Mission

forensic-scienceThe mission of the Forensic Science Learning Lab (FSLL) is to provide specialized forensic science education and training for any Texas Southern University student interested in pursuing careers in the field of forensic science and to provide training opportunities for current practitioners in the field aspiring to expand and update their knowledge and skills.

Minor in Forensic Science Coursework

  • FORS 226- Introduction to Forensic Science
  • FORS 236-Forensic Evidence and Collection
  • FORS 416- Forensic Science Seminar

Objectives

The goal of the FSLL program is to prepare individuals with a comprehensive understanding of scientific principles, concepts, and philosophies, which will provide the skills necessary to think critically and ethically in applying knowledge to real-world problems and challenging situations of forensic relevance encountered in the field.

  • Prepare students with a unique skill set, which would allow them to serve as forensic science professionals at the local, state, national and international levels.
  • To provide students with an understanding of the standards of professional ethics from legal and personal vantage points as they pertain to careers in forensic science related professions.
  • To prepare students with an understanding of the legal system and process as it relates to forensic science, which will allow them to actively participate in legal proceedings as expert witnesses.

Faculty

The Forensic Science Learning Lab has a distinguished faculty with wide-ranging research interests including drug and alcohol pharmacology, alcohol congener analysis, DNA comparison and analysis, courtroom ethics, digital forensics and firearms analysis and comparison. Faculty research provides students with an opportunity to explore recent developments of forensic significance on these and other contemporary justice issues and challenges both in the classroom and the community.

Careers

The curriculum and associated programs of the FSLL are intended to provide individuals with the skills and knowledge related to pursuing successful careers in any of the disciplines of the forensic sciences, including toxicology, friction ridge analysis, digital media forensics, DNA analysis, and controlled substance analysis. The curriculum also prepares students to pursue careers in forensic science as law enforcement officials, forensic science investigators or forensic laboratory specialists, as well as preparing individuals for continuing education in graduate and law school.

Instrumentation

fssl-imageThe Forensic Science Learning Laboratory is a state of the art facility, which hosts a wide array of the cutting edge tools, which are commonly found in contemporary forensic crime laboratories. This unique facility offers hands-on research and training experience in the forensic areas of DNA analysis, controlled substance analysis, crime scene processing, trace evidence analysis, firearm analysis and comparison, and latent print analysis for students and practitioners.

  • Gas Chromatography coupled with Flame Ion Detection (GC-FID)
  • Gas Chromatography (Head-space Analysis)
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • High Performance Liquid Chromatography
  • Electron Ionization Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS)
  • DNA Analyzers
  • Real Time PCR Thermal Cycler
  • Bioanaylzer
  • Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM)
  • Polarized Light Microscopy (PLM)
  • Comparison Microscopy
  • General Microscopy
  • Latent Print Superglue Fuming
  • Cross Match Biometric Scanner
  • Anthropology