Truett McConnell University (TMU) will offer a bachelor’s degree in forensic science, a new program that is expected to draw students from a variety of fields looking for a career in law enforcement.
The program, which is expected to begin in the fall of 2024, will provide students with the skills and knowledge necessary to work in a variety of areas, including field services, lab services, forensic psychology, and forensics associated with criminal intelligence.
Bruce Willis, a nationally recognized leader in forensic science, will lead the program. Willis has extensive experience in working with both the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) and the Georgia Public Safety Training Center (GPSTC), and has served in leadership positions at Piedmont University and the University of Tennessee.
“The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science will allow students to seek employment in field services and lab services specific to criminalistics,” Willis said. “The program will embrace O.S.A.C./ NIST policies and guidelines for curriculum structure. Due to their practical application, these courses will be recognized throughout the emergency services community.”
Willis’ former Piedmont colleague, Dr. Rick Austin, is now Dean of the College of Health & Sciences and Chair of the School of STEM at Truett McConnell University. He called Willis’ hiring “an exciting moment” in the history of TMU.
“Bruce is a nationally renowned expert in the field of forensics with decades of experience in the field. His teaching style immerses his students in the subject matter, giving them a hands-on, front row seat to the world of forensics.”
The program is part of TMU’s mission to provide students with a Christian and conservative environment while also offering academic excellence.
“Few institutions in America can blend, both academically and missionally, their love for the Lord ( Romans 1:16) with their love for law enforcement ( Romans 13:1-4),” said Dr. Emir Caner, President of Truett McConnell University. “Now, Truett McConnell University has taken another intentional step in this direction with the addition of a bachelor’s degree in forensics.”
