Characteristics of Forensic Science Faculty within Criminal Justice Higher Education Programs
JL Peterson, SA Angelos · Journal of Forensic Sciences · 1983
Abstract In 1980, the Joint Commission on Criminology and Criminal Justice Education and Standards surveyed more than 3600 faculty members from approximately 560 graduate and undergraduate criminal justice and criminology programs in the country. This paper compares the responses of faculty who indicated expertise in the forensic sciences with those of the larger group of criminal justice faculty members. More than 40% of the 61 faculty who specialize in forensic science have backgrounds in law enforcement and are teaching at two-year institutions. Less than 10% of these faculty have crime laboratory work experience. Teaching is clearly the primary activity of these faculty, with a small percentage of their time devoted to research and writing. The forensic science faculty are also notable in that they customarily teach in an adjunct status and do not hold academic appointments that will lead to permanent status with a college or university.