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Blood spatter. Fingerprints. Trajectory. Entry and exit wounds.

The best crime shows and documentaries come back to one field: Forensic Science.

Harrisburg University’s new, state of the art lab that houses the University’s recently launched B.S. in Forensic Science program brings crime scenes to life, providing students with incomparable hands-on experience before entering the criminal science investigation field.

To provide students with this type of first-hand knowledge, the opportunity to process mock crime scenes in a state-of-the-art facility is crucial, Forensics Instructor Jillian Yeakel said. The lab is set to open Sept. 29.

“With the expansion of the forensic science program offerings at HU, it became necessary to offer a space that allowed students to get hands-on experience with processing crime scenes,” Yeakel said. “We want our students to be skilled and competitive when searching for employment in the future.”

Previously, the forensic science program was a concentration students could follow in the University’s Integrative Sciences Program.

With a new bachelor degree program and dedicated space, Yeakel, fellow instructor Carrie Wise, and colleagues will deliver an up-close introduction to the world of crime scene science via simulated crime scenes. Instructors can offer several different options for room configuration in the new space due to the design and leave them set up for longer periods of time if necessary.

“The new space allows students an immersive experience to interpret various elements of a crime scene and determine the probative value of its evidence,” Wise said. “Having a full scene will allow students to develop their critical thinking skills, practice crime scene documentation requirements, determine scene-specific evidence collection, presumptive testing and evidence processing.”

Graduates of HU’s Forensic Science Program can go on to become crime scene technicians, crime scene investigators, laboratory technicians, and laboratory analysts.

HU’s Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program, launched this fall, is taught by CSI practitioners and mimics authentic situations to best prepare them for supporting the forensic community. The program is adaptable and ideal for anyone who possesses personal integrity, good speaking skills, intellectual curiosity, and good note-taking skills.

“The forensic science program at HU actually provides multiple options for students. We offer a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science as well as a Bachelor of Integrative Sciences with a concentration in Forensic Investigation. This allows students to choose a degree most aligned with their career goals,” Yeakel said. “Typically, students prefer to either be in the lab analyzing evidence or on the scene collecting evidence and our degree programs offer the opportunity for either.”

Graduates of the Bachelor of Science in the Forensic Science program can:

  • Obtain a thorough grounding in the natural sciences.
  • Build upon a background of natural sciences through a series of advanced studies.
  • Develop an appreciation of issues specific to forensic science through course work and laboratory-based instruction; and,
  • Gain practical experience through a series of core competencies specific to the field of forensic science.

For more information about HU’s Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Program, click here.

ABOUT HARRISBURG UNIVERSITY

Accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Harrisburg University is a private nonprofit university offering bachelor and graduate degree programs in science, technology, and math fields. For more information on the University’s affordable demand-driven undergraduate and graduate programs, call 717-901-5146 or email, Connect@HarrisburgU.edu. Follow on Twitter (@HarrisburgU) and Facebook (Facebook.com/HarrisburgU).

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