Student Success and Outcomes

If you are a scholar or professional who is determined to excel, the University of New Haven is the place for you.

The rigor of our graduate programs, the connections of our faculty, and the reputation of the University will give you an edge as you pursue your professional goals.

Over the last three years, graduates who received a master’s degree in forensic science have earned a cumulative GPA of 3.84. Based on survey results from the last three years, 91% of graduates from the University of New Haven Forensic Science programs reported being employed in their field or pursuing and advanced degree. Over 85 percent said they agreed or strongly that their professors exhibited a thorough knowledge and understanding of their subject matter, and 77% believe that they received the necessary education and training to be successful in forensic science or related disciplines.


Enrollment Data

2023-2024

25

Full-time students enrolled

No concentrations

2022-2023

26

Full-time students enrolled

No concentrations

2021-2022

28

Full-time students enrolled

No concentrations

Graduation Data

2023-2024

12

Graduates

Post-Graduation Survey*

  • Pending
  •  
  •  

2022-2023

12

Graduates

Post-Graduation Survey*

  • Graduates w/ job offers: 9
  • Admitted to advanced degree prgm: 0
  • No response: 3

2021-2022

13

Graduates

Post-Graduation Survey*

  • Graduates w/ job offers: 7
  • Admitted to advanced degree prgm: 0
  • No response: 6

*Results of an employment survey sent 180 days post-graduation.


Internship/Research Project Information

  • Research Projects (title/topic/area of study)

    • Differentiation of individuals of similar hair color using GC-MS analysis of amino acid ratios in human hair
    • Evaluating the potential of differentiating somatic origin of hair using microscopy and amino acid analysis
    • Method development for the quantification of cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in Connecticut based CBD oils using high Performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry
    • Effects of Ethanol on GABA Catabolism
    • The Detection of Blood and the Recovery Of DNA From Heat-Damaged Surfaces
    • The Application of Particle-Correlated Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Soils to Mock Casework Scenarios
    • Effects of Handwashing And Handedness on Latent Fingermark Aging, as Analyzed By 2D and 3D Imaging and Microbiome Analysis
    • Effect of Heat-Induced Damage on the Efficiency of Possible DNA Repair Mechanisms
    • Quantifying Pain: A Ratio of Cortisol, Substance P, and Pituitary Adenylate Cyclase-Activating Polypeptide as Biomarkers for Pain in Animal Cruelty and Neglect
    • Recovery of Nuclear DNA from Skeletal Remains Decomposed in Freshwater
    • The Impact on Bone Marrow Transplantation on Forensic Human Identification and Genetic Genealogy Testing
    • Differentiation of Overlapped Latent Fingermarks using 2D Examination, 3D Imaging, and Microbiome Analysis

  • Research Projects (title/topic/area of study)

    • Generation of Methamphetamine from Amphetamine by Phenylethylamine N-Methyltransferase in Human Cytosol: Implications for Therapeutic Amphetamine Patients
    • LDH Isozymes as a Possible Marker for Differentiating Opioid-Induced Hypoxia Death from Cardiac Arrest
    • Enzymatic Assay Development for SAM-dependent Phenylethanolamine N-Methyl transferase activity in Human S9 cytosol fraction
    • Trace DNA Detection Using Diamond Dye: A Recovery Technique to Yield More DNA
    • The Impact of Manually Degraded Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP) Microarray Data on GEDmatch
    • Top Genetic Matches for Forensic Genetic Genealogy Purposes
    • Variation of Mineral Composition in Soil with Particle Correlated Raman Spectroscopy
    • Assessing PreCR Repair Mix for Effectiveness in the Repair, Interpretation, and Deconvolution of Y-STR DNA Mixtures
    • The Detection of Backspatter Bloodstains on Horizontal Surfaces at Different Heights
    • Development of a spectroscopic screening tool to determine optimal sampling sites for DNA recovery from human skeletal remains
    • The Forensic Analysis of 3D-Printed Polymers Using Direct Analysis in Real-Time Mass Spectrometry (DART®-MS)
    • The Development and Evaluation of a Microplastics Analysis Protocol for Forensic Soil Discrimination by Particle-Correlated Raman Spectroscopy
    • The Effect of Degradation on IrisPlex SNPs

