Students in Dr. Derek Smith’s Scientific Criminal Investigation class at Howard Payne University recently had the opportunity to experience crime scene investigation hands-on. The class took a field trip in January to the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History to explore an exhibit called “CSI: The Experience.”

Geared at displaying many of the techniques used to conduct investigations, the exhibit provided the students with the tools necessary to follow and solve three different crime scenarios.

“This exhibit gave us a visual representation of the procedures that would really happen, which helps aid the reading and lectures that we have had in class,” said Gavin Middleton, a junior criminal justice major from Wenatchee, WA.

Seeing the processes of toxicology, ballistics, digital evidence, firearm analysis and other techniques up close gave a unique look into a field that they have been studying. The students were particularly fascinated with an autopsy simulation.

Dr. Smith found the exhibit to be very rewarding because “it showed that the material I have been covering in class is not purely theory – the students are learning relevant skills employed to solve crimes and conduct investigations.”

Students on the trip included Middleton, Chris Lee, Kayla Castillo and Kinsey Scroggins. Funding for the trip was provided through HPU’s School of Humanities.

This is the second forensic science course offered at HPU through a partnership with the School of Humanities and School of Science and Mathematics. HPU began offering forensic science as a major and minor field of study in the fall of 2009. The new degree is geared toward students interested in pursuing career paths in criminal justice or physical science.

Photo information: (photos provided by Kinsey Scroggins)  Kinsey Scroggins, a student in Dr. Derek Smith’s Scientific Criminal Investigation class at Howard Payne University, examines evidence from a mock crime scene at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History exhibit “CSI: The Experience.”