Dr. Sarah Kerrigan, Director • IFRTI@shsu.edu
College of Criminal Justice • Sam Houston State University
IFRTI Training Image: Three individuals in white lab coats seated by a large microscope and computer screen. The middle individual is pointing offscreen towards the computer.

Training with IFRTI

The Criminal Justice Center at Sam Houston State University (SHSU) has been delivering high quality training to the criminal justice community for decades as part of its legislative mandate and ongoing commitment to advance criminal justice at the state, national, and global level.

The IFRTI has been actively engaged in forensic science training initiatives for over a decade. Staff and forensic faculty participate in training and outreach activities with fellow educators, scientists, practitioners, law enforcement, attorneys and the judiciary on an ongoing basis.
Image: Four people in white coats and lab gear working at a table with red biohazard bags, scanning equipment, and vials. One person is filling out a worksheet in pencil.

Forensic Science Educator Training

Next Session: Summer 2025 • Huntsville, Texas (Dates TBD)

FSET training is designed to provide instruction to high school educators on the use of forensic science. Lectures and laboratory exercises provide core forensic science training and assist educators in incorporating these topics into the science curriculum. Conference faculty are experienced forensic scientists working within their respective disciplines.


Participants will experience lecture and hands-on laboratory-based instruction by forensic science faculty and scientists with real-world experience in a variety of forensic disciplines.


If you would like to be added to the IFRTI Course Notification registry, please contact IFRTI @ IFRTI@shsu.edu


Image: Faceshot of IFRTI Director Dr. Sarah Kerrigan

Forensic Practitioner Training

The Texas legislature appropriated funding to support educational services and training to the Department of Public Safety (DPS). For more information on this initiative, contact IFRTI Project Director Andrea Hoke.

DPS Employees may access the training portal here.

Image: Green chalkboard background covered in a mess of complicated mathematical equations, formulas and illustrations.

Forensic Analyst Licensing

Rules regarding forensic analysts licensing are published in the Texas Administrative Code. This includes specific coursework requirements for some forensic disciplines in accordance with ยง 651.207 of the Texas Administrative Code. Forensic analysts applying for licensure require a three-semester credit hour (or equivalent) statistics course from an accredited university or a program approved by the Texas Forensic Science Commission.

Students may choose from a traditional three-semester credit hour course that is available online during fall, spring or summer semesters, or a flexible format online course. The flexible online statistics course fulfills the forensic analyst licensing requirements. Students can enroll in this course at any time. The course is self-paced and can be completed in approximately forty hours. Click here to register. For more information on these courses and registration options, please contact us.

Image: Illustration of two spherical glass containers filled with large molecules and plant roots, set against a background of leaves, gears, and metal tools.

Certification Training

The IFRTI is developing an online resource to assist practitioners prepare for certification examinations such as those administered by the American Board of Criminalistics in Drug Chemistry, Comprehensive Criminalistics and Molecular Biology. For more information on training related to certification, contact us.

Image: Human skull half buried in red clay and soil.

Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science

The Southeast Texas Applied Forensic Science (STAFS) Facility is a willed-body donation facility offering training on a variety of topics related to human anatomy and forensic anthropology, human decomposition, crime scene investigation, physical evidence, fire investigation and explosives, and other forensic topics.

If you would like to be added to STAFS's Short Course Notification registry, please contact STAFS.

stafs@shsu.edu
(936) 294-2310