MS in Forensic Science – Online & On-Campus Master’s Degrees

It seems impossible to turn on the television today without finding at least one program that has something to do with forensic science. Television shows and popular media, from “Dexter” to “Bones” and “CSI” to “Criminal Minds” all feature forensic specialists, and those portrayals are a part of what is bringing so much popularity to the field.

While the forensic science field is portrayed much differently on screen versus in real life, this interdisciplinary profession provides a unique blend of investigative and analytical work for those who enjoy working in outdoor and laboratory environments.

People with an affinity for science and the criminal justice system are well-suited applicants for forensic science programs. For those who are already in the field and have a bachelor’s degree in science, a master of science (MS) degree in forensic science offers more possibilities for employment and deeper investigation into the profession.

Anyone interested in specializing in one of the subfields of forensic science such as DNA analysis or toxicology or pursuing future leadership opportunities has much to gain from enrolling in a master’s degree program in forensic science.

Aspiring forensic scientists can be pleased to know that the projected career growth is trending positively. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS 2024) predicted a 14 percent rate of growth for forensic science technicians, which is much faster than the national average for all occupations (4 percent). An estimated 2,500 forensic science technician jobs will be created nationally between 2023 and 2033 and the median annual salary for this occupation is $64,940.

It is worth noting that salaries for master’s degree holders may be higher depending on several factors such as position responsibilities, employer, years of experience, and cost of living of a particular area.

Read on to learn more about master’s degree forensic science degrees.

Common Courses & Specializations in Forensic Science

Students pursuing a forensic science career will want to have some basic chemistry and biology courses. Math and English can also be quite helpful, and they will be part of the required core courses while earning a bachelor’s degree at most schools. Undergraduates generally have about 36 hours of general education requirements and an additional 34 credits of statistics, organic chemistry, and advanced biology courses.

Specializations within an MS in forensic science programs, such as biochemistry or DNA serology, may be offered. Conversely, a forensic science specialty may be part of a broader MS program, such as at the University of Florida where the MS in forensic science is offered as part of the pharmaceutical sciences program. Ultimately, students should look for a program with learning outcomes that align with their ultimate career goals, whether working in a lab, continuing a career in law enforcement, or pursuing further education in the form of a PhD.

Those who go further in their career and who are looking for a doctorate in the field will find that their studies will provide them with a deeper understanding of the criminology aspects of the job, as well as how science and the law intersect.

It is possible to find several specialties in the field of forensic science, which will then require specialized training. Some of the options include toxicology, blood spatter, trace evidence analysis, and firearm analysis.

Hybrid & Online MS in Forensic Science Programs

Students will find many different hybrid (blended campus-based and distance learning) and online options for earning an MS in forensic science.

Florida International University

Florida International University (FIU), which has a campus in Miami, offers an online professional science master’s degree program in forensic science. This 16-month degree program combines both forensic science and business management courses. It is designed for working forensics professionals who want to further their careers and those interested in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).

The curriculum consists of 33 credits of courses: 24 credits in technical forensic science content and nine credits of business courses taught by the FIU College of Business Administration. Although GRE scores are not required for admission, students applying to this program must have a 3.0 GPA and a letter of intent, official transcripts, and two letters of recommendation.

Courses include forensic analysis; forensic biology; forensic chemistry; organizational behavior; quality systems in forensic science; chemistry and analysis of drugs; forensic and veterinary medicolegal investigations; and advanced forensic and legal aspects of animal cruelty.

• Location: Miami, FL
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 16 months

Alliant International University

Alliant International University has two online master’s degrees related to forensic science. These include an online MS in forensic behavioral science that includes two weekend residencies and an online MS in forensic science, investigation, & technology that requires students to participate in two on-site, weekend residencies and successfully complete a research thesis.

The forensic behavioral science program has concentration options in conflict resolution and peace studies; criminal behavior; forensic victimology; professional protection & security management; and trial consulting. The forensic science, investigation, & technology program has concentration options in criminalistics and technology; crime scene and incident investigation; and criminal investigative intelligence & analysis.

Courses in the forensic behavioral science program include applications in forensic behavioral science; investigation, forensic interviewing, and report writing; ethics, values, and diversity in forensic contexts; violence and criminal behavior; sex crimes and offenders; forensic linguistics; and fundamentals of forensic victimology.

