Current students, please make sure to review your MyHumber Academic Progress report to confirm which courses you should register into for your Winter semester. Courses with in-person requirements will likely also have online components. Humber may need to change plans for in-person learning, subject to government and public health directives and/or additional health and safety considerations.
Upon successful completion of the program, a graduate will:
Mitigate personal, public and legal risk during crime scene investigations by adhering to industry established ethical and technical standards
Document crime scenes using various methods including scale diagrams, models and charts to present forensic evidence in judicial proceedings
Preserve evidence using established forensic techniques and standards to aid investigations
Employ a range of fingerprint collection and analysis techniques to contribute to investigations
Evaluate the legality, reliability and limitations of forensic interviewing techniques to inform professional practices
Analyze bloodstain pattern evidence to establish its value, meaning and limitations
Articulate justification for arrest, search and seizure to aid in judicial proceedings
Assess the authenticity of documents to support and validate evidence in civil and criminal investigations
Communicate with colleagues and the public in high-stress environments to contribute to investigative goals and to maintain the human rights of everyone involved
What Makes This Program Different?
While there are several universities that offer forensic programs with a theoretical science-based curriculum, Humber is the only public college in Canada that provides a comprehensive hands-on approach to forensic identification.
From day one, we'll have you in our state-of-the-art labs, such as our crime scene lab, forensic studio, interview rooms, and our realistic mock courtroom, working on a variety of engaging forensic-based projects. In two semesters, you’ll develop career-ready skills in forensics, making you a highly desirable candidate to employers in the Criminal Justice field.
Is This Program Right for Me?
- Are you an analytical thinker?
- Able to work under pressure?
- Detail- and task-oriented?
- Articulate and systematic?
- Flexible in your expectations of working conditions?
- Able to remain calm, focused, detailed, and on-task in the face of disturbing, stressful and tragic circumstances?
If the answer is yes to all of the above, then you would make a perfect candidate for this program.
Projects You’ll Work On
In this program, you'll learn by doing. In our heavily project-based curriculum, you’ll develop expertise in forensic identification skills. Some projects you’ll be working on include:
- Casting footwear impressions
- Creating diagrams
- Blood Spatter Experiments
- Forensic Exhumation of a Body
- Mock Disaster Scene
- Creating a Crime Scene Model
- Mock Crime Scene taken through the investigation and into a Mock Court Room
Learn from Industry-Expert Instructors
Our professors and faculty are made up of current and retired forensic professionals. They bring decades of real-world experience and knowledge to the classroom, and, are dedicated to providing support and mentorship on your academic journey, ensuring you're ready for this demanding but rewarding career.
Students will also have the unique opportunity to gain additional support from lab technologists who are familiar with the equipment in the fingerprinting and photography classes. Students will receive practical advice, support, and a friendly, helping hand.
Learn in the Humber Centre for Justice Leadership
Students take classes in the Humber Centre for Justice Leadership, an 18,000-square-foot centre located on the Humber Lakeshore Campus. In the forensic lab – featuring leading-edge forensic technologies – get exposed to and become proficient with the latest, state-of-the-art forensic equipment.
Simulations are conducted in our crime scene lab, which features a small apartment in the centre of the classroom. Here, you’ll carry out forensic procedures and investigations. Interview rooms are adjacent to the classrooms to aid in practical forensic interviewing assignments. In our mock court, you’ll be tested on the admissibility of evidence in highly realistic scenarios where you will take on both the role of the crown and defence counsel.
We're committed to providing students with realistic working conditions, and sometimes, it's not always pretty. As a Forensic Investigator, you'll often have to work outside during harsh weather conditions, which is why some Fall classes will be set outside. For instance, photography assignments are sometimes done in the cold and rain, and the forensic exhumation of a body is carried out at a mock grave site on the Lakeshore property.
360° Crime Scene Lab
For mobile and tablet users, open the video in the YouTube app. For optimal viewing experience use Firefox or Chrome. Currently Safari does not support 360 videos.
