Curriculum
The following Curricular Options are currently in development and subject to change. At this point, however, the Master of Science in Forensic Science (MSFS) curriculum consists of: I. an Interdisciplinary Common Core (12 hrs); II. an Emphasis Area (9 hrs); III. a Forensic Science Internship/Thesis or Project (6 hrs) and IV. a Capstone, Forensic Expert in the Courtroom experience (3 hrs) to total 30 semester hrs.
I. Interdisciplinary Core Courses
The Common Core of 12 hrs integrates disciplines so that students will develop an overview of and some familiarity with all of the emphasis areas that may have to be pieced together during the investigation of a case. These course elements or discipline components may be half-semester courses or may be combined such that two or three of the components are taken at the same time in a semester long course. Please note, however, that students in some Emphasis Options, Accounting, for example, will not take the 2 cr. hr. Overview in Forensic Accounting course. Students should check with advisors in their Emphasis Options for up to date requirements.
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| MSFS 6000 |
Overview of Forensic Law |
2 |
| MSFS 6010 |
Overview of Forensic Criminal Justice |
2 |
| MSFS 6020 |
Overview of Forensic Psychology |
2 |
| MSFS 6030 |
Overview of Forensic Biology |
2 |
| MSFS 6040 |
Overview of Forensic Chemistry |
2 |
| MSFS 6050 |
Overview of Forensic Computer Analysis |
2 |
| MSFS 6070 |
Overview of Forensic Accounting |
2 |
| Total |
|
12 |
II. Emphasis Options
The Emphasis options (9 semester hours) are designed to give students depth in a traditional academic area as it relates to Forensics.
Accounting Emphasis
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| CSIS 6150 |
Cyber Crime (with lab) |
3 |
| ACCT 6830 |
Graduate Readings in Forensic Accounting – (in development) |
3 |
| ACCT 6900 |
Special Topics: Forensic Accounting – (in development) |
3 |
Biology Emphasis
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| BIOL 6130 |
DNA Analysis & Quality Control |
3 |
| BIOL 6230 |
Forensic Microscopy and Lab |
3 |
| BIOL 6330 |
Readings in Forensic Biology |
3 |
Chemistry Emphasis
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| CHEM 6140 |
Forensic Firearms Examination |
2 |
| CHEM 6145 |
Forensic Firearms Examination Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 6340 |
Forensic Toxicology |
2 |
| CHEM 6345 |
Forensic Toxicology Lab |
1 |
| CHEM 6440 |
Forensic Drug Analysis |
1 |
| CHEM 6445 |
Forensic Drug Analysis Lab |
2 |
Computer Science Information Systems Emphasis
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| choose 3 of the following four courses (9 hours) |
| CSIS 6150 |
Cyber-Crime (with lab) |
3 |
| CSIS 6250 |
Digital Forensics |
3 |
| CSIS 6450 |
Network and Internet Forensics |
3 |
Criminal Justice Emphasis
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| choose 3 of the following four courses (9 hours) |
| CJ 6110 |
Crime Scene Techniques |
3 |
| CJ 6220 |
Serial and Mass Murder Investigations |
3 |
| CJ 6320 |
Surveillance and Intelligence in the Criminal Investigation |
3 |
Psychology Emphasis
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| PSYC 6120 |
Legal Psychology |
4 |
| PSYC 6220 |
Psychology of Criminal Behavior |
4 |
| PSYC 6830 |
Readings in Forensic Psychology |
1 |
III. Forensic Science Internship/Thesis/Project
This component of the curriculum provides experience in independent or group investigation and/or research in Forensic Science. Required 6 hour research component
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| MSFS 6890 |
Internship |
6 |
| MSFS 6892 |
Professional Project |
| MSFS 6900 |
Thesis* |
* NOTE- Students majoring in the Biology and Chemistry Emphasis must take Thesis
IV. Capstone Experience
This capstone course provides experience in a moot court setting for the expert witness.
Required 3 hour capstone
| Course |
Credit Hrs. |
| MSFS 6910 |
The Forensic Expert in the Courtroom |
3 |
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