Curriculum and Basic Requirements for the Degree

Master of Science in Forensic Sciences (M.S.F.S)
The M.S.F.S. degree involves 39 graduate credit hours, a research project, and a comprehensive examination. Full-time students taking 9 credits per semester may graduate in 2 to 3 years. Part-time students enrolling in 6 credits per semester may complete the program in 3 ½ to 4 years. The maximum time to complete the degree is 7 years. The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences has accredited the biology/DNA and toxicology tracks, the only two areas that FEPAC currently accredits. 

Core M.S.F.S. courses: 15 credits
FRNS 5013 Survey of Forensic Sciences (3)*¹
FRNS 5063 Ethical Research and Scientific Writing (3)*
FRNS 5073 Quality Assurance in Forensic Science² (3)*
FRNS 5613 Criminalistics and Evidence Analysis (3)*
FRNS 5653 Scientific Evidence (3)*

Other basic requirements for all M.S.F.S. students
GPA of 3.0 to be maintained throughout the program
Plan of Study filed before completion of the 17th credit hour and kept current thereafter
Comprehensive examination satisfactorily completed³
Research thesis or capstone research project, supported by enrollment in FRNS 5000 or FRNS 5980

Additional requirements by option or specialization: 24 credits

Option in Forensic Document Examination 
FRNS 5023 Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents (3)*
FRNS 5033 Forensic Handwriting Examination: Theory and Practice (3)*
FRNS 5043 Technical Aspects of Forensic Document Examination (3)*
FRNS 5053 Historical Aspects of Forensic Document Examination (3)*
FRNS 5980 Non-thesis Creative Component in Forensic Sciences (1-3)*
FRNS 5913 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation (3)*
Elective courses as directed or approved by the advisor (6-8 credits)

Option in Forensic Science Administration
FRNS 5083 Ethics in Forensic Leadership (3)*
FRNS 5213 Molecular Biology for the Forensic Scientist (3)* OR FRNS 5523 Forensic Toxicology (3)*
FRNS 5413 Forensic Pathology and Medicine (3)*
FRNS 5980 Non-thesis Creative Component in Forensic Sciences (1-3)*
FRNS 5943 Forensic Management and Organizational Development (3)*
HCA 5023 Human Resources in Health Care and Public Administration (3)*
Elective courses as directed or approved by the advisor (6 to 8 credits)

Specialization in Forensic Biology, Forensic Pathology,⁴ Forensic Psychology,⁴ or Forensic Toxicology
FRNS 5000 Research and Thesis⁵ (6 credit hours, taken in 1-3-hour segments)
FRNS 5282 Methods in Forensic Sciences² (2)
FRNS 5622 Advanced Criminalistics (2)
STAT 5013 Statistics for Experimenters I⁶ (3)
Elective courses as directed according to specialization or as approved by the advisor (11 credits)

Directed electives according to specialization

Forensic Biology/DNA
FRNS 5213 Molecular Biology (3)*
FRNS 5242 Population Genetics (2)
FRNS 5513 Forensic Bioscience (3)*

Forensic Pathology/Microbiology
FRNS 5213 Molecular Biology (3)* OR FRNS 5523 Forensic Toxicology (3)*
FRNS 5323 Forensic Microbiology (3)*
FRNS 5413 Forensic Pathology and Medicine (3)*

Forensic Psychology
FRNS 5713 Forensic Psychology (3)*
FRNS 5723 Advanced Forensic Psychology (3)*
SOC 4950 Current Topics in Sociology: Criminal Behavior Analysis7 (3) meets on OSU Stillwater campus

Forensic Toxicology
FRNS 5413 Forensic Pathology and Medicine (3)*
FRNS 5523 Forensic Toxicology (3)*
FRNS 5543 Advanced Forensic Toxicology (3)*

Elective courses (advisor approval required)
FRNS 5023 Forensic Examination of Questioned Documents (3)*
FRNS 5053 Historical Aspects of Forensic Document Examination (3)*
FRNS 5083 Ethics in Forensic Leadership (3)*
FRNS 5090 Internship in Forensic Sciences (1-3)
FRNS 5213 Molecular Biology (3)*
FRNS 5242 Population Genetics (2)
FRNS 5282 Methods in Forensic Sciences (2)
FRNS 5323 Forensic Microbiology (3)*
FRNS 5413 Forensic Pathology and Medicine (3)*
FRNS 5513 Forensic Bioscience (3)*
FRNS 5523 Forensic Toxicology (3)*
FRNS 5533 Drug Toxicity (3)*
FRNS 5543 Advanced Forensic Toxicology (3)*
FRNS 5622 Advanced Criminalistics (2)
FRNS 5713 Forensic Psychology (3)*
FRNS 5723 Advanced Forensic Psychology (3)*
FRNS 5913 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation (3)*
FRNS 5943 Forensic Management and Organizational Development (3)*
FRNS 5970 