UCO Launches First Doctoral Degree, Opens Crime Scene House To Become Leader In Forensic Science

People with a passion for crime scene investigation have another opportunity at a metro university. The University of Central Oklahoma launched the school's first doctoral degree. UCO leaders said it will fill an Oklahoma need in criminal justice. 

Justice for a crime often lies in the hands of people who piece together the truth. Mark McCoy spent 20 years at the Oklahoma Bureau of Investigation. 

“Working everything from homicide investigations to ending my career supervising the internet crimes against children task force,” McCoy said. “There’s always a need for forensic scientists.” 

Now, McCoy leads the W. Roger Webb Forensic Science Institute as the interim director and dean at UCO -- where they offer a one-way path toward a forensic science career.  

“Firearms examinations, fingerprints, impression evidence and digital forensics,” McCoy said. 

A lack of forensic scientists means delayed justice. “The case log gets backed up,” McCoy said. 

UCO expanded its forensic science department, offering the school’s first doctorate degree to “develop leaders in the field of forensic science,” McCoy said.   

UCO also opened a new space to simulate crime scenes for students. They refer to it as “The Crime Scene House.” A house inside a classroom that has just about everything. “We don’t have running water,” McCoy said with a smile. 

The facility serves its purpose for students and teachers to recreate real-life scenarios investigators face. “A variety of crime scenes where they can process evidence,” McCoy said. “Faculty that are teaching the class can observe the students (through surveillance cameras) while they process the scene.” 

McCoy said the house provides teachers a chance to offer a hands-off approach and allow students to perform in a realistic environment. “That house gives that real experience,” McCoy said. 

McCoy said these changes will help shape future investigators and forensic science leaders and help close cases and bring justice so victims can heal. “I think that’s the greatest joy of teaching,” McCoy said. “That’s why we’re here.”