Courses in the forensic science, investigation, & technology program include forensic science, investigation & analytics: foundations, principles & applications; investigative & scientific communication and testimony; forensic documentation and report writing; trace evidence analysis; forensic photography and field documentation; and digital intelligence and criminal networks.

• Location: San Diego, CA
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
• Expected Time to Completion: One to two years

University of Florida

The University of Florida offers a fully online master’s degree and graduate certificate program in forensic science. Students in the degree program can choose from four specialization tracks: forensic science, forensic DNA & serology, forensic toxicology, and forensic drug chemistry.

Classes are taught asynchronously, and while most students complete the program within two to three years, students have up to seven years to finish their degree program. Coursework varies depending on the specialization track, but all programs include a strong foundation in forensic science, data analysis, and laboratory quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC).

The 32-credit master of science program in forensic science includes courses such as biological evidence and serology; principles of forensic science; forensic toxicology; advanced criminalistics; biosecurity and microbial forensics; crime scene investigation; forensic genetics; and forensic immunology.

• Location: Gainesville, FL
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

St. Leo University

St. Leo University offers a master of science in criminal justice program that has several specialization options. One such specialization is in forensic science that provides the opportunity for students to gain the knowledge required to assist with operations during incidents in which forensic science is a factor through modern, hands-on instruction.

The St. Leo University criminal justice program has been established for over 30 years and consistently ranks as a military-friendly institution by G. I. Jobs and Military Advanced Education magazines. Graduates from this Catholic institution are well-prepared for law enforcement and forensic science careers.

Made up of 36 credits, the program includes courses such as ethical issues in criminal justice administration; legal issues in criminal justice administration; public policy making in criminal justice; introduction to forensic science; advanced forensic science; forensic and medicolegal death investigation; and crime scene investigation and management.

• Location: St. Leo, FL
• Accreditation: Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• Expected Time to Completion: 24 months

Oklahoma State University

The Oklahoma State University School of Forensic Sciences in Tulsa offers several tracks in the master of science in forensic science program. All courses are offered online for the following tracks of emphasis: arson, explosives, firearm and tool mark investigations; forensic investigative sciences; and forensic psychology. The forensic biology/DNA and forensic chemistry/toxicology tracks can be completed fully online if students pursue a non-thesis degree option.

Students in this program can begin taking fall or spring semester courses. Students with bachelor’s degrees in science fields such as biology, human anatomy, physiology, or human anthropology are encouraged to apply.

Made up of 32 credits, the program includes courses such as survey of forensic sciences; forensic statistics; technical aspects of forensic document examination; quality assurance in forensic science; fire dynamics in forensic investigations; forensic threat assessment and management; forensic chemistry; methods in forensic sciences; and forensic management and organizational development, among others.

• Location: Tulsa, OK
• Accreditation: Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

National University

National University in San Diego offers a fully online master’s of forensic sciences (MFS) degree with two specialization tracks. The criminalistics track features courses in trace evidence, advanced forensic toxicology, advanced forensic serology and DNA, and forensic anthropology. The investigation track emphasizes advanced forensic investigative techniques that provide a comprehensive understanding of all forensic science fields.

Students in this 54-credit program learn the essentials of death investigation techniques ranging from diseases to trauma, how to interact with medico-legal death investigators, evidence preservation techniques, forensic photography, crime scene analysis, and legal and ethical issues.

The curriculum includes courses such as forensic pathology; forensic anthropology; crime scene investigation; digital evidence; forensic photography; fingerprint analysis; topics in forensic sciences; trace evidence; and advanced criminalistics.

• Location: San Diego, CA
• Accreditation: WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Please see our guide to online master’s degrees in forensic science for more online programs.

Traditional On-Campus MS in Forensic Science Programs

Of course, earning a degree in a physical classroom is the best choice for some students. A traditional MS program can offer a sense of camaraderie with other students and give those students hands-on experience in the lab or other experiential locations.

John Jay College of Criminal Justice

The John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City offers a master of science degree in forensic science (MS-FOS) and is one of the roughly fifty university programs accredited by the Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

The program was established in 1968 and maintains its highly-respected and storied institution in the criminal justice field, with classes taught by internationally-recognized faculty in the forensic science field.

