Description
Forensic Studies Program Description
Forensic specialist describes an individual or expert in a particular field who examines evidence for the purpose of presenting findings in a court of law. Forensic specialists work throughout all areas of the business world, including public accounting firms, law firms, corporations, and the government. The accounting, criminalistics, information technology, investigations, interdisciplinary, and legal tracks in forensic studies are designed to provide both the knowledge and the skills required of forensic specialists and are a direct outgrowth of the University's undergraduate programs in accounting, criminal justice, information systems, and paralegal studies.
With the cost of U.S. economic crime growing dramatically - nearly doubling over the last decade to at least $200 billion annually - many accounting firms, law firms, and government agencies incorporate forensic teams into their practices. Members of forensic teams assist in merger and acquisition analyses, tax investigations, economic crime investigations, cyber crime investigations, white collar crime investigations, money laundering investigations, security fraud investigations, litigation support services, specialized audits, fraud prevention and detection, and anti-terror investigations. The forensics team often includes technical experts who maintain the chain of evidence, information technology professionals who analyze electronic data, field personnel who handle the investigative process, accountants, insurance fraud investigators, damage claims specialists, auditors, and computer forensics experts.
The forensic studies master's degree program prepares students for rewarding careers in accounting, criminalistics, information systems, investigations, law, and related forensics professions. Students develop marketable skills sought after by public and private sector employers and the justice system. Accomplished faculty with real-world experience and achievement ensure students demonstrate technical and core competencies, critical thinking, and effectively communicate both orally and in writing. Students and faculty are guided by principles of professionalism, ethics, integrity, and respect for the rule of law.
Accounting Track
The accounting track is designed to prepare students to synthesize the accounting, auditing, computer, and investigative skills necessary to investigate and analyze financial evidence; to interpret and summarize their findings; and to communicate those findings in a courtroom setting. The corporate climate and the implementation of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act have led to a need for forensic accountants in public practice, corporations, government agencies, and other organizations to aid in fraud investigation and in fraud prevention. Graduates of this track will be prepared for these positions.
Computer Forensics Track
As computer technology becomes more complex, the ways to breach computer security also become more complex. Incidents of computer crime are increasing at alarming rates. The computer forensics track is designed to prepare students to identify, acquire, restore and analyze electronic data, and to testify as experts in court. Further, as the use of digital evidence in litigation becomes more prevalent, students will be prepared to assist in litigation support services in the areas of electronic evidence.
Criminalistics Track
Criminalistics is the science of associating and identifying evidence, interpreting the results of various scientific tests, e.g., ballistics, DNA, gunshot residue, etc., and reconstructing crime scenes. The criminalistics track is designed to help students acquire the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary to evaluate the results reached by criminalists in the performance of their duties, and to apply those results in judicial and quasi-judicial proceedings.
Interdisciplinary Track
The interdisciplinary track is designed for students who have interests that overlap two or more of the other program tracks. This track enables students who are interested in careers that require general knowledge of accounting, criminalistics, information technology, law, and investigations to take courses in two or more of these areas. This track may be appropriate for persons with general interests in multiple areas, such as managerial or executive personnel who need a general understanding of a variety of forensic specialties that fall under their areas of responsibility.
Investigations Track
For students who are looking for careers in conducting investigations for businesses and government agencies, the investigations track provides the knowledge to plan and conduct such investigations. Courses emphasize the gathering and reporting of testimonial and physical evidence and prepare students to conduct investigations by interviewing witnesses, analyzing documents, and synthesizing the results into factually accurate and objective investigative reports and court testimony.
Legal Track
The increases in fraud exposures, fraud investigations, and prosecution of white collar crimes have created a demand for forensic legal professionals. The legal track will provide students with the necessary skills in the areas of fraud investigation, fraud prosecution and defense, and litigation support. Through courses emphasizing legal research and writing, interviewing and investigating skills, criminal evidence and procedure, and courtroom presentation skills, graduates will become valuable members of the forensics team. Graduates will find careers in the investigative, prosecutorial, and criminal defense arenas working with attorneys.
Objectives
Forensic Studies Program Outcomes
All students will be required to complete the core courses, which consist of four courses totaling 15 credits, including a 6 credit capstone. In addition, students will be required to complete six courses totaling 18 credits in their elected track and one 3 credit elective.
Upon completion of the Master of Science in Forensic Studies, graduates will be able to
- Examine the history, philosophy and development of law enforcement and the judicial and correctional systems within the United States.
- Research and analyze internet resources on topics related to the presentation of evidence at trial.
- Analyze a topic in the field of forensic studies and compose a scholarly article on that topic.
- Evaluate the Federal Rules of Evidence applicability to legal proceedings and their impact on the administration of justice.
- Interpret, analyze and report on evidence.
- Integrate professional ethical standards in all activities and work.
- Develop and present evidence pertinent to a trial.
Two convenient formats, online and on-site, allow students to choose the program that best fits their needs. (Note: some courses are offered only online, and two online courses, FSCOR 702, Mock Trial Capstone, and FSIS 664/CYBF 664, Mobile Device Forensics, have some on-site requirements.)
Online Format
- Classes and assignments completed online.
- Courses offered in accelerated 8-week sessions. Each online course will require a pre-class assignment week prior to the start of the course.
- All courses taught by faculty with experience in the classroom and in the field.
- Includes a 6 credit, 10-week capstone course that culminates in a one-week residential mock trial held at the SU campus in the summer.
On-Site Format
- Classes held in the evenings at the SU campus.
- Courses offered in accelerated 8-week sessions.
