Oct 14, 2014 02:33 PM EDT By J Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

The Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute (FNSSI) at Syracuse University has launched a graduate certificate program in medicolegal death investigation targeting mid-career professionals.

The advanced certificate in medicolegal death investigation is a 12-credit-hour program offered by FNSSI in conjunction with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services (DHSES).

"We're proud to partner with DHSES in some of the nation's first comprehensive educational programs in MDI," said James T. Spencer, executive director of FNSSI and a Meredith Professor of Chemistry. "The Advanced Program is part of an ongoing effort at Syracuse to better train MDI personnel at multiple levels and from different disciplines."

The advanced program is designed for forensic medical investigators, law enforcement personnel and emergency responders, medical examiners and coroners, military personnel, and medical and legal professionals.

After they complete the program, students will have a basic understanding of the science behind the techniques used to evaluate evidence related to medicolegal death. They also will be familiar with the protocols, resources, legal issues and interpersonal strategies involved with the practice.

"Our goal is to provide 'real-world' information to students so that they can perform objective, accurate and legally defensible medicolegal death investigations," Michael Sponsler, FNSSI's curriculum director, said in a statement. "It's important they grasp the scientific principles of biological evidence, whether they're in a lab, a morgue or the field."

The graduate certificate program was created in response to a recent congressionally mandated report from the National Research Council, which found serious deficiencies in the nation's forensic science system and called for major reforms and new research.

FNSSI also offers a 12-credit-hour Undergraduate Certificate in medicolegal death investigation for people who have yet to earn a bachelor's degree, as well as a new Master of Science degree in medicolegal death investigation, the first of its kind in the nation.

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