Contact

Deepika Das, ddas06@syr.edu, 315-443-1036 
Assistant Teaching Professor, Director of Curricular Programs for the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (FNSSI) at Syracuse University

Faculty

Kathleen Corrado, James Crill, Deepika Das, Brian Ehret, James Hewett, Michael Marciano, Natalie Novotna, Maria Pettolina, James T. Spencer, Michael B. Sponsler, Robert Stoppacher

Description

The M.S. in Medicolegal Death Investigation is a focused degree program designed to prepare students for all aspects of a career as a death investigator.

This degree is intended for students who have selected this career path, and the objective is to prepare them both for the various aspects of this occupation (case investigation, understanding the body along with pathologies and trauma, autopsy, interviewing skills, securing and documenting evidence, courtroom testimony), as well as working effectively with and understanding other professionals whose roles intersect with death investigation (forensic pathologists, forensic scientists, crime scene investigators, law enforcement officers, toxicologists, and other medical and legal personnel).  Graduates of this program will be exceptionally well prepared for this career relative to most applicants for the positions.

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Scientific Knowledge and Principles - Apply the scientific foundational principles of forensic pathology and medicolegal death investigation in the criminal justice setting.
2. a Research and Critical Thinking - Identify needs for research in forensic science and critique empirical scientific studies as they relate to the reliability, accuracy, and limitations of forensic practices.
   b Research and Critical Thinking - Use a rationale-based approach to evaluate and analyze a situation and/or in problem solving.
3. Ethics and Quality - Assess and apply ethical standards, integrity, professionalism, and quality assurance protocols and standards in the field of forensic science.
4. Communication and Collaboration - Effectively communicate scientific principles with objectivity and transparency to stakeholders, including scientists and non-scientists.
5. Practical Implementation - Demonstrate procedural and scientific knowledge in death scenes and investigations.

Program Requirements