Student Performance Data
Capstone and Experiential Learning
A capstone course serves as a bridge between academic learning and professional practice, giving students an opportunity to apply theories, concepts, and skills to real-world problems. Capstone courses also encourage critical thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills, making them a valuable component of a student's educational journey.
All students completing a B.S. in Forensic Science at VCU must successfully complete the capstone course, FRSC 490, Professional Practices in Forensic Science. In this course, students complete a series of individual and group projects related to professional development, historical development of the field, expert testimony, case studies and presentations.
Although not required, students are encouraged to participate in experiential learning activities such as community engagement, independent study (research) and/or internships, including on-campus and off-campus collaborations with external organizations.
Internship locations include: VA Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME), Prince George’s County Police Department, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner, VCU Department of Forensic Science
Independent study topics include: Human postcranial skeleton measurements, Wastewater influent and effluent, Extraction of opioid traces from skeletal remains, Fingerprint processing techniques on fired cartridge cases, Time-since-deposition studies regarding biological samples, and Chemical profiling of stress hormones
Community Engagement Partners include: Thomas H. Henderson Middle School, Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School, Lucille M. Brown Middle School, Cosby High School
| Academic Year | Independent Studies (Research) | Internships | Community Engagement |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023-24 | 6 | 12 | 7 |
| 2022-23 | 3 | 8 | 3 |
| 2021-22 | 16 | 7 | 3 |
Student Retention
Student retention is a measure of students that remain in the program from year to year. VCU's forensic science program maintains student interest, resulting in high retention rates. Much of student loss is during the first year due to the challenges in the math and science courses, thus resulting in students who change majors. Our program typically has a >90% retention rate for upperclassmen (juniors and seniors). This dropped slightly as a result of the COVID pandemic; however, as expected, retention of juniors and seniors increased to 90% post-COVID. The national average retention rate for public universities was 81% pre-COVID; however, this did not take into account students that changed majors as long as they remained at the university1.
| Program/concentration | 2021-22 | 2022-23 | 2023-24 |
|---|---|---|---|
| B.S. Forensic Science | 353 | 350 | 324 |
| Concentrations | |||
| Forensic Biology | 155 | 142 | 126 |
| Forensic Chemistry | 64 | 67 | 62 |
| Physical Evidence | 134 | 141 | 136 |
| Graduates | 65 | 49 | 69 |
| Student Retention Rates (1-Year | 83.5% | 82.7% | 80.6% |
1 Data reported from the National Center for Education Statistics (May 2021)
2 Data displayed is based upon how many students remain in the program at the beginning (fall semester) of the following academic year. For example, "2019-20" figures represent how many students still remained in the program in the fall of the 2020-21 academic year. Data is updated annually in late November following the release of final census data from the university.