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Dakota State University has a new degree that will teach students to use science, mathematics, and technology to investigate and solve crimes. The Scientific Forensic Technology major is accepting students beginning with the current spring semester.

When developing the program, faculty from Dakota State contacted experts in the forensics field including FBI agents, judges, criminal investigators and attorneys. One thing they learned through this contact was that forensics is a quickly expanding field that is in need of qualified graduates.

Eric Johnson, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, led the effort to implement the new degree at Dakota State. “We have heard from insurance companies and other agencies who already want our graduates,” he said. “What will make DSU graduates unique from their counterparts at other universities is that our graduates will be steeped in the scientific end of the forensics field.” Johnson stated that the DSU program is a rigorous course of mathematics, chemistry and technology. It will also include classes to develop communication skills. “Finding the evidence is one thing,” said Johnson, “but presenting it in court as an expert witness is quite another. Our students will be able to do both.”

While Johnson admits that the popularity of such television shows as CSI has peaked the interested in forensics, he says the obvious fit of Dakota State’s technology expertise and the demands of a career in forensics is what drove the process to implement this new degree. “DSU has a highly developed computer graphics curriculum, which will be combined with public speaking, chemistry and mathematics to provide the core of the major,” stated Johnson.

DSU is working to integrate a summer program that would include a staged crime scene with mock evidence for students to get some real hands-on forensics experience. Internship opportunities with insurance and government agencies will also be available for DSU students.