42 Credit Hours minimum required
In addition to satisfying the general admission requirements of The Murphy Graduate School at Alabama State University, all students admitted to the Master of Science degree program in forensic science are expected to have a bachelor’s degree in biology, chemistry, or a related field and a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. Prerequisite courses include general physics (two semesters); general chemistry organic chemistry (two semesters); biochemistry (one semester) and biology courses 300 level or higher (4 semester hours). A GRE score on verbal and quantitative of at least 300 (≈950 old GRE score).
Conditional graduate status may be granted an applicant who has a cumulative grade point average of less than 3.0 but at least 2.5, and/or who has not more than 12 semester hours of undergraduate course deficiencies. Full graduate status may be attained by a conditional graduate student after the completion of 16 hours, provided the student receives a grade of at least a B in all courses taken and he or she has removed all admission deficiencies.
Each student enrolling in this program is expected to complete 42 semester hours, which includes the core requirement courses: FRS 642, Principles of Forensic Toxicology; FRS 663, Forensic Biology; FRS 664, Forensic Chemistry; FRS 665, Forensic Analysis, Crime Scene Investigation, Ethics and Professional Responsibilities; FRS 550, Forensic Science Seminar; FRS 560, Research Proposal Presentation; FRS 565, Thesis Research; FRS 699, Thesis Defense; and FRS 570, Ethics & Professional Responsibilities. Other courses will be selected by the student in consultation with his or her thesis advisor. The thesis advisor and thesis advisory committee will be assigned by the department chair according to established departmental guidelines.
In addition to the completion and oral defense of the thesis, each student is required to perform satisfactorily on a written comprehensive examination. It is desirable that the student demonstrate competent reading knowledge of a foreign language, preferably French or German. Upon recommendation of the department, a substitute language may be offered. Six semester hours of an acceptable foreign language in which a cumulative average of at least a B is earned may be presented in lieu of the language examination.
Master of Science students in forensic science may elect to substitute in lieu of the foreign language six semester hours of acceptable computer language coursework in which a cumulative average of at least a B is earned. Acceptable computer language courses will be determined by the chair of the department.
Required Course (16 semester hours)
Support Courses (17 semester hours)
FRS 550: 1 SH/semester –Must attend 3 semester
FRS 565: 10 SH minimum – May substitute Laboratory Internship for 3 SH of Thesis Research
Elective Courses (9 semester hours required)
| FRS 566 | Forensic Science Internship | 3 |
FRS 644
| | 3 |
| FRS 650 | Forensic Serology | 2 |
| FRS 651 | Forensic Serology Lab | 1 |
| FRS 655 | Expert testimony in FRS | 3 |
FRS 661
| | 2 |
FRS 662
| | 1 |
FRS 672
| | 3 |
FRS 673
| | 3 |
| FRS 676 | Adv Forensic DNA Aalysis | 3 |
| FRS 677 | Population Genetics | 3 |
FRS 681
| | 3 |
FRS 682
| | 3 |
| FRS 683 | Microbial Forensics | 3 |
| FRS 692 | Forensic Science Special Topic | 1 |
FRS 693
| | 2 |
FRS 694
| | 3 |
FRS 695
| | 3 |
FRS 696
| | 3 |
| FRS 697 | Forensic Microscopy | 2 |
| FRS 698 | Forensic Microscopy Lab | 1 |
FBI Quality Assurance Standards Courses for DNA
Analysis Specialization Analysis