- All courses taught by faculty with experience in the classroom and in the field.
- Includes a 6 credit, 15-week capstone course held in the evenings at the SU campus.
Admission to the program will be based upon the following:
- Completion of an undergraduate degree in a related discipline as appropriate to the track
- Minimum undergraduate GPA of 3.00
- Writing sample
Accounting Track Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, a graduate in the accounting track will be able to
- Apply investigative techniques for fraud detection in financial reporting.
- Analyze financial statements for false and misleading statements.
- Assess fraud risk and adequacy of internal control structures.
- Evaluate security requirements and internal controls for accounting systems in business software.
- Investigate and analyze financial evidence.
- Synthesize accounting, auditing, computer, and investigative skills.
- Analyze legal elements of white collar crime.
Computer Forensics Track Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, a graduate in the computer forensics track will be able to
- Identify corporate liability in handling and preserving electronic data.
- Perform the steps in the collection, handling, and preservation of digital evidence.
- Identify forensic tools and their use in recovering operating systems, artifacts and data, and the classes of forensic tools and the tasks they perform.
- Apply the concepts of system policies, auditing, and data recovery, and perform forensic recovery operations using the latest tool sets.
- Configure logging utilities to track key events and preserve forensic evidence.
- Identify the classes of system exploits and the vulnerabilities they attack.
- Defend the network and system against hacking exploits and evaluate and select appropriate countermeasure products.
- Design an appropriate recovery strategy, create a disaster recovery plan, and develop a plan to test the recovery plan.
- Develop criteria for comparing intrusion detection systems and firewall products and configure such products to block unwanted transmissions.
- Synthesize auditing, computer forensic, and investigative skills.
Criminalistics Track Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, a graduate in the criminalistics track will be able to
- Distinguish among the forensic science techniques used to examine various types of evidence.
- Examine the interaction of forensic science and criminal investigation techniques within the structure of the criminal justice system.
- Justify the use of specific investigative and evidence collection techniques in specific settings.
- Conduct investigative research using the Internet, public records, and other sources of information.
- Apply various types of interviewing techniques, including interviewing friendly witnesses, hostile witnesses, and subjects of investigations.
- Synthesize facts and observations into coherent, defensible conclusions.
- Analyze standards of ethical behavior and their relationship to workplace demands in the practice of criminalistics.
- Apply pertinent rules of evidence in a courtroom setting; create and conduct direct and cross examinations of witnesses.
Interdisciplinary Track Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, a graduate of the interdisciplinary track will be able to achieve objectives listed above from two or more of the forensic studies program tracks.
Investigations Track Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, a graduate in the investigations track will be able to
- Analyze how criminals think and how their actions are affected by their way of thinking.
- Apply investigative and interviewing techniques in all phases of fraud investigations.
- Investigate and analyze physical and documentary evidence.
- Differentiate between public and private investigations and how they are conducted.
- Conduct effective investigative interviews.
- Conduct investigative research using the Internet, public records, and other sources of information.
- Synthesize facts and observations into coherent, defensible conclusions.
Legal Track Outcomes
Upon completion of the program, a graduate in the legal track will be able to
- Apply investigative techniques for fraud detection.
- Analyze legal elements of white collar crimes.
- Analyze, synthesize, and evaluate rules, statutes and case law and apply them to a hypothetical factual situation.
- Perform legal research using computerized legal research tools.
- Synthesize legal research and writing, computer, and investigative skills.
- Analyze how criminals think and how their actions are affected by their way of thinking.
Policies
The grade of "C" is the lowest acceptable grade, and only one can be awarded during the program. A student may repeat one course in a graduate program one time. Once a student has repeated a course, the student will not be permitted to repeat any other courses. If a student repeats a course, only the latter grade is used in computing the grade point average. However, all courses taken become a part of the student's academic record. Further, a student may withdraw from each graduate course one time only.
A minimum cumulative 3.00 grade point average on all graduate work attempted is required for graduation. Only one grade of "C" may be applied toward the GPA requirement. Degree requirements must be completed within seven years after the first course applied to the degree was completed.
Students are required to take and successfully complete FSCOR 601, Criminal Justice; FSCOR 604, Evidence; and FSCOR 606, Forensic Journal Research and Review, before enrolling in other courses.
Requirements
Accounting Track Requirements
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
Computer Forensics Track Requirements
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
Electives: (Select two)
Criminalistics Track Requirements
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
| FSCI 500 | Survey of Forensic Science | 3 |
| FSINV 600 | Investigative Techniques/Interviewing | 3 |
| FSCI 610 | Physical Evidence at Crime Scenes | 3 |
| FSCI 615 | Safety/Quality Control/Quality Assurance | 2 |
| FSCI 632 | Pattern Analysis | 3 |
| ART 540 | Crime Scene Photography | 3 credits |
| FSCI 720 | Seminar in Forensic Science I | |
| | One Forensic Studies Elective | |
Interdisciplinary Track Requirements
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
| FSCI 500 | Survey of Forensic Science | 3 |
| FSCI 610 | Physical Evidence at Crime Scenes | 3 |
| ART 540 | Crime Scene Photography | 3 credits |
| | Four Forensic Studies Electives | |
or
| FSINV 600 | Investigative Techniques/Interviewing | 3 |
| FSINV 605 | Investigative Techniques/Physical Evidence | 3 |
| | Five Forensic Studies Electives | |
Investigations Track Requirements
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
Legal Track Requirements
Core Courses:
Required Courses:
Course Descriptions
See Forensic Studies Course Descriptions