Ball State University opens its first-in-state Forensics program

Ball State University says it will become the only university in the state offering what it calls “a comprehensive forensics program.” IPR’s Thomas Ouellette reports on the new degree program.

Benjamin Gibbs heads the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Ball State University.  He says the new program will offer a Bachelors degree in Forensic Science.  Its first year begins next month, and he says it’s already seen success from the number of students enrolled.

“Right now, we have 38 enrolled in one section, and I just admitted another yesterday, so now we’re up to 36 in the second section. Keep in mind, those are both over enrolled, as we capped them at 30.”

The program offers students the choice of concentrating in one of four areas of forensics, including digital, behavioral, chemical and biological. Gibbs adds that other universities in the state do offer forensics programs, but BSU is the only one that will be offering a comprehensive course with so many concentrations.

The forensics science program is offered as an undergraduate bachelors’ degree. Currently the university does not offer a masters in forensics.

Gibbs is looking forward to the new class of students and is excited by how quickly the program has had to increase its class size.

“We keep expanding, which is a terrific, I hate to call it a problem, but its a terrific problem to have,” he said.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the forensics job market is estimated to grow by 13 percent within the next 8 years.

Thomas Ouellette is our reporter and producer.  Contact him at thomas.ouellette@bsu.edu