Program Overview

Program Overview

The Master of Science in Forensic Science with a concentration in forensic physical analysis is a full-time, two-year program designed to prepare students for careers as forensic scientists in government and private forensic laboratories, as well as further graduate and/or professional academic pursuits. The program is one of only a few of its kind in the U.S. and is accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission. The mission of the program is to provide students with broad exposure to core forensic concepts, as well as legal issues, expert testimony, professional ethics, quality assurance, and current topics in research and development within the forensic sciences. A strong emphasis is placed on laboratory coursework, providing students with significant laboratory and research experience. Several of the laboratory courses are taught by practicing professional forensic scientists at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Central Laboratory, which is nationally accredited. The program offers a concentration in forensic physical analysis, which requires a minimum of nine credit hours or equivalent of upper-level science coursework. This may include, but is not limited to, coursework in the areas of biology, chemistry, physics, or biochemistry. The program's curriculum is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in forensic science, including coursework in scientific crime scene investigation, forensic science seminar, applied statistics for forensic science, firearm identification, and forensic evidence and criminal procedure. Students are also required to complete a directed research project, which is an extensive research experience conducted within a forensic laboratory setting.

Program Goal

The program's goal is to prepare students for careers as forensic scientists in government and private forensic laboratories, as well as further graduate and/or professional academic pursuits. The program aims to provide students with a comprehensive education in forensic science, including broad exposure to core forensic concepts, as well as legal issues, expert testimony, professional ethics, quality assurance, and current topics in research and development within the forensic sciences.

Student Learning Outcomes

The program's student learning outcomes are as follows:

1. Students will be able to apply basic scientific principles and laboratory procedures to forensic science.
2. Students will demonstrate capabilities, use, potential, and limitations of forensic laboratory theory and techniques.
3. Students will demonstrate the ability to perform (report and orally present) independent research in an area of forensic science.
4. Students will demonstrate an understanding of legal procedure, rules of evidence, ethical and professional duties, and responsibilities of the forensic scientist.
5. Students will be able to assess and interpret scientific data, uncertainty, and bias in forensic science practice.
6. Students will be able to evaluate and analyze evidence from one or more comparative specialty using current standard practices, and recommend alternative analysis methods where necessary to improve result outcomes.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirements for the program are as follows:

• Bachelor's degree in a discipline appropriate to the concentration, including forensic science, or a degree with equivalent coursework.
• An undergraduate GPA that exceeds 2.9 on a 4.0 scale (most students entering the forensic science graduate program have a minimum GPA of 3.0 on undergraduate work).
• Assessment of prior graduate coursework and/or relevant laboratory experience (where applicable).
• Three letters of recommendation pertaining specifically to the student's potential ability as a graduate student in forensic science.
• Personal statement. Applicants are required to select a concentration and will be considered only for that concentration. If coursework deficiencies are identified, students may be required to take additional foundational courses beyond those required for the concentration.

Degree Requirements

The degree requirements for the program are as follows:

• Credit hour requirements: Students must complete a minimum of 42 graduate-level credit hours as outlined in the list of core and concentration requirements, including electives.
• Grade requirements: Students must maintain an ongoing, cumulative minimum GPA of 3.0. Receipt of a grade of C in two or more courses will constitute an automatic dismissal from the graduate program in forensic science. Receipt of a grade of D or lower in any one course will constitute an automatic dismissal from the graduate program in forensic science.
• Other requirements: Students must maintain continuous, full-time enrollment. Interruption in continuous enrollment or full-time status for any reason without a leave of absence approved by the forensic science graduate committee will require that students reapply to the program. Request for credit for graduate coursework taken at other institutions must be submitted to the director of graduate studies in forensic science and will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the forensic science graduate committee. If coursework deficiencies are identified, students may be required to take additional foundational courses beyond those listed below. These will not count toward the 42 required credit hours.

Curriculum Requirements

The curriculum requirements for the program are as follows:

• Core courses:
  • FRSC 565: Scientific Crime Scene Investigation (3 credits)
  • FRSC 570: Forensic Science Seminar (1 credit, repeated for 3 credits)
  • FRSC 580: Applied Statistics for Forensic Science (3 credits)
  • FRSC 662: Firearm Identification (3 credits)
  • FRSC 670: Forensic Evidence and Criminal Procedure (3 credits)
  • FRSC 677: Professional Practices and Expert Testimony (3 credits)
  • FRSC 793: Directed Research in Forensic Science (3 credits)
• Forensic physical analysis concentration courses:
  • FRSC 566: Advanced Crime Scene Investigation (3 credits)
  • FRSC 671 & FRSZ 671: Instrumentation in Forensic Chemistry and Instrumentation in Forensic Chemistry Laboratory (3 credits)
  • FRSC 673 & FRSZ 673: Forensic Microscopy and Forensic Microscopy Laboratory (3 credits)
  • FRSC 675: Forensic Serology and DNA Analysis (2 credits)
• Elective area options (select 10 credits from the following courses):
  • CRJS 591: Topic Seminar (drugs and crime)
  • FRSC 505: Forensic Entomology
  • FRSC 510: Developmental Osteology
  • FRSC 515: Forensic Anthropology Applications
  • FRSC 520: Forensic Fire Investigation
  • FRSC 580: Applied Statistics for Forensic Science
  • FRSC 581: Forensic Analysis of Fire Debris and Explosive Evidence
  • FRSC 582: Forensic Analysis of Paint and Fiber Evidence
  • FRSC 591: Topics in Forensic Science
  • FRSC 607: Forensic Taphonomy
  • FRSC 644: Analytical Considerations in Forensic Toxicology
  • FRSC 645: Applications in Forensic Toxicology
  • FRSC 660: Toolmark Examinations
  • FRSC 661: Analysis of Pattern Evidence
  • FRSC 662: Firearm Identification
  • FRSC 663: Forensic Medicine
  • FRSC 672: Advanced Drug Analysis
  • FRSC 690: Scientific Writing
  • FRSC 692: Forensic Science Independent Study
  • FRSC 693: Current Topics in Forensic Science
  • FRSC 792: Research Techniques
  • FRSC 793: Directed Research in Forensic Science

Accelerated Opportunities

The department offers opportunities for qualified undergraduate students to earn both an undergraduate and graduate degree in a minimum of five years by completing approved graduate courses during the senior year of their undergraduate program. The following accelerated opportunities are available:

• B.S. in Forensic Science with a concentration in forensic biology and M.S. in Forensic Science with a concentration in forensic physical evidence
• B.S. in Forensic Science with a concentration in forensic chemistry and M.S. in Forensic Science with a concentration in forensic physical evidence
• B.S. in Forensic Science with a concentration in physical evidence and M.S. in Forensic Science with a concentration in forensic physical evidence