“It really made the whole program for me. You know, I was married with a full-time job and two daughters. There was no time to go to school and report in person. Although there are due dates and we had to do a lot of assignments for each course, it was on my time. I was able to work at my own pace.”

“I dove deeper into a lot of the processes and methods that we did in the lab. I started doing more validations here in the lab. Then when I finished my program, I was fully eligible to become a technical leader and by a stroke of fate my technical leader at the time was offered a director position in the laboratory. I applied for and got promoted to his position. It was life-changing for me to have that opportunity.”

“I have been able to directly apply what I’ve learned to my work with hazardous chemicals, especially when dealing with accidents. At first, I was a bit skeptical about distance learning. I was worried the degree wouldn’t be held in high regard compared to my on-campus degrees. But that concern was put to rest when, after completing the program, I applied for Washington State University’s Affective Neuroscience Ph.D. program. My transcripts were accepted across the board.”

“I believe one of the greatest benefits of the UF program is the friends you make. You actually get more comradery with your fellow students and teachers online than you do in an on-campus situation. ”

“I had been working in the field of forensics for approximately four years and had a desire to continue my education. However, my work obligations, along with raising a young family, prohibited me from pursuing an advanced degree through the traditional route. The University of Florida offered one of the first programs where working professionals could pursue a master’s degree through an online platform.”

“My favorite part of the program was the flexibility it offered. The faculty understood that I, like many of the students in the program, [was] trying to balance coursework and [my] career and were always understanding when “life” got in the way of getting an assignment in on time.”

“I definitely advise high school teachers, especially, to take the online master’s degree from the University of Florida. This degree has given me the confidence to teach the subject to my students. Since then I went on through the college to receive a Death Investigation Certificate. I take many classes through various forensic organizations and online. I try to keep abreast of up-to-date topics in the field so that I can bring [them] to my students. I belong to the IAI and the Global Society of Forensic Sciences. I also occasionally attend conferences through the AAFS.”

“This online program was challenging for me because I not only taught full-time at the high school, but I taught at the junior college at night during this time. I also have three grandchildren that I am very involved with, I belong to several committees at school and I am the sophomore class advisor. However, I was very determined to do well in my courses. I also had great support from my husband. He knew that I was determined to get a degree in forensic science. Having the passion for learning and the forensic sciences also helped me succeed.”