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Comments from Program Graduates
"I gained a lot of valuable skills in completing my graduate degree, especially the ability to independently problem-solve. This has set me apart from many of my peers who did not have independent research experience. Also, I gained a broader perspective of forensic science than most individuals competing for forensics jobs that did not complete any forensic training or participate in a crime lab internship."
"I notice at my lab that I am much more aware of forensic applications and implications than my coworkers who just consider themselves analytical chemists."
"This program gave me many opportunities to learn from and be mentored by very talented forensic science professionals. I believe that I have benefited from the experience and the knowledge of those who came before me, and I now have context in which to interpret and respond to the issues currently facing the field."
"I have gained invaluable knowledge, experience and mentorship in forensic science through the UC Davis forensics program."
"My goal is to be the director of a crime lab, and the M.S. degree is essential for achieving that goal."
"My starting base salary is $3,000 more per year than a person without a master's degree, and I have potential to get bigger raises and incentives. Thus, I think that the cost of the degree is worth the benefits I am currently receiving."
"I had exposure to a variety of disciplines in forensic science so I am better prepared to address issues that may involve more than one discipline."
"I graduated feeling well-rounded and knew that the DNA lab experience I gained during my thesis would help me get a job."
"The research project I completed for my M.S. at UC Davis was beneficial in many ways. I was able to present my project at a national Human Identification meeting, giving me the chance to learn about the most up-to-date forensic science research and technology as well as to meet/interact with my peers in the field. Having completed a research project has also helped me find work quickly and improved my position in the lab."
"The degree was paramount to getting my foot in the laboratory and having the necessary knowledge base to be employable."
"I am better prepared to meet the future challenges facing the forensic community than compatriots who did not pursue graduate education because of the importance of networking and encouraging communication with other scientists. It provided a level of understanding about the basics of forensic science that I think can only come with graduate education or with many years of experience."
"I see a time in the near future where postgraduate degrees will become the standard, much as a doctoral degree is largely required in the United Kingdom. This will ensure that the forensic scientists of the future are better able to think critically about the limitations and applications of the techniques, rather than simply following a cookbook."
"Having an M.S. degree will provide me with more opportunities to pursue an upper-level management position."
"I am certainly in a better position to lead a laboratory into the future by virtue of my graduate education. I would not have the requisite educational background to be a manager at my current laboratory if I had not completed my degree."
"I received good foundational instruction in the underpinnings of forensic science—what makes an object unique, how events are reconstructed, etc. I anticipate that this foundational knowledge will be useful in the future as I advance my career in forensic science and broaden the scope of my expertise."
"The classes I took at UC Davis have been applied towards mandatory courses for casework, allowing me to get through training faster. My education from UC Davis better prepared me for work in a crime lab, and having an M.S. degree will only help my future mobility in the industry."
"Having spoken to University of Florida online and Cal State Fresno M.S. students, I feel strongly that the UC Davis program is far superior both in coursework content and in research project opportunities."
"My graduate education allowed me to learn about the changes that the forensic community has faced throughout the past decade and learn how laboratories have evolved. Also, the research aspect gave me experience with facing challenges, troubleshooting and adapting to new issues."
"I feel that I am more prepared to deal with the current challenges solely due to the research aspect of the UC Davis M.S. degree. The research required self-reliance, self-motivation and self-drive. All of these attributes have continued since the completion of my master's degree and have allowed me to stay on top of current issues both in my field of expertise and other fields."
"My M.S. degree will undoubtedly help further my career as I move toward my goal of becoming DNA Technical Lead at a crime lab."
"I definitely feel more prepared to meet future challenges than the technicians I have worked with at [my lab]. In-house training has a far narrower focus than the courses I took at UCD and often lacks significant scientific background/historical information. While the techs at [my lab] are highly capable at the tasks they have been doing for years, they are undeniably fearful of learning new techniques and I have been called upon several times in my tenure here to validate and use new equipment/reagents first then share this information with the rest of the lab. Having completed my own research project using techniques not previously performed at [my lab] put me forward as a developer of new methods in the lab as well as a teacher/trainer to others."
"The courses in crime scene investigation, Forensic DNA Analysis and Molecular Techniques, were simply outstanding, providing me with far more information than my peers from other forensic science programs. I am also extremely grateful for the opportunity to work on my M.S. thesis program in an actual crime lab—an experience which helped me tremendously in finding a crime lab position and in preparing me for what I would encounter once I actually started working in the field."
"I appreciated the opportunity to learn from respected professionals in the field."
"I received career advice, job interview practice and encouragement from the Forensic Science Program staff. Everyone was genuinely interested in my future career opportunities."