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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — Wichita State University is launching two new graduate degree programs in forensic science.
The university said the goal of the forensic firearms and forensic biology programs is to help create a pipeline of trained specialists to work in crime labs at the federal, state and local levels.
“We asked, ‘What would a well-qualified entry-level applicant look like?’ That helped us identify the applied learning and the acquired skills that these programs would need to deliver,” Delores Craig-Moreland, associate professor and chair of Wichita State’s criminal justice department, said in a news release.
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The programs in the School of Criminal Justice are being created in collaboration with the Kansas Bureau of Investigation; the Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center; and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
The forensic firearms master’s degree is focused on scientific comparison of firearms, toolmarks and ballistic evidence, including shell casings and bullets. The university said there is a shortage of forensic firearm examiners in the workforce.
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“It’s about evidence,” Kristin Brewer, executive director of the Midwest Criminal Justice Institute, said in the release. “There’s a real gap in the workforce, and agencies are looking for people who can walk into a lab with hands-on exposure and experience.”
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WSU says the program has three tracks:
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The traditional track for students with degrees in criminal justice, forensic science or related fields.
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The trainee track for those working as entry-level trainees in labs. Students who complete the National Firearm Examiner Academy can receive credit for prior learning.
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The firearms examiner track for recognized examiners who have already completed the national academy and want to deepen their expertise.
The Master of Science in forensic biology is focused on the human transfer of evidence, including DNA and touch DNA.
“ATF is very big on touch DNA,” Craig-Moreland said. “It’s one of the important elements of investigating a crime these days. A significant part of what these forensic biologists will learn is advanced skills for DNA examination.”
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The new degree programs will launch in fall 2026.
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