Forensic Science

The Classroom and Beyond

The Forensic Science program applies scientific concepts to legal matters, bridging the worlds of science and law. Your classes will teach you the skills you’ll use on the job, and you’ll practice them at virtual and in-person simulated crime scenes. Research is a critical part of expanding methodologies used in forensic science, and you’ll have a chance to conduct research that can help expand the techniques used in the field. You also can join student organizations that help you network and give back to the community.

Experiential Education

Your classes are taught by professors who have years of experience in the field and keep up with new developments as forensic science evolves. Each course is designed to give you an immersive, engaging experience that parallels real-life scenarios you’ll encounter in your career. For example:

In Crime Scene Photography, you will learn the parts of a digital camera, learn to document indoor and outdoor scenes, and practice photographing wounds on faux body parts, creating a portfolio of your work. You also will review photographs in a virtual setting using virtual reality headsets in order to explore the immersive experience of being on a crime scene. 

In Crime Scene Investigations I & II, you’ll assess and document mock crime scenes that simulate common field experiences. You’ll also process simulated evidence with field and laboratory techniques. Some of these mock crime scenes are staged in person, either on the main St. Edward’s campus or at the Wild Basin Creative Research Center. For others, you’ll use a virtual reality headset or your computer to investigate evidence at mock crime scenes — like a hotel room where a body was found — and click on hotspots with embedded photos and case information.

In Forensics in the Wild, you’ll explore the distinct challenges for investigating crimes committed outdoors. You’ll critically analyze environmental factors affecting outdoor crime scenes and learn to evaluate samples within forensic botany, soil recovery and analysis, and anthropology.

In Principles and Practices of Science and Law, you’ll explore the interaction between the ideas and practices of the scientific community and the legal community. Taking on the persona of an expert witness, you’ll prepare to present a piece of forensic evidence in a mock criminal trial. You’ll also pose as an attorney, calling the “expert” to testify.

Study Abroad

History and Philosophy of Science, a required course for Forensic Science majors, has been taught both on campus and abroad. When taught in London and Edinburgh, the class focused on the history of medicine and disease and how it intersects with the history of crime. Students in the course visited sites in London related to scientific and medical history, including the Alexander Fleming Museum, which showcases the laboratory where Fleming discovered penicillin. They also visited the Surgeons’ Hall Museums in Edinburgh, which has collections of pathological anatomy specimens and an anatomy theater with an interactive dissection table.

Student Organizations

The Forensic Association Committed to Truth – SEU F.A.C.T. for short – is the student organization dedicated to forensic science and meets biweekly. Members build their networks and learn about careers. F.A.C.T. also hosts fun collaborative events that give you the chance to explore other science-based fields, like teaming up with the American Chemical Society chapter to conduct spooky Halloween-themed experiments.

The St. Edward’s Criminal Justice Club is a chapter of the American Criminal Justice Association, Lambda Alpha Epsilon. The club meets twice a month to hear guest speakers, go on field trips, offer community service and complete training together.

The St. Edward’s student affiliate chapter of the American Chemical Society hosts guest speakers who talk about their research, industry jobs and the ins and outs of graduate school. Members have volunteered at the ACS Southwest Regional Meeting and given poster presentations of their research, and they have traveled to other universities for hands-on training at advanced instrumentation workshops. SEU ACS also hosts social and fun events like tie-dyeing lab coats and movie nights.

Research

You’ll advance the state of forensic science by conducting research into potential new technologies and techniques. College students can test whether these techniques show enough promise to merit investment by professional labs. Through your research, you’ll address challenges currently being faced by investigators in the field and build marketable skills. Some examples of past projects include:

Developing a novel dual chemical that reveals the presence of blood, using titanium dioxide — which turns blood white and makes it visible on dark surfaces — and a fluorescent-based chemical, which makes blood stand out even on a marbled or multicolored background.

Working with a professor to test a new rapid DNA profiling machine on biological samples that had been burned, simulating samples from a fire scene. That capability would be important in disasters where multiple victims needed to be identified through DNA analysis.

Comparing two methods for processing DNA profiles on porous surfaces, such as paper and carpet, using a chemical enhancer that reacts with amino acids to make evidence like fingerprints or blood more easily visible.

Service

Forensic Science students have worked for several years on a grant-funded STEM outreach program for sixth-graders. The St. Edward’s students create crime-scene kits that the younger students use to solve a case. The program encourages elementary- and middle-school students to get curious about careers in science.

Internships

You’ll have an opportunity to apply for internships where you’ll utilize some of the same skills you’ve been developing in your experiential classes. Forensic Science majors have earned highly competitive internships at state and local agencies, including: 

• Travis County Medical Examiner's Office
• Austin Police Department
• Travis County Sheriff's Office
• Leander Police Department
• El Paso Police Department
• Bexar County Sheriff's Office