Forensic Identification
Program Overview
The only program of its kind in Ontario, the Forensic Identification graduate certificate program provides you with leading-edge forensic knowledge and skills for public and private policing and laboratories. Designed for students who are interested in becoming frontline investigators, the program’s unique hands-on approach provides expert instruction utilizing the most modern criminal forensic technology within a specialized curriculum. You will study advanced fingerprint development and analysis, physical matching of footwear and tool marks, DNA and blood profiling, fraudulent document examination, death investigations, crime and disaster scene management, rules of evidence, and trial procedure.
Training takes place in our state-of-the-art crime scene studio and forensic lab located at the Humber Centre for Justice Leadership. This innovative facility features a simulation lab for processing forensic evidence from staged crime scenes including photography, fingerprint development, advanced evidence collection techniques and digital crime scene mapping. The Centre also features four interviewing labs for practising interviewing techniques. Finally, your forensic investigation skills and knowledge are put to the test in our mock courtroom.
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.
- Interpret and relate post mortem interval changes to the human body at time since death.
- 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.
Alumni Success Story
Olivia Buffo Meets the Challenges of a Fascinating Career With Passion and Pride
Olivia Buffo, Forensic Identification, 2020, spent over two decades pursuing the career she developed a passion for as a child. In her home country of Brazil, she completed foundational training at the academic and professional levels to ensure she was entering a field where she could find success.
When she moved to Canada in 2016 and found Humber College, her dream quickly became a reality. She is now a Scenes of Crime Specialist at Peel Regional Police and part of a growing department where she puts her studies into practice daily.
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
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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 in a civilian forensic role
- provincial agencies such as the Ministry of the Attorney General, Office of Emergency Management and Ministry of the Solicitor General, Office of the Chief Coroner and Centre of Forensic Science
- forensic and pathology agencies (public and private sector)
Graduates may wish to work as a civilian employee of a police service in forensic identification. They may also find employment in the public and private sectors in a forensic science capacity.
Program Availability
Program Video
Watch the video to find out about what Forensic Identification students learn at Humber and about the live labs they have access to.
Humber Students Benefit from Five Centres of Innovation (COIs)
The Humber Centres of Innovation Network demonstrates our strong commitment to providing an experiential learning environment for students. Students and faculty work with industry partners on real-world challenges to prepare them to become the innovative and strategic problem-solvers of tomorrow. Come to Humber and experience interdisciplinary learning across five COIs.
About the COIsNews Feed
Upcoming Principal’s Office Events Spring 2021
Principal’s Office
Wed, March 31, 2021
The Principal's Office and partners are hosting many events for Spring 2021 geared towards staff, student and community health and well-being.
Interpretive Centre Virtual Tour
Principal’s Office
Wed, March 31, 2021
Navigate the Interpretive Centre through a virtually guided tour!
Newly Launched FSCS Wellness Programs
Principal’s Office
Wed, March 17, 2021
To encourage our Faculty to build social bonds, we have launched the FSCS Book and Recipe Clubs.
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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.
