Application Procedures

Admissions are granted according to curriculum and space available in each program.  The M.S. program typically begins with the fall term, but the Program may admit students for the spring term if space is available in the applicant’s chosen specialty.  The M.F.S.A. program may begin with either the fall or spring semester.  Fall admission is customary for the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents, but practicing document examiners may be granted admission for the spring term.

All required information, as outlined below, must arrive by the specified deadline for an application to be considered.  The exceptional M.S. candidate who applies well in advance of the deadline may receive an early offer of admission.

Online classes greatly reduce the need for moving to the campus area.  Both the M.F.S.A. and Graduate Certificate program may be completed through online studies, and M.S. students may complete the first year of coursework online before relocating.  Since OSU has no university housing in Tulsa, prospective M.S. students may want to investigate rental costs on Web sites like Apartment Finder and Apartmentguide.com.  These sources, provided for the convenience of applicants, are neither associated with nor endorsed by OSU.

Deadlines
Application materials, including all transcripts and recommendations, must be sent by the specified due date and have a postmark date no later than the application deadline. International students should also obtain and submit the International Application for Admission along with the Financial Guarantee.

M.S. applications are due:

• March 1 for admission in fall of the same calendar year
• October 1 for admission in spring of the next calendar year

The M.S. program extends most offers of admission for the fall semester, then considers late applications if positions remain open.  Exceptional candidates may receive early offers.

M.F.S.A. applications are due:

• March 1 or July 1 for admission in fall of the same calendar year
• November 1 for admission in spring of the next calendar year

The M.F.S.A. program admits students in both the fall and the spring semesters.  Exceptional candidates may receive early offers.

Graduate Certificate applications are due:

• July 15 for admission in fall of the same calendar year
• November 15 for admission in spring of the next calendar year

Applicants for the Graduate Certificate in Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents should use the Application for Graduate Admission and are admitted as graduate students.  All 12 credit hours earned in the certificate program will apply toward the M.F.S.A. degree, should the student later gain admission to that program.   

Applications for Special Graduate Admission are due one week before classes start.  Graduate students from other OSU campuses must submit this application in order to enroll in courses at the OSU Center for Health Sciences.

Unless otherwise indicated, applications and forms should be sent to:

Student Affairs, ATTN: Graduate Coordinator
OSU Center for Health Sciences
1111 West 17th Street
Tulsa, OK 74107-1898

Required Information
For an application to be considered, the following information is needed:

From the applicant

1. Application for Graduate Admission for the OSU-CHS campus (along with International Application, if needed).
2. Application fee of $40.00 (or $75.00 for International applicants) in the form of a check or money order payable to OSU.
3. Letter of Application, which should include:
   • Personal career goals and/or reasons for choosing the program.
   • Area of Specialization - MS applicants must identify in the letter and on the application the discipline of interest for advanced studies and research. This must correspond to one of four areas for which the program currently provides faculty and research facilities: forensic DNA, forensic pathology, forensic psychology, forensic toxicology.  NOTE:  The M.S. program does not train individuals for careers as forensic pathologists or forensic psychologists, as those professions require other advanced degrees.
   • A brief description of experience or qualifications to be verified with supporting information (recommendations, transcripts, or employment verification).
   • Any other important or relevant information that the applicant would like the Graduate Faculty Committee to consider in reviewing the application.

From other sources (for degree-seeking students only)

1. Two official Transcripts from each institution attended after high school should be sent directly by the college or university to the OSU-CHS Student Affairs office.
2. Three Letters of Recommendation should come directly from the individuals recommending the applicant, with the Graduate Program Recommendation form attached and signed by the applicant.
3. The Verification of Forensic-Related Work Experience Form, required for M.F.S.A. applicants only, should be sent directly by the employer to the Program office, as specified on the form.
4. Required test scores must arrive by the due date.  (See details below.)

Required Tests and Scores
Requirements for admissions tests are outlined below.  If you require any special accommodations, please make arrangements in advance directly with GRE; for the MAT, contact the testing center.  

• M.S. applicants should have a combined GRE score of at least 1000 for the verbal and quantitative sections, with the score on the analytical writing section also to be considered as a factor for admission. For test locations and information see www.gre.com.    
• M.F.S.A. applicants should score above the 50th percentile on MAT (Miller Analogy Test) or should have GRE scores as required for the M.S. program.  See http://www.milleranalogies.com for information about the MAT and testing center.  With permission from the Director of Forensic Sciences, individuals with advanced degrees may be allowed to substitute the following scores:  Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT), Dental College Admissions Test (DAT); passing scores on the national board examination in dentistry, nursing, medicine, psychology, or accounting or on the state bar exam. 
• International students must also score at least 600 on the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) or 250 on the computerized version and at least five (5) on the TWE (Test of Written English). These exceed minimum requirements for OSU international admission.

Timely Reporting of Results
To assure that test scores arrive before the deadline and go to the right address, applicants should use the codes below and take the required test(s) at least six weeks before the application deadline.  If a testing center does not offer an option to fill in these code(s), have results sent to the Student Affairs Office/Graduate Coordinator at the address given below.  Failure to follow these directions may result in the application not being considered because of a missed deadline.    

• 0612 (for Osteopathic) as the Departmental Code for the GRE and TOEFL/TWE.  Since GRE offers no Forensics code, the Osteopathic code assures that scores go to the OSU Center for Health Sciences, the only OSU campus with an Osteopathic college. 
• 6546 (for Oklahoma State University) as the Institutional Code on the GRE and TOEFL/TWE 
• 2183 on the MAT as the Recipient Code for the OSU Graduate Program in Forensic Sciences (only code needed)
• Address to list if no code is available (e.g., computer-based tests):
  Student Affairs, ATTN:  Graduate Coordinator
  Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
  1111 West 17th Street
  Tulsa, OK 74107-1898

M.S. Interviews
Eligible M.S. applicants must complete a phone or on-campus interview with the faculty member for the chosen specialty.  The Program office will initiate and schedule these according to initial rankings after the application period closes and before an offer is made.  Interviews for wait-listed students will be scheduled as openings occur. 

Review of Applications
The Graduate Faculty Committee meets to review completed applications after the application deadline.  “Complete application” is defined as the filled-in application form with all required supporting information, submitted by specified deadlines. Applicants are considered on the basis of:

• Academic background, including major area of study, grade point average, and degree(s) attained
• Scores on required qualifying examination
• Letters of recommendation
• Other pertinent information from the applicant’s letter or employment history
• The ability of the Graduate Program to support the applicant’s career goals

The Graduate Faculty Committee also may extend an early offer of admission to the exceptional M.S. applicant who has all required materials submitted in advance of the deadline.

Notification
Applicants receive notification of status within one month of the application deadline. Any offer of admission requires signed acceptance and a $100 deposit.  M.S. applicants must respond within two weeks of receiving an offer to secure a place in the program.

Information Packets and Other Requests
To request an application packet by mail, provide your name, e-mail address, phone numbers, and mailing address with zip or postal code.  Please direct all inquires and requests to forensic@okstate.edu or call 1.800.677.1972  Ext. 1108 or 918.561.1108.

Application Checklist