This program will begin admitting students in Fall 2025.
The Chemistry MS, Forensic Science Track is comprised of 32 or 34 credit hours of study beyond the BS degree with an intensive specialization in one of three concentrations: Forensic Analysis, Forensic Biochemistry or Forensic Professional. Full-time students should complete the degree in two years of continuous full-time study, while part-time students will generally finish the degree in four years.
The program in Forensic Analysis and Forensic Biochemistry is research-based and requires original and independent research resulting in a written thesis to be defended before a committee consisting of two UCF graduate faculty members and at least one other acknowledged forensic expert in the field. These concentrations require 32 credit hours, including 9 credit hours of required courses, 15 credit hours of concentration courses, and 8 credit hours of Thesis.
The program in Forensic Professional requires 34 credit hours, including 9 hours of required courses and 24 hours of elective courses and one credit hour of independent study as the capstone experience. This concentration does not require an original laboratory-based research project. Students not in residence at UCF should consult the catalog for courses with online offerings.
Students with undergraduate degrees in chemistry, biochemistry, biology, forensic science, statistics and physics are encouraged to apply. Students applying to this program with a forensic science undergraduate degree, please be aware that this program is designed for students interested in pursuing a career in forensic chemistry, forensic biology, forensic biochemistry applications.
Students interested in pursuing careers in any of the following forensic disciplines should apply to a more appropriate program:
- Forensic Psychology, you should apply to a graduate Psychology program.
- Forensic Anthropology, you should apply to a graduate Anthropology program.
- Crime Scene Investigation, you should apply to a graduate Criminal Justice program.
- Forensic Pathology or Medical Examination, you should apply to a medical school.
- Forensic Engineering, you should apply to a graduate Engineering program.
Total Credit Hours Required: 32-34 Credit Hours Minimum beyond the Bachelor's Degree
Track Prerequisites
A bachelor's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Physics, Statistics, Forensic Science, or another physical science, based on at least 30 hours of college-level science subjects, which will provide the background required to be successful in this program.
Degree Requirements
Required Courses
9 Total Credits
- Complete the following:
- CHS5504 - Topics in Forensic Science (3)
- CHS5596 - The Forensic Expert in the Courtroom (3)
- CHS6513 - Quality Assurance for Forensic Scientists (3)
Thesis/Nonthesis Options
23 - 25 Total Credits
- Complete 1 of the following
Thesis Option- Complete all of the following
- The Forensic Analysis and Forensic Biochemistry concentrations require the student to conduct original research and successfully defend a written thesis.
Program Concentrations- Complete 1 of the following
Forensic Analysis Concentration- Earn at least 15 credits from the following:
- CHM5235 - Applied Molecular Spectroscopy (3)
- CHS5507 - Chemometric Applications in Forensic Science (3)
- CHS6492 - Atomic Spectroscopy (3)
- CHS6509 - Advanced Forensic Microscopy (3)
- CHS6545 - Forensic Analysis of Explosives (3)
- CHS6546 - Forensic Analysis of Ignitable Liquids (3)
- STA5206 - Statistical Analysis (3)
- CHS5937 - Special Topics (3)
Forensic Biochemistry Concentration- Earn at least 15 credits from the following:
- BCH6740 - Advanced Biochemistry (3)
- CHS6535 - Forensic Molecular Biology (3)
- CHS6535L - Forensic Analysis of Biological Materials (3)
- CHS6536 - Population Genetics and Genetic Data (3)
- STA5206 - Statistical Analysis (3)
Thesis- Earn at least 8 credits from the following types of courses: CHS 6971 Thesis.
Nonthesis Option- Complete all of the following
- Students in the Forensic Professional concentration are required to take 24 credit hours selected from the list below with approval of their faculty adviser and complete the Capstone course.
