Crime Scene Investigators/Technicians
  • Those with a desire for a career in the crime scene investigation field
  • Those with a desire for a career in medico-legal death investigations

With the continued dependence and emphasis on forensic evidence, how can we ensure that science is being used to its full potential during a criminal investigation?

Forensic science, or the application of scientific principles to matters of the law, is heavily relied upon to help support investigations and to answer questions thought to be unanswerable. The recognition, collection, identification, and interpretation of physical evidence and the application of new technologies to provide objective facts for criminal or civil court cases is an integral part of our justice system. If you are interested in forensic science and want to learn how to employ technology during field examinations, there is no more prestigious place to earn your degree than the world-renowned Henry C. Lee College at the University of New Haven.

QUICK FACTS

Envision Your Future

The information below is designed to show the many possible careers you could pursue with your major. The research is provided by Encoura, the leading research and advisory firm focused exclusively on higher education. It includes median national salaries and industry growth projections over the next decade. Click here to view the full report.

$86K

Detectives and Criminal Investigators

2% Growth 2021-2030

$61K

Forensic Science Technicians

10% Growth 2021-2030

$54K

Clinical Laboratory Technologists and Technicians

9% Growth 2021-2030

 

Selected Courses and Programs

An in-depth study of crime scene procedures including recognition, protection, documentation, and collection of physical evidence; scene documentation, scene search procedures; and reconstructions from evidence and scene patterns.
Theoretical and practical aspects of crime scene reconstruction will be addressed in this course. A basic understanding of crime scene analysis, and related functions: evidence recognition, collection and preservation, documentation, effective search methods, and subsequent laboratory-based analysis of the evidence is required. Common types of crime scene reconstruction will be explored: blood stain analysis, shooting incidents, and accident reconstruction. A major focus of this course is to learn how to design and conduct relevant testing consistent with the scientific method. The course will conclude with the preparation of a reconstruction report and oral presentation of that work in a legal setting.
This course will explore the use of imaging techniques as they relate to crime scene and evidence documentation. The first portion of the course focuses on film/digital image capture and the second on digital image processing using Adobe Photoshop and other software. The course includes extensive hands-on experience both in photography as well as image processing labs. Topics include but are not limited to: theory, techniques, crime, scenes, evidence, macro, alternate light energy, photogrammetry, image clarification and legal considerations.
This laboratory course is taken in conjunction with the Forensic Field Technology lecture. FFT Lab introduces students to technologies used in the field as well as how data that we collect in the field can be entered into and processed by the relevant databases. The technologies used by students can include instruments of discovery such as portable and hand-held Ion Mobility Spectrometry (IMS), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, and Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), as well as other contemporary technologies and developments like 3D scanners and scene mapping software.

The University of New Haven offers a wide variety of in-depth courses that create a transformational educational experience for our students. To view the complete list of courses you'll take while pursuing a Master of Science in Forensic Technology, check out the Academic Catalog:

Forensic Technology, M.S.

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From career assessments, networking, and job shadowing to on-campus interviews and salary negotiation, the Career Development Center provides the skills and connections to identify a meaningful career and an opportunity to pursue your passion.

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Gehring Hall, home to the University of New Haven's Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences.

Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences Celebrates Exemplary Student Achievement

Honors students and award recipients were recognized for their academic excellence, leadership, and dedication to making a difference in public safety and law enforcement.
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