  • Research Projects (title/topic/area of study)

    • Investigating the Use of Forensic Genetic Genealogy (FGG) on Degraded DNA Samples
    • The Effects of Ethanol on GABA Catabolism: Succinyl Semialdehyde Dehydrogenase
    • Autolytic Generation of Ethanol in Decomposing Mammalian Liver
    • The Effect of Laundry Detergent and Fabric Age on the Morphology of Bloodstains on Socks
    • Evaluating the Discriminating Power of Hair Amino Acid Ratios on Distinguishing Individuals using GCMS
    • Pollen Grain Assemblage for Geolocation in Mock Crime Scene
    • Rattus norvegicus as a Biological Detector of Clandestine Remains
    • Measuring Fingermark Degradation on Metals: Comparison of 3D and 2D Methods
    • The Effect of Washing on the Transfer and Persistence of Fiber Evidence
    • Quantifying UV-Induced Primer Binding Site Damage in DNA
    • Investigation of the Correlation Between Diagenesis of Bone Microstructure and DNA Degradation
    • DNA Recovery and Transfer on Non-Porous Surfaces Submerged in Spring Water
    • Soil Mineral Analysis by Particle Correlated Raman Spectroscopy (PCRS): Optimized Dispersion and Double-Pass Raman Analysis

Graduates of our master’s degree in forensic science have pursued careers with companies, organizations, and agencies such as:

  • AFDIL
  • American Regulation of Pathology Armed Forces DNA ID Lab
  • Arkansas State Crime Laboratory
  • Army CIV Lab Expeditionary Forensic Division
  • Austin Police Department
  • Beaufort County Sheriff’s Office
  • Boston Police Department
  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • California Division of Justice
  • California Los Angeles Crime Lab
  • Callaway Labs
  • Center for Forensic Medicine
  • Chief State Attorney's Office, Rocky Hill, CT
  • Columbus Division of Police Crime Lab
  • Commonwealth of Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
  • Connecticut Analytical Corporation
  • Connecticut DESPP Division of Scientific Services
  • Dallas Police Department
  • Dept. of Public Health, State of CT
  • FBI Lab Division, Quantico, Virginia
  • FDLE
  • General Dynamics, Electric Boat
  • Georgia Bureau of Investigation
  • Hudson County Prosecutor's Office, Jersey City, NJ
  • Indianapolis-Marion County Forensic Services Agency
  • Invista
  • Kansas Bureau of Investigation
  • Oklahoma City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
  • Massachusetts Office of the Chief Medical Examiner
  • Massachusetts State Police Forensic Services DNA Unit
  • Michigan State Police
  • Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Laboratory Division
  • National Medical Services Lab
  • NCIS
  • New Hampshire State Police
  • New Mexico Police Lab
  • New York OCME Lab: Missing Persons
  • New York Police Department
  • New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center
  • NMS Labs
  • North Carolina State Crime Lab
  • Pharmanex
  • Philadelphia Crime Lab
  • Precision Therapeutics
  • Ron Smith & Associates, Inc.
  • Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Crime Lab
  • St. Louis Metro PD Crime Lab
  • State of Connecticut Forensic Laboratory
  • Thermo Fisher Scientific
  • US Army Criminal Investigation Lab: Expeditionary Forensics Division
  • U.S. Department of Agriculture Bioforensics Unit
  • U.S. Forest Service National Genomics Center for Wildlife & Fish Conservation
  • Washington State Patrol
  • West Virginia State Police Forensic Laboratory – Drug Identification Unit
  • Wisconsin State Crime Lab
  • Yale New Haven Hospital