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Johannes Stitz
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Forensic Chemistry Programs
“Forensic chemists enable the criminal justice system to appropriately employ chemistry to help solve crimes and resolve disputes. Chemists most often use their analytical skills to help identify substances, but different chemical measurements and concepts can often tell us something about the origins and history of a piece of evidence, too.”Glen P. Jackson, PhD, Ming Hsieh Distinguished Professor, Department of Forensic and Investigative Science of West Virginia University
For those whose hobbies include studying the periodic table of the elements and watching crime scene dramas, a career in forensic chemistry is an obvious choice.
A two-in-one degree program that straddles the disciplines of chemistry and criminal justice, forensic chemistry can be best described as laboratory detective work. Using the scientific method to examine evidence in a laboratory, forensic chemists play a critical role in the criminal justice system by ruling out or confirming a crime was committed. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) shows that most forensic technicians—a closely related occupation—work in local or state government laboratories analyzing evidence and collecting evidence at crime scenes.
When considering forensic chemistry programs, it pays to attend programs with a reputation for excellence. Students researching forensic science programs are encouraged to find a program accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). Students attending FEPAC-accredited forensic science programs can be assured that curriculum and teaching standards are of the highest educational quality by an independent peer-reviewed committee.
To this point, Kristen Malloy chose to study forensic chemistry at the University of Mississippi for its FEPAC accreditation: “With the addition of only seven credit hours, you have the opportunity to have your degree certified by the American Chemical Society. These two facts prove that the education you will receive at Ole Miss while studying Forensic Chemistry will fully prepare you for any career in forensic science.”
Read on to learn more about forensic chemistry programs.
Meet the Expert: Glen P. Jackson, PhD
Dr. Glen P. Jackson is the Ming Hsieh distinguished professor at the Department of Forensic and Investigative Science of West Virginia University. He is also the co-editor-in-chief of the journal Forensic Chemistry.
In addition to his position with the forensic science department, he serves in the C. Eugene Bennett Department of Chemistry as well as the Department of Biology at the same school.
From 2009 to 2012, he led the forensic chemistry program at Ohio University as its director. Much of his work has focused on analyzing substances and materials found at crime scenes, such as human hair and explosives. After completing his PhD at West Virginia University, he completed a post-doc at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and received the National Society of Forensics’ CAREER award.
ForensicsColleges.com: The field of forensics is surrounded by quite a bit of mystique, likely due to the role it plays in popular culture. How would you explain forensic chemistry to an outsider, and what misconceptions do you frequently encounter?
Dr. Jackson: Forensic chemists enable the criminal justice system to appropriately employ chemistry to help solve crimes and resolve disputes. Chemists most often use their analytical skills to help identify substances, but different chemical measurements and concepts can often tell us something about the origins and history of a piece of evidence, too.
The biggest misconception perpetuated by crime dramas on TV is that the software in an analytical instrument automatically provides an accurate name for the substance being measured. Software can often find matching spectra and library matches, but analysts often need to employ their logic and expertise to confirm or refute the computer algorithms.
ForensicsColleges.com: You served on the NIST OSAC’s subcommittee on seized drugs. What can you tell us about the role of forensic chemistry when it comes to drugs, and what changes would you advocate for when it comes to regulatory or law enforcement approaches to them?
Dr. Jackson: Fortunately, the application of analytical chemistry to the analysis of seized drugs is mature, robust, and uncontroversial. Advances in technology may soon provide more options for law enforcement officers to make on-site measurements for substances like drugs and explosives.
If on-site testing is implemented, I would advocate for confirmatory analysis by scientists in a laboratory, just like we do for blood alcohol content for DUIs; cops may use a breathalyzer to have just cause to apprehend a suspect, but the blood alcohol content is typically confirmed by a toxicologist or chemist back in the lab.
ForensicsColleges.com: You’ve not only worked with mass spectrometers but on their development. Are there any developments that you are particularly excited about when it comes to the technological tools that you and your colleagues use, or other developments in the field that you would like to share?
Dr. Jackson: At present, I’m very excited about recent advances in algorithms and statistical treatment of data to help identify substances with meaningful probabilities or error rates. In mass spectrometry, we are turning a corner in terms of knowing how best to merge statistical concepts of classification with idiosyncrasies of the mass spectral measurements. After more than 100 years of mass spectral measurements, we’re still learning how to maximize the information content of a spectrum.
