July 8, 2009

Drexel University College of Medicine has become the first school in the country to offer a master's degree in criminalistic science degree. The program, launching in September 2009, is aimed at law enforcement officers and college graduates with a criminal justice degree who are seeking additional education and training in ballistics, fingerprint analysis, blood stain pattern analysis and other areas of criminalistic science. 

 “The law enforcement community has really begun to recognize the importance of science in solving crimes,” said William Welsh Jr., director of the new Master of Science Criminalistic Science Program at Drexel University College of Medicine and a retired Delaware County detective.

“Right now, officers have to attend thousands of hours of seminars over several years to get the kind of knowledge they can get in this one program,” said Welsh. He added that a master’s degree will also allow those in law enforcement to advance their careers or enter the field at a more senior level

Drexel is offering a 40% tuition discount to law enforcement officers. The program is also attracting students just out of college who want to prepare for jobs in crime labs or the growing field of bioterrorism investigation. It is also aimed at helping candidates become more desirable applicants to any of the federal law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and ATF.

The Master of Science in Criminalistic Science program can be completed on a full- or part-time basis. All courses are taught by adjunct faculty who are working professionals in the law enforcement field, including forensic pathologists and crime scene investigators.