The Marshall University Forensic Science Graduate Program once again is ranked number one in the country for its students receiving the highest overall scores on the Forensic Science Assessment Test, a qualifying test offered each year by the American Board of Criminalistics.
In addition, a Marshall student received the highest test score from among 179 students from 15 other forensic science programs that participated in the test.
Of the top 25 highest test scores ranked, 11 were students from the Marshall Forensic Science Graduate Program.
Dr. Pamela Staton, program coordinator, said the test scores are evidence of the high quality education the program provides.
“The quality of an academic program can be measured by a program’s achievement of national accreditation and how well its students perform on national board examinations,” she said. “The Forensic Science Graduate Program at Marshall University has achieved both of these honorable distinctions. This translates to high quality forensic science services to law enforcement, the legal profession, and the public as graduates of this program become forensic scientists in the field.”
Dr. Terry W. Fenger, director of the forensic science graduate program, said the test is useful for assessing the program’s strengths and demonstrating to prospective students and the general public its ability to meet national standards.
“The results demonstrate not only the quality of the program and its students, but the dedication of its full-time faculty and the many adjunct faculty members,” Fenger said. “The program greatly benefits from the input of law enforcement and criminal justice system professionals here locally and across the state.”
Marshall’s program is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences.
The students who participated in this examination, which was administered in Spring 2013, are now graduates of Marshall’s nationally recognized Forensic Science Program. They demonstrated their knowledge in disciplines including forensic biology, controlled substances, trace analysis, toxicology, latent prints, questioned documents, fire debris and firearms/tool marks.
The test is offered to students in their last semester of an academic forensic science program. While seeking their first jobs, recent college graduates may use their test results to demonstrate their knowledge across a broad range of forensic science disciplines.
The American Board of Criminalistics offers a wide array of testing and certification services that focus on the forensic sciences.
