April 8, 2009
Interview with Professors Charles Kosky and Lalitha Jayant.
Few areas of science have as immediate or profound an application to real life as forensics—typically defined as the use of science to address questions and investigate matters related to crimes and other legal matters. Recently, BMCC and John Jay College of Criminal Justice joined forces to launch a joint program that offers a unique path to a career in forensic science while taking the concept of credit transferability to a new level.
When the program makes its debut this fall, it will enable qualified students to pursue an associate in science degree at BMCC and then transfer seamlessly to John Jay, where they can earn a B.S. degree in Forensic Science. Total credit transferability is assured.
A rich and varied profession
While TV shows such as Law and Order have popularized the role of forensics, the field is considerably broader, says BMCC science professor Charles Kosky. “Forensic scientists work in labs, in the field, and in offices as supervisors and administrators,” he says. “They can pursue careers in both the private and public sector and in criminal as well as civil cases. It’s an incredibly varied field.” Some students even move on to other careers; Kosky knows of at least one BMCC graduate who transferred to John Jay and later went on to medical school.
The one constant is the need for a thorough grounding in the STEM disciplines—science, technology, engineering and mathematics. “The BMCC part of the program will involve a heavy course load in the basic sciences—physics, biology, chemistry and math,” Kosky says. “Before they transfer to John Jay, students must have taken courses in organic chemistry, quantitative analysis and molecular biology, which are the foundation of further study in forensics.” While the coursework will not explicitly deal with forensics, “it will be tweaked to make it forensics-friendly and, to the extent possible, correlated with forensics,” says BMCC science professor Lalitha Jayant.
Encouraging minorities to participate with a two-million dollar grant
Because minority students represent a significant percentage of BMCC’s student body, a related initiative, which Jayant is spearheading, is aimed at helping participating minorities—particularly Hispanic students—derive the maximum benefit from the forensics science program. Funded by a Title V grant from the U.S. Department of Education, the two-million dollar initiative actually has a double objective: to increase the number of Hispanic students enrolled in STEM courses; and to increase the number of Hispanic students transferring from BMCC to senior colleges. “Because the college’s articulation agreement with John Jay was already in place, we decided to use it for the purposes of our Title V initiative,” Jayant says.
The Title V grant is also used to fund other ancillary programs as well, including internships and summer programs for high school students. Eligible Title V students will also receive a stipend of more than $2,500 over a two-year span.
Regardless of their specific motivation or career goals, forensics is best suited to students with a passion for science and scientific inquiry. “To succeed in this field, you really need to have the mind of a scientist and a desire to delve into topics you don’t understand,” Kosky says. “If you come to a crossroads in an investigation and don’t know which way to turn, you need to be the kind of person who is willing to think and speculate.”
Click here for more information on the Science for Forensics program at BMCC
