Forensics Journal - Stevenson University Value of Forensic Education in Maryland and Beyond | Page 2

The Value of Forensic Education in Maryland and Beyond
Stevenson University, a national leader in career education, is also a national leader in educating forensic scientists,
cyber forensic specialists, forensic accountants, investigators, and other forensic professionals. The University offers three
forensic-focused master’s degree programs in forensic science, cyber forensics, and forensic studies. No other institution of
higher learning in Maryland or elsewhere offers similar breadth and depth of forensic higher education programs. To date,
Stevenson has graduated approximately 500 master’s degree students from around the United States and overseas. The forensics programs continue to attract increasing interest as forensic challenges grow.
The University has a deep and abiding connection with its fellow Marylanders. The degrees have been earned by hundreds
of graduates during the past 10-plus years who now work throughout Maryland for organizations such as the Maryland State
Police, Office of Legislative Audit, and the Baltimore City and Baltimore County Police Departments as well as for many
federal agencies and private employers in the state.
Stevenson also serves Maryland agencies and others by providing training resources. For example, starting about six years
ago, upon completion of a state-of-the-art mock trial courtroom located in the Brown School of Business and Leadership
on the Owings Mills, Md., campus, Stevenson offered the courtroom free of charge to agencies. These included the Baltimore
County Police Department, Maryland Office of the Public Defender, Community Supervision Training Unit of the Maryland
Police and Correctional Training Commission, Maryland Coalition Against Sexual Assault (MCASA), Baltimore County
Council (Councilwoman Vicki Almond), Maryland State’s Attorney’s Office, Maryland Department of Parole and Probation,
and Maryland Supervisors of School Counseling.
In terms of offering relevant courses and information to forensic students, many of the School’s full-time and adjunct faculty
are current or former employees of Maryland agencies, including the Maryland State Police, Baltimore County State’s Attorney, Baltimore County Police Department, Maryland Attorney General’s Office, Office of Legislative Audit, Baltimore
City Public Defender’s Office, Maryland State Prosecutor’s Office, and the Maryland Judiciary.

FORENSICS PROGRAMS AT STEVENSON – LOOKING BACK
What follows is a timeline of notable activities and broadening reach of the forensics programs offered by Stevenson University’s School of Graduate and Professional Studies. If you have further questions, please contact Thomas D. Coogan,
Associate Dean, Forensics Programs, at [e-mail].
2001 (Villa Julie College)
• The School of Graduate and Professional Studies, at the direction of President Kevin J. Manning, Ph.D., considers
offering additional master’s degree programs to address Maryland employer and student needs
2002
• The Sarbanes-Oxley Act, co-sponsored by Maryland Senator Paul Sarbanes to improve financial accountability,
becomes law and creates an increased need for forensic accountants and computer forensics professionals
• The School of Graduate and Professional Studies, under the leadership of Dean Joyce Becker, brings together
Maryland employers who recommend establishing a master’s degree program in forensic studies for accounting,
information technology, and law
2003
• The Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) approves a master’s degree in forensic studies
• The Maryland State Police (MSP) Crime Laboratory Division identifies the need for trained personnel and
The School of Graduate and Professional Studies explores the opportunity to offer a master’s degree in forensic
science to assist MSP