Forensic Document Examination

Online Certificate Program

ETSU Online

Become an Expert

Gain knowledge in handwriting identification, print process identification, and the court system in the United States. Those who earn this certificate may seek employment and become certified as forensic document examiners. 

Become an expert in this field with specialized knowledge that provides valuable insights in legal investigations and court proceedings. 

Offered by the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, this Forensic Document Examination graduate certificate offers the flexibility and convenience of online coursework led by the same faculty teaching on campus. 

Specialize Your Skills

The most common type of document examination involves identifying the authorship of a written letter. It is also common for forensic document examiners to determine: if an item originated from the same source as a known item, determine when a document was produced, and decipher information on a document that has been erased, hidden, or obscured. Specialize your skills to determine authenticity and identify potential forgeries.

Program information including curriculum and graduation requirements can be found in the ETSU Graduate Catalog.

Forensic document examiners may perform the following:

  • Examine documents for signs that they have been forged or altered
  • Compare signatures and handwriting through handwriting analysis to determine authorship
  • Examine typed documents and link them to specific machines or computers 
  • Decipher the contents of documents that have been partially destroyed or altered
  • Compare fractured or cut-edge comparisons on a variety of surfaces, including paper and tape
  • Examine incidents of indented writing
  • Perform alternate light source examinations to determine ink discrimination, alterations, and/or enhancements

Steps to Apply

  • Step 1 - Create your ETSU Application Account

    Step 1   Create your ETSU Application Account by choosing the "Sign Up" option

    Create your ETSU Application Account

  • Step 2 - Sign into the ETSU Application Portal

    Step 2  Sign in to the ETSU Application Portal and select "Start a New Application"

    Sign in

  • Step 3 - Complete the Remaining Fields

    Step 3   Choose "Graduate," select your student type (domestic or international), select "Certificate," term, then choose  Forensic Document Examination and complete the remainder of the form.

    select domestic/international

    select certificate

Apply Today!

Take me to the application portal

Cost

Credits to complete this program: 12 credit hours

TN Residents *eRate Out of State
$672 per credit hour $835.50 per credit hour $1,513 per credit hour
- The *eRate applies to students living out of state and taking all web-based courses.
- Additional fees may be required.
- Visit the Paying for College page to read more about costs and financial aid options.
- The costs associated with attending ETSU can include both direct and indirect costs. Please review ETSU's Cost of Attendance for more details. 

 

Frequently Asked Questions

  • What is an exciting aspect of this certificate program? 

    This certificate benefits many types of professionals. It is useful for art authenticators, museum workers, fraud investigators, auditors, criminal investigations, private investigations, sports memorabilia authenticators, archaeologists, forensic scientists, CSI, and forensic document examiners. 

  • What accreditations apply to this certificate program? 

    East Tennessee State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award baccalaureate, master’s, education specialist, and doctoral degrees. East Tennessee State University also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of East Tennessee State University may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC's website  (www.sacscoc.org).

     



  • Is a master’s degree required for admission? 

    No, a master's degree is not required for this program. A student's undergraduate degree does not have to be related to this field.

  • What are the prerequisites?

    When completing this program, students must take CJCR 5110, 5120 before taking CJCR 5140.

    Course List: 

  • Does this certificate require the GRE (and/or GMAT)?

    Neither the GRE nor the GMAT are required for this program.

  • Are the courses for this certificate asynchronous or synchronous?

    All classes are online asynchronous.

  • Are there any on-campus requirements?

    There are no on-campus requirements for this program.

  • What is the time to completion?

    Full-time: students typically complete the program in 2 semesters.

    Part-time: students typically complete the program in 4 semesters if taking one course each semester.

  • Are scholarships available?

    The department does not offer any scholarships for the certificate. ETSU's Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships offers scholarship information for all student levels. By submitting the Universal Scholarship Application, students can be considered for a variety of university scholarships. Learn more on the ETSU Scholarship website. Students are also encouraged to visit the Paying for Graduate School website for information regarding ETSU graduate scholarships and other financial resources.