Texas Tech University

Forensic Professional

 
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  FREE WEBINAR SERIES   Spring Semester 2025

Forensic ProfessionalPROGRAM OVERVIEW

The program’s Forensic Professional Concentration is designed for currently employed forensic professionals ONLY. It provides career development with a flexible online delivery platform amenable to the working environment. This degree is designed for those individuals currently working in a forensic science field such as law enforcement, medical examiner offices, legal or forensic science laboratory settings to improve the current level of mastery which may lead to supervisory roles and promotion. The program offers both theoretical and practical coursework and is designed to allow students to emphasize areas of special interest such as crime scene investigation, scene reconstructions, and forensic science management.

Forensic Professional Crime Scene Training

 The Forensic Professional Concentration entails 28 credit hours of online graduate coursework (core + forensic electives) coupled with six credit hours of an in-person forensic capstone experience (required; one-week intensive hands-on training for two summers), targeted for working forensic professionals only for flexibility in the working environment (Total program: 34 credit hours).FORENSIC PHOTO

APPLICATION MATERIALS
  • Applicant Statement/Letter of Intent: Required. Statement of purpose describing applicant’s reasons for pursuing an advanced degree in forensic science and related career plans.
  • Letters of Recommendation: 2 letters of recommendation required. The two letters must be from professional colleagues relevant to the career field.
  • Verification letter from employer: To be admitted into the program, an applicant must submit an employment verification letter pertaining to active employment in a forensic related discipline by either a law enforcement agency or organization.
  • Additional requirements: must submit official transcripts, have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline from an accredited college or university, and an interview may be required.

Semester in which the program can be started
  • The Forensic Science Professional Concentration program reviews applicants for Fall admission on an ongoing basis.
  • Applicants are required to be currently working in a forensic science field such as law enforcement, medical examiner offices, legal or forensic science laboratory settings.
Estimated Hours to Completion
  • 34 hours
Tuition & Fees
For more information, please contact Co-Directors:
Paola Prada-Tiedemann, Ph.D.

Prada-Tiedemann, Paola, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Analytical Chemistry & Canine Chemical
Odor Control Profiling

paola.tiedemann@ttu.edu

806-834-0983

Joshua Smith, Ph.D.

Smith, Joshua, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Forensic Science

joshua.l.smith@ttu.edu

806-834-3705

Professional Concentration Faculty
 Santoro, Amy, Ph.D.

Santoro, Amy, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Practice
Forensic Science Professional Online

asantoro@ttu.edu

913-608-7812

Michael Kessler, PSM-FS

Kessler, Michael, PSM-FS
Assistant Professor of Practice
Forensic Science Professional Online

mickessl@ttu.edu


Forensic Professional Timeline Year 1

Forensic Science Professional Time Line Year 2

Fast Facts

Delivery: Online (asynchronous classes)
Master's Hours to
Completion:
34
Now accepting applications for: Fall 
Maximum Transfer Hours: 30