Inter-Institutional Partnerships: The Development of a Multidisciplinary/Interprofessional Course in Forensics

Abstract

A National Research Council report recently addressed the need for enhanced education and training in the interdisciplinary field of forensic science. The Institute of Medicine and the American Psychological Association, among others, have also expressed the importance of interdisciplinary education. This article describes a unique partnership at a Regional Higher Education Center using an interdisciplinary, inter-institutional approach to the development of an introductory forensic science course engaging both health and non-health majors. Few examples of this kind of partnership exist in the literature. This article offers a detailed description of the development of this course, including challenges faced and successes achieved. As such, it provides a potential model for the development and implementation of similar courses. Furthermore, it offers an example of how to model in an academic setting the integration of disciplines that exists or is needed in the workplace.