Your Career
Upon completion of the program, graduates may find employment in:
- public law enforcement such as municipal, provincial or federal police and regulatory agencies
- border services
- transit services
- correctional services
Graduates may wish to work as a civilian employee of a police service, a uniformed police officer as a scenes-of-crime officer, or in specialized units such as forensic identification or criminal investigations. They may also find employment in private policing as a corporate or insurance investigator.
Related Programs
Addictions and Mental Health
Credential: Ontario Graduate Certificate
Length: 3 semesters
Program Availability
| START DATE | LOCATION | STATUS | INTERNATIONAL STATUS |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 2021 | Lakeshore | Open | Waitlisted |
Forensic Identification at Humber
Watch the video to find out about what Forensic Identification students learn at Humber and about the live labs they have access to.
Humber
CJS Virtual Mock Interviews
Work-Integrated Learning & Community Partners
Fri, December 11, 2020
The Community and Justice Services (CJS) program held their first CJS Virtual Mock Interviews. Partner agencies volunteered their time by conducting two group interviews with 4th-semester students.
CE Alumni: Chris Taylor
Alumni & Advancement
Thu, December 10, 2020
Chris Taylor is a Humber Alumni of the Continuing Education Bylaw Enforcement course in Fall 2018. Since then, he has worked as a Provincial Offences Officer at the Ontario SPCA.
Recently, Chris has been hired as a Municipal Law Enforcement Officer in the Town of Orangeville and he credits the course material from his CE class, which he studied to prepare for his interview, with helping him to succeed and land the job! Wishing Chris, the very best of luck in his new career.
Alumni Stories: Police Foundations Program
Alumni & Advancement
Thu, December 10, 2020
Read about the successes of Police Foundations program (PFP) alumni Wadood Alam and PC Cory Courtney.
No news at this time.
Faculty of Social & Community Services News
Upcoming Principal’s Office Events Winter 2021
Principal’s Office
Thu, December 17, 2020
The Principal’s Office and partners are hosting many events for Winter 2021 geared towards staff, student and community health and well-being.
Humber Staff Holiday Party: New Challenges & Successes
Principal’s Office
Fri, December 11, 2020
The Humber Staff and Children’s Holiday Party is an annual celebration funded by the Office of the President.
Interpretive Centre Updates
Principal’s Office
Fri, December 11, 2020
Pre-COVID-19, the Lakeshore Grounds Interpretive Centre proudly offered tours in “all weathers,” and took that to heart.
No news at this time.
Program News
Forensic Identification - On Campus Work & Learning
Program Highlights
Mon, December 07, 2020
The Humber College Forensic Identification (FI) program is designed for students who are interested in becoming frontline forensic investigators.
No news at this time.
Every attempt is made to ensure that information contained on this website is current and accurate. Humber reserves the right to correct any error or omission, modify or cancel any course, program, fee, timetable or campus location at any time without prior notice or liability to users or any other Person.
On October 21, 2019, the Provincial Government of Ontario announced the renaming of the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU) to the Ministry of Colleges and Universities (MCU). Both names may appear on this website.
Post-Admission Requirements
Once you have been accepted, and have confirmed your offer, you may need to complete a further set of requirements related to your program (Post-Admission Requirements).
Fees
The 2020-2021 fee for two semesters was:
- domestic: $7,038.30
- international: $17,027.00
Fees are subject to change.
Pathways
Pathways are academic routes that students can take to move from one credential to another.
How to Apply
Applications to Humber are made through ontariocolleges.ca. Be sure to submit your application by the equal consideration deadline of February 1. You may apply after February 1, however, post-February 1 applications will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis depending on the availability of the space in the program. To check program availability refer to the Campus/Availability listing on Humber's program pages or ontariocolleges.ca.
INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
If you’re an international student, you can apply directly to Humber via our International Centre.