With a curriculum that combines hands-on laboratory coursework and current legal issues and trends in forensic science, students in this program must solve problems using analytical methods and instrumental analysis. Students may choose from three specializations: criminalistics, forensic toxicology, or molecular biology. They must also complete a thesis before graduation.

The curriculum includes courses such as physical and biological evidence; principles of forensic toxicology; advanced criminalistics; forensic examination of firearms and toolmarks; statistics for forensic scientists; forensic electron microscopy; and crime scene investigation for forensic scientists.

• Location: New York, NY
• Accreditation: Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Syracuse University

Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York offers four MS degree programs in forensic science: an MS in forensic science, an MS in biomedical forensic science, an MS in medicolegal death investigation, an MS in digital forensics, a JD/MS dual degree in forensic science, and two advanced certificates in firearm and tool mark examination and medicolegal death investigation.

Students in this MS program have access to world-class training facilities such as LGS Bell Labs Innovations, Brookhaven National Laboratory, the New York State Police Crime Laboratory System, and the Wallie Howard Jr. Center for Forensic Sciences. Graduates from this program can go on to pursue careers in crime and forensic laboratories and federal agencies such as the FBI.

The FEPAC-accredited master’s degree in forensic science is a 36-credit program offering students both a global perspective and an opportunity for in-depth study at the graduate level in forensic science. Courses include advanced forensic science; statistics for forensic science; forensic analysis of biological evidence; forensic chemical analysis; crime scene investigation; forensic analysis of biological evidence; and bloodstain pattern analysis, among otters.

• Location: Syracuse, NY
• Accreditation: Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Marshall University

Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia, offers a two-year FEPAC-accredited master’s degree in forensic science. This program can be completed in five semesters and students can choose between a thesis or a non-thesis terminal degree project.

Four separate areas of emphasis in forensic science are offered and students can choose to study one or all four areas: DNA analysis, forensic chemistry, digital forensics, and crime scene investigation. Notably, Marshall University features an on-campus laboratory accredited by ANAB (ANSI National Accreditation Board), which offers various forensic investigation services, including DNA analysis for property crime, sexual assault, and other types of forensic evidence.

Comprising 39 credits, the program includes courses such as crime scene and death investigation; forensic microscopy; forensic comparative sciences; forensic statistics; forensic analytical chemistry; biochemistry; foundations & fundamentals in digital forensics; and legal issues in forensic science.

• Location: Huntington, WV
• Accreditation: Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC); Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Towson University

Towson University offers an MS in forensic science program. This FEPAC-accredited program emphasizes chemistry, biology, and mathematics and laboratory training courses. Students in this program can choose either the forensic analytical chemistry track with a focus on trace analysis, toxicology, and drug analysis, or the DNA track with a focus on genetic analysis. All students are required to complete a forensic research project or thesis.

Students in this program learn in small classes and are expected to apply their scientific knowledge with hands-on laboratory experience and quality assurance and ethics. This program prepares graduates for employment in forensic science, business, industry, and government-related fields.

Made up of 37 credits, the program includes courses such as forensic science and law; forensic molecular biochemistry; forensic chemistry; crime scene and impression evidence; forensic firearms analysis; forensic serology; forensic microscopy; death analysis in forensic science; and forensic analytical methods.

• Location: Towson, MD
• Accreditation: Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC); Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE)
• Expected Time to Completion: Two years

Please see our guide to Forensic Science Schools by State to find an on-campus or online forensic science program in a specific location.

Accreditation of Forensic Science Programs & Schools

Accreditation is something that all students should consider when pursuing a master’s in forensic science degree from any school. Accreditation means that the school has been evaluated by a recognized body for its curriculum, faculty, facilities, and learning outcomes. Both programmatic and institutional accreditation are worth considering.

Programmatic Accreditation

The main accrediting body for forensic science programs is the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC), which is a division of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS). While FEPAC accreditation can indicate a quality program, it is important to note that FEPAC accredits very few programs overall, so many worthwhile MS in forensic science programs do not have the distinction of FEPAC accreditation.

Institutional Accreditation

In addition to programmatic accreditation, a college or university should have institutional accreditation that indicates the quality of the school as a whole. The US Department of Education accredits six organizations through the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). The six institutional accrediting bodies are organized by region:

• Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges (ACCJC) Western Association of Schools and Colleges
• Higher Learning Commission (HLC)
• New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE)
• Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities (NWCCU)
• Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC)
• WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC)