Graduate Program
Advance your education with graduate study in forensic science.
Our graduate program is FEPAC-accredited and offers an M.S. in Forensic Science that prepares students for careers as forensic scientists in government and private forensic laboratories or for further graduate and/or professional academic degrees. The program is a full-time, two-year program.
While the Department of Forensic Sciences does not have its own Ph.D. program, we actively accept students through VCU's Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program, an interdisciplinary Ph.D. program through which students interested in molecular biology, drug analysis, forensic toxicology, forensic anthropology or trace evidence research can be accepted.
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M.S. in Forensic Science
Students receive in-depth exposure to specializations within the field, including drug analysis, DNA analysis, trace evidence, criminalistics and legal issues with a strong emphasis on laboratory courses. Concentrations are available in forensic biology, forensic chemistry/drugs and toxicology, forensic chemistry/trace and forensic physical analysis.
Financial Support
Learn about teaching and research assistantships to help support your educational goals, as well as scholarships offered to graduate students through our department.
Research
Student research in our program has led to the development of standard operating procedures for laboratories; presentations at local, regional and national meetings; and peer-reviewed journal publications.
Doctoral Studies
We actively accept doctoral students through the VCU Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program. Learn more and view recent dissertation topics generated by our ILS students.
Job Placement
93% of our graduates are employed or pursuing higher education within six months of graduation.
Study in Our New STEM Building
The College of Humanities and Sciences opened a new, 169,000-square-foot STEM building in spring 2023 where the Department of Forensic Science has laboratory and classroom space. A crime scene classroom and laboratory and an anthropology/forensics laboratory are located on the third floor. The fifth floor houses the forensic microscopy/firearms analysis/latent prints classroom and lab.