Forensic Chemistry Salary Career Outlook
Those interested in this stimulating career field can expect lucrative career growth in the coming decade. The BLS (2024) shows that job openings for forensic science technicians are expected to swell 13 percent between 2022 and 2032—much faster than the anticipated national average for all occupations at 4 percent (BLS 2023). What’s more, an estimated 2,400 new positions will be created in that decade.
Forensic Chemistry Programs: Common Admissions Prerequisites & Courses
Bachelor’s Degree in Forensic Chemistry
- Application requirements: Application, SAT or ACT scores, official high school transcripts (including courses in mathematics, science, and foreign language)
- Common courses: Biology, chemistry, organic chemistry, calculus, general physics, analytical chemistry, statistical methods, genetics, biochemistry, physical chemistry forensic analysis of controlled substances, forensic science in the courtroom, laboratory quality assurance and professional practice, forensic science internship.
- Sample program: University of Central Florida
Master’s Degree in Forensic Chemistry
- Application requirements: Application, 3.0 GPA, official transcripts, letters of recommendation, GRE scores, bachelor’s of science degree in forensics from a FEPAC or regionally-accredited program
- Common courses: Biochemistry, cellular and molecular biology, instrumental chemistry instrumental analysis, laboratory, quantitative chemistry
- Sample program: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Doctoral Degree in Forensic Chemistry
- Application requirements: Application, GRE scores, 3.0 GPA, letters of recommendation, resume, pass a proficiency exam in chemistry, graduate seminar, chemistry colloquium, dissertation research
- Common courses: Forensic chemistry, chemical analysis of explosives, chemical analysis of drugs, forensic DNA chemistry
- Sample program: Florida International University
Forensic Chemistry Degree & Certificate Programs – Traditional On-Campus
The George Washington University (GWU) in Washington D.C. offers an on-campus combined bachelor’s and master’s of science degree program in forensic chemistry (BS/MFS), and a graduate certificate in forensic investigation. FEPAC accredits the 37-credit MFS in forensic chemistry and provides students with comprehensive background knowledge of forensic science disciplines including analytical methods, procedures, equipment, identification, investigation, analysis, and reporting. Specifically, the forensic chemistry component prepares students to analyze drug chemistry and use trace evidence analysis to draw conclusions based on samples of hair and fibers, glass and soil, ignitable liquids, and explosive residues.
Courses include fundamentals of forensic science, trace evidence analysis, and forensic chemistry. GWU has the world’s largest group of forensic chemists at a university and the department features new laboratory equipment including mass spectrometers to support the study of forensic chemistry and toxicology.
Florida International University (FIU) offers an undergraduate certificate in forensic science, as well as bachelor of arts and bachelor of science programs with concentration options in forensic chemistry, which are all accredited by FEPAC.
The certificate program, designed to prepare students for laboratory careers in forensic science, includes didactic coursework and hands-on training. Courses include chemistry and drug analysis, forensic chemistry with a laboratory component, and a forensic science internship. The BA program is designed to prepare students for careers in forensic science, and the concentration in forensic chemistry is for students wanting a comprehensive background in chemistry and an opportunity to apply chemistry knowledge to forensic science.
The BS in chemistry program can be completed on its own or combined with an MS of forensic science, allowing students to complete two degrees at an accelerated pace. Students can earn a BS in chemistry with honors by meeting certain GPA standards and completing an honors thesis research project which can focus on forensic chemistry.
West Virginia University (WVU) offers three on-campus forensic science degree programs, including a bachelor of science in forensic chemistry. This FEPAC-accredited program prepares forensic chemists to evaluate the chemical evidence left behind at a crime scene. A unique feature of WVU is the opportunity for first-year students to live on campus in a forensic living-learning community where they can regularly engage with other forensics students, faculty, and events.
Required courses include the fundamentals of chemistry, forensic chemical analysis, and analysis of seized drugs. Graduates from this program go on to work in forensic laboratories where they work to analyze evidence left behind by drug chemical residue, arson and explosives, poisons, and trace evidence from explosives or firearms.
Online Forensic Chemistry Programs
Ohio University offers a 30-credit online master of science (MS) in chemistry. While this degree program is not FEPAC-accredited, the Ohio University Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry offers an on-campus FEPAC-accredited BS in forensic chemistry, and the master’ s-level courses are taught by on-campus teaching faculty.
Designed for science teachers and professionals who want to learn interdisciplinary knowledge to further their careers, this program can finish in as few as three semesters and take courses in physical chemistry, advanced analytical chemistry, basic biochemistry, chemical literature, and modern inorganic chemistry.
