Students looking to take on another class before the drop/add deadline can consider a different type of hands-on learning.
UF has formed a three-year partnership with the Crime Scene Investigation Academy of Florida. The academy on 12787 U.S. Highway 441 in Alachua will work with the UF’s forensic science program to provide crime scene training to accommodate its online courses.
The CSI Academy provides training to law enforcement officials looking to practice their crime scene investigative skills.
The PHA 6935 Crime Scene Laboratory course being offered to students in the UF forensic science master’s program will kick off this Fall.
For the first time, students can partake in hands-on training, including skeletal remains recovery, bloodstain pattern analysis and death investigations.
Training for the three-credit crime scene laboratory course will be held the first week of December with 24 spots open. The online and hands-on course is offered through the UF College of Pharmacy each semester with $100 lab fee.
Karen Smith, CSI Academy director of forensic education, said there has been a surge of interest in the forensic science program.
“A lot of students had asked for a hands-on component since it’s an online program,” she said.
Three students have signed up for the course so far, and about 1,000 students are enrolled in the online master’s program.
Ian Tebbett, associate dean of the College of Pharmacy, worked with the academy to get the curriculum completed for the Fall course.
Tebbett said the 14-year-old online graduate program in forensic science is one of the largest.
“It’s an opportunity for students who have bachelor’s degrees and work in law enforcement to get a master’s with UF without having to quit their jobs and relocate,” he said.
Tebbett worked alongside CSI Academy Dean Tony Falsetti to get the course up and running. The academy plans to continue working with UF to create undergraduate hands-on courses as well, Falsetti said.
