Departments & Programs
Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program
Graduate Program
Master of Science in Forensic Science
Description
The M.S. Program in Forensic Science, which awards a Purdue University degree, requires 30 credit hours of study beyond the baccalaureate level. It is designed for students seeking careers as professional forensic scientists who desire employment in the criminal justice field or a related area. There are two ways to complete the MS, the thesis MS or the non-thesis, accelerated MS. The MS Thesis Program is FEPAC-accredited.
General Degree Options and Requirements
Students must apply in one of the following concentrations; forensic chemistry or forensic biology. All students take a core of required courses which include a professional issues course, law courses and a microscopy course. Each concentration and track (thesis or non-thesis) contains specific required courses taken by students in that concentration and track.
This thesis program requires 17 credit hours of course work and 13 credit hours of thesis completion and defense and is available to full time students. A non-thesis option is available and this program includes 30 credit hours of classes approved by the department. This may include up to six credits of internship and research.
Admission
The admission requirements are as follows:
- A Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in chemistry, biology, forensic science, pharmacology/toxicology, or a related science
- A minimum GPA of 3.0 for all undergraduate work
- The GRE general exam (University code is 1325)
The program will serve full- and part-time students who meet the above requirements as well as students who are presently employed full time in a forensic science laboratory or other analytical laboratory.
How to Apply for the Full-Time Thesis MS
Application to the program can be done completely online. The online application is called the "eApp Online Admissions Application."
You will be directed to create an account to begin your application. The application can be filled out in stages and saved along the way so you can return to it later. The eApp has provisions for uploading your personal statement and listing contact names for two letters of recommendation.
These people will automatically be emailed and asked to input their letters of recommendation.
The Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program accepts applications once a year for beginning matriculation in the fall semester. The deadline for applying to the thesis program is January 15 of the year you wish to start. Applications must be complete by January 15 or they will not be considered. Applicants must submit the following:
1. The completed application which will also require:
- Two letters of recommendation. These would normally be from professors who can evaluate your ability to successfully complete graduate work in forensic science.
- A personal statement that discusses your educational and work background, interest and experience (if any) in forensic science, and research interests if you are full time. Supplemental questions requests information about which degree (thesis or non-thesis) and track (forensic biology or chemistry) is applied for along with requiring a list of relevant coursework.
2. Official final transcripts from all higher education institutions that you attended.
3. Applicants must arrange to have the testing agency send their GRE scores (and TOEFL, if applicable) directly to the university. (University code is 1325)
Applicants are not normally considered on a rolling basis. They are generally considered en masse after the January 15 deadline. You will be notified within a few weeks after the decision is made.
How to Apply for the Non-Thesis MS
Application to the program can be done completely online. The online application is called the "eApp Online Admissions Application."
You will be directed to create an account to begin your application. The application can be filled out in stages and saved along the way so you can return to it later. The eApp has provisions for uploading your personal statement and listing contact names for two letters of recommendation.
These people will automatically be emailed and asked to input their letters of recommendation.
The Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program review of applications will begin on January 15 and will continue on a rolling basis until seats are filled. The deadline for applying to the program for Fall is March 15 of the year you wish to start. Applications must be complete by March 15 or they may not be considered. Applications will also be considered for the Spring term if there is availability.
Applicants must submit the following:
1. The completed application which will also require:
- Two letters of recommendation. These would normally be from professors who can evaluate your ability to successfully complete graduate work in forensic science.
- A personal statement that discusses your educational and work background, interest and experience (if any) in forensic science, and research interests if you are full time. Supplemental questions requests information about which degree (thesis or non-thesis) and track (forensic biology or chemistry) is applied for along with requiring a list of relevant coursework.
2. Official final transcripts from all higher education institutions that you attended.
3. Applicants must arrange to have the testing agency send their GRE scores (and TOEFL, if applicable) directly to the university. (University code is 1325)
You will be notified within a few weeks after the decision is made.
The Curriculum
The thesis and non-thesis M.S. program consists of 30 semester credit hours. It is anticipated that the thesis program can be completed within two years by full time students. The non-thesis program can be completed in one academic year plus two summer courses. The credit hours are to be distributed as follows:
All students (thesis and non-thesis) take the following courses (course substitutions only with Graduate Advisor approval):
- FIS 50100/50101 (3) - Forensic Microscopy
- FIS 50500 (3) - Profession and Ethical Issues in Forensic Science
- FIS 51500 (3) - Legal Issues in Forensic Science
Students in the forensic chemistry concentration (thesis and non-thesis) must take the following courses:
- FIS 51100 (3) - Forensic Chemistry & Lab
- FIS 51101 (1) - Forensic Chemistry I Lab
- FIS 51200 (3) - Forensic Chemistry II
- FIS 51201 (1) - Forensic Chemistry II Lab
Students in the forensic biology concentration (thesis and non-thesis) must take the following courses:
- FIS 52100 (3) - Forensic Biology I
- FIS 52101 (2) - Forensic Biology I Lab
- FIS 53000 (3) - Population Genetics
Thesis students must take the following courses:
- FIS 69800 (13) - Thesis Research
- Electives (1 - 4) - approved by department
Non-thesis students must take the following courses:
- FIS 59700 (3) - Project Design
- FIS 50800 (2) - Forensic Science Laboratory Management
- LAW-D774 (2) - Law and Forensic Science
- Electives (6) - approved by department. This may include up to 6 credits of internship. A student may also take courses in other concentrations as part of theses credits.
The Thesis
The faculty of the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program strongly believe that research should be a major component of a Master of Science degree. For thesis students, 13 of the 30 credit hours of the program are devoted to the thesis. Students are encouraged to identify a thesis topic with the help of the FIS faculty as soon as possible in the program. It is normally expected that the research and write up of the thesis will take at least one year of the program. A master's thesis project may be begun in conjunction with an internship at a crime laboratory and then finished at IUPUI. It may be possible for a student to remain at the internship host for longer than a semester and complete the research. Thesis research done in conjunction with a crime lab must be approved by the student's thesis director at IUPUI.
Financial Aid
Contrary to the situation with Ph.D. programs, there is limited financial support for master's programs. Nonetheless, we are committed to developing as many financial resources for our students as possible. Decisions concerning fellowships and assistantships will normally be at least partly based on merit. Other factors will also be considered. Some funds are usually available from the unit, School of Science, IUPUI and external grants. These will vary from year to year. The "Online Admissions Application" contains a box that should be checked if you would like to be considered for financial aid.
Graduate Student Handbook
The Graduate Student Handbook contains additional information pertaining to the M.S. program.