This program does not require GRE scores for admission or a final thesis project. However, students must complete a research literature review article on a topic assigned by a faculty advisor to graduate. The Higher Learning Commission accredits Ohio University.
The University of Florida College of Pharmacy offers two fully-online degree programs in forensic science: a graduate certificate in forensic DNA and serology and a master’s degree in forensic drug chemistry.
The 15-credit online graduate certificate is designed for working professionals and gives graduates a strong foundation in serology, nucleic acid chemistry, and theory of DNA analysis, blood spatter analysis, and the interpretation of biological evidence. The certificate program can be completed in as little as 12 months.
For the online master’s degree programs, students can choose from one of four specializations, including the MS in forensic drug chemistry. In this 32-credit program, students learn analytical techniques, drug pharmacology, forensic drug chemistry, and organic synthesis. What makes this program unique are the modules on expert testimony and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) procedures. The Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education accredits the College of Pharmacy.
The University of Massachusetts Lowell (UMass) offers a fully online graduate certificate in forensic criminology. This course is recommended for professionals working in criminal justice, nursing, public health, social work, and legal studies. While this program doesn’t include courses in forensic chemistry, working forensic chemists who want to enhance their science education with criminal justice can choose four courses: criminal profiling, forensic psychology, substance abuse, and victimology.
This program demands academic excellence; students must complete this program within five years of enrolling and earn a minimum 3.0 GPA. Students can expect to spend six to ten hours per week for each course. The New England Commission of Higher Education accredits UMass Lowell.
Forensic Chemistry Professional Certification
Professional state licensure requirements for forensic scientists vary by state. Some forensic scientists choose to pursue certification to stay current and verify their professional abilities.
First, forensic scientists are advised to inquire about their local city and state laws in the area where they wish to work. In addition to local and state law enforcement offices, the Forensic Specialties Accreditation Board (FSAB) recognizes ten certifying organizations related to forensic science.
For example, the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC) has various five-year professional certifications in areas that relate to forensic chemistry: comprehensive criminalistics, molecular biology, drug analysis, fire debris, hair & fiber, and paint & polymer. Applicants seeking these credentials typically need a bachelor’s degree, two years of experience in criminalistics, and a passing score on a comprehensive examination.
Other FSAB-recognized certifying organizations related to forensic chemistry are:
- American Board of Medicolegal Death Investigators (ABMDI)
- American Board of Forensic Toxicology (ABFT)
Accreditation for Forensic Chemistry Programs
Regardless of the discipline, students are strongly advised to seek out accredited programs and institutions when researching educational programs. Accreditation is a process of peer-reviewed quality assurance where programs and institutions are held to the highest standards of educational quality. Graduates, employers, and anyone who relies on the services of professionals benefits from knowing that an educational program or institution has met industry professional standards. Accreditation is given to educational programs, as well as entire institutions.
As previously mentioned, forensic science programs are accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC). As of September 2024, there were more than 50 bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate programs in forensic science accredited by FEPAC, many of which were mentioned above.
Specific to forensic chemistry, as mentioned above, the American Chemical Society (ACS) approves bachelor’s degree programs. This process assures prospective students that a program curriculum and facilities have met the highest standards for chemistry education. ACS-approved bachelor’s degrees could also give forensic chemists a competitive edge when searching for positions and negotiating salaries.
In addition to programmatic accreditation, institutional accreditation is offered by one of six regional authorities recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA):
- Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
- Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)
- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
- New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC)
- Commission on Colleges for the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)
Lastly, students seeking enrollment in online forensic chemistry programs are advised to take the additional step to verify their school’s “state authorization” status. This dictates whether or not an institution based in one state can provide distance-based education to residents of another state. This information is typically available on program websites or by speaking to an admissions specialist.
Johannes Stitz is a freelance writer and researcher based in the Southwest. He’s written about various topics in engineering careers. Before turning to freelance writing, he spent nearly a decade in the arts as a booker and event manager.
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Rachel Drummond, MEd
Rachel Drummond has given her writing expertise to ForensicsColleges.com since 2019, where she provides a unique perspective on the intersection of education, mindfulness, and the forensic sciences. Her work encourages those in the field to consider the role of mental and physical well-being in their professional success.
Rachel is a writer, educator, and coach from Oregon. She has a master’s degree in education (MEd) and has over 15 years of experience teaching English, public speaking, and mindfulness to international audiences in the United States, Japan, and Spain. She writes about the mind-body benefits of contemplative movement practices like yoga on her blog, inviting people to prioritize their unique version of well-being and empowering everyone to live healthier and more balanced lives.