- Earn at least 24 credits from the following:
- BCH6740 - Advanced Biochemistry (3)
- CAP6133 - Advanced Topics in Computer Security and Computer Forensics (3)
- CGS5131 - Computer Forensics I: Seizure and Examination of Computer Systems (3)
- CHM5235 - Applied Molecular Spectroscopy (3)
- CHM6134 - Advanced Instrumental Analysis (3)
- CHM6440 - Kinetics and Catalysis (3)
- CHM6710 - Applied Analytical Chemistry (3)
- CHM6938 - ST: Electrochemistry (3)
- CHS5507 - Chemometric Applications in Forensic Science (3)
- CHS5518 - The Forensic Collection and Examination of Digital Evidence (3)
- CHS6240 - Chemical Thermodynamics (3)
- CHS6251 - Applied Organic Synthesis (3)
- CHS6492 - Atomic Spectroscopy (3)
- CHS6509 - Advanced Forensic Microscopy (3)
- CHS6535 - Forensic Molecular Biology (3)
- CHS6535L - Forensic Analysis of Biological Materials (3)
- CHS6536 - Population Genetics and Genetic Data (3)
- CHS6545 - Forensic Analysis of Explosives (3)
- CHS6546 - Forensic Analysis of Ignitable Liquids (3)
- CIS6207 - The Practice of Digital Forensics (3)
- CNT6418 - Computer Forensics II (3)
- EMA5505 - Scanning Electron Microscopy (3)
- EMA6516 - X-ray Diffraction and Crystallography (3)
- EMA6518 - Transmission Electron Microscopy (3)
- PCB5265 - Stem Cell Biology (3)
- PCB5596 - Biomedical Informatics: Sequence Analysis (3)
- STA5206 - Statistical Analysis (3)
- CHS5937 - Special Topics (3)
- CCJ6431 - Leadership and Ethics in Criminal Justice (3)
Capstone- Earn at least 1 credits from the following types of courses: CHS 6908 - Independent Study The capstone experience in the Forensic Professional concentration requires one credit hour of Independent Study, which culminates in the submission of a required report on a pre-approved topic. This study will comprise either (1) a review of the current literature on a particular forensic science research topic area, or (2) a holistic case study dealing with a particular criminal case in which forensic evidence played a significant role.
Equipment Fee
0 Total Credits
- Full-time students in the Forensic Science MS program pay a $90 equipment fee each semester that they are enrolled. Part-time students pay $45 per semester.
Independent Learning
0 Total Credits
- Students in the Forensic Analysis and Forensic Biochemistry concentrations are required to conduct original research and defend a written thesis. Students in the Forensic Professional concentration complete a capstone experience that requires independent research and a report.
Grand Total Credits: 32 - 34
Financial Information
Graduate students may receive financial assistance through fellowships, assistantships, tuition support, or loans. For more information, see the College of Graduate Studies Funding website, which describes the types of financial assistance available at UCF and provides general guidance in planning your graduate finances. The Financial Information section of the Graduate Catalog is another key resource.
Fellowship Information
Fellowships are awarded based on academic merit to highly qualified students. They are paid to students through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by the College of Graduate Studies. Fellowships are given to support a student's graduate study and do not have a work obligation. For more information, see UCF Graduate Fellowships, which includes descriptions of university fellowships and what you should do to be considered for a fellowship.
The Forensic Science MS Track is designed to service the needs of both practicing professionals and full-time students who desire an advanced program of study in forensic science. The program is comprised of three concentrations: Forensic Analysis, Forensic Biochemistry and Forensic Professional. The Forensic Biochemistry and Forensic Analysis concentrations require the student to perform original research and defend a written thesis. The Forensic Professional concentration is a nonthesis option comprised of course work and an independent study capstone project.
Forensic Science is a highly interdisciplinary science, as reflected in the following programs of study. The interdisciplinary nature of the program makes it imperative that students seek advising from faculty members on the appropriateness of this program towards their future career as well as the content of courses to ensure that they have the appropriate background to master the course content.
Thesis Options
The grounding in scientific research methodology provided by the thesis requirement is a central focus of the thesis-based concentrations. The Forensic Analysis and Biochemistry concentrations are comprised of 32 credit hours of study beyond the BS degree. Students will conduct research either on site or at the professional laboratories where they work. In either case, a member of the UCF Forensic Science faculty will act as research adviser and approve the research topic. This research culminates in the writing and presentation of the thesis.
The student's research adviser will select the thesis examination committee, consisting of two UCF faculty members and at least one other acknowledged forensic expert in the field. The student will present his/her thesis for examination by the committee. The thesis must be judged worthy of publication by the review committee and may not be submitted for examination until approved. For students choosing to conduct research at non-UCF sites, the thesis adviser may visit the student's laboratory where the research is to be performed, before the research begins and on a regular basis until the work is complete.
- Forensic Analysis Concentration: The Forensic Analysis concentration emphasizes the application of modern chromatographic, spectroscopic and micro-analytical techniques to problems in forensic science.
- Forensic Biochemistry Concentration: The Forensic Biochemistry concentration has a strong biochemistry-DNA focus to serve the needs of supervisory personnel in DNA sections of crime laboratories. National DNA standards mandate that such personnel have advanced degrees.
Nonthesis Option
The nonthesis concentration is specifically designed for the forensic analyst who currently holds employment in an operational forensic laboratory or has previously worked for a minimum of three years in an operational forensic laboratory. Applicants who do not meet these criteria must apply for one of the thesis-based concentrations. This specialized program option is not designed for international applicants.
- Forensic Professional Concentration: The Forensic Professional concentration is comprised of 34 credit hours of study beyond the bachelor of science degree but does not require an original laboratory-based research project. The Forensic Professional concentration culminates in a one-credit-hour independent study capstone project performed under the direction of one of the faculty members in the program.
