Lamar State College Orange (LSCO) will introduce a new Forensic Science Program to the Criminal Justice Program this fall. The new program will offer a Forensic Science Certificate, as well as a Criminal and Forensic Science Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree.
In addition, the Criminal Justice Program offers a Criminal Justice Associate of Science degree, Criminal Justice Certificate, and a Criminal Justice Law Enforcement Certificate.
Criminal Justice Program Director Hallie Gates said she has been eager to provide this opportunity at LSCO since noticing an interest in forensics among her past dual-enrolled students.
“I taught high school dual credit courses a few years ago, and all my students loved forensics. That’s when the interest started for me,” Gates said. “Then, when I got to LSCO two years ago, I began to hear about a professor who taught forensics here before COVID-19. Many students, faculty, and staff recounted how much they loved it. When I heard about this from so many different angles, I knew it was something I needed to pursue.”
The Forensic Science Program will feature new, specialized courses such as criminalistics, cybercrime, and death investigation. Each class promotes hands-on learning and provides opportunities for students to apply knowledge directly in the classroom.
Career opportunities for forensic science majors are expansive across the criminal justice system. Graduates can perform a variety of duties in police departments, federal agencies, and forensic facilities. Common career paths include crime scene technician, forensic technician, crime scene investigator, and evidence room specialist.
The Forensic Science Certificate is a stackable credential leading into the Criminal and Forensic Science AAS. The program consists of two semesters totaling 24 credit hours, including one work-based learning experience completed during a student’s second semester.
The Criminal and Forensic Science AAS consists of four semesters with a total of 60 credit hours and also includes one work-based learning experience.
There will also be two new adjunct instructors in the Forensic Science Program: Matthew Frederick and Antonio Mitchell.
Frederick currently serves as a lieutenant at the West Orange Police Department (WOPD). He holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice/Political Science from Lamar University, an Executive Master of Public Service and Administration from Texas A&M University, and a Doctor of Criminal Justice from Saint Leo University, accompanied by 15 licenses and certifications.
The veteran officer has accumulated over 30 years of work experience, including time at Orange County Ambulance Service, Vinton PD, West Orange PD, and is heavily involved in the community, volunteering as an Orange County Youth Soccer board member, a Spindletop Youth Soccer Association board member, and serving on the Little Cypress-Mauriceville CISD school board.
Mitchell is a firefighter at the Port Arthur Fire Department. He holds an Associate of Science in Criminal Justice from Lamar Institute of Technology, a Bachelor of Science in Emergency Management from West Texas A&M University, and a Master of Public Administration from Sam Houston State University, along with numerous certifications.
As a new addition to LSCO, Mithcell brings 20 years of experience as a first responder and firefighter and 15 years focusing on the law enforcement side of the fire department.
