Graduate Certificate in Forensic Document Examination
Overview
The Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology
offers a graduate certificate in Forensic Document
Examination. The program consists of four courses (12
semester hours). All courses are 100% online allowing
students from all over the world to complete the program. The
courses are normally offered during the Fall and Spring semesters
allowing students to complete the certificate in two semesters.
Courses
CJCR 5110 – Forensic Document Examination (Fall Semester)
– an introductory course consisting of the legal system,
scientific methodology of document examination, equipment and
techniques, detection of altered and forged documents, ethics,
report writing, and current and on-going research in forensic
document examination.
CJCR 5120 – Forensic Handwriting Identification (Fall Semester) – identifying handwritten entries, forged signatures, collection of exemplar materials, extrinsic and intrinsic factors affecting handwriting, handwriting physiology, and levels of opinion.
CJCR 5130 – Forensic Document Analysis (Spring Semester) – use of specialized equipment and techniques such as video spectral comparators, infrared and ultraviolet, photographic techniques, computer altered documents, paper and ink analysis, and identifying print processes.
CJCR 5140 – Forensic Document Examination Practicum (Spring Semester) – selected cases for study, prepared exercises for student analysis and reporting.
Students
The Forensic Document Examination certificate is open to anyone who
may have an interest in or need academic credentials in forensic
document examination. The certificate program may be of
interest not only to those in training to become document examiners
but also those involved in art authentication, criminal
investigators, private investigators, fraud and insurance
investigators, and forensic scientists in other related
fields. The certificate program should not be confused with
certification in forensic document examination. To become a
certified forensic document examiner requires additional training
and apprenticeship which ETSU can arrange for those students
wishing to become certified document examiners.
Instructors
Currently, two instructors teach the courses. Ms. Heidi
Harralson, M.A., CDE, D-BFDE is a forensic document examiner with
Spectrum Forensic International, LLC in Tucson, Arizona.
Larry S. Miller, Ph.D., CDE, D-BFDE is a professor with the
Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology at East Tennessee
State University. Both instructors are board certified
forensic document examiners with over 25 years of experience.
Their board certification is with the Board of Forensic Document
Examiners whose certification procedures are accredited by the
Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB).
Admission Requirements
Students applying for admission into the Forensic Document
Examination (FDEX) certificate must possess a baccalaureate degree
from a regionally accredited college or university and have an
undergraduate grade point average of 2.5 or better on a 4.0
scale. The GRE is not required for admission. The
baccalaureate degree may be in any field or discipline.
Tuition and Fees
The certificate program is subject to the regular tuition and fees
associated with graduate coursework at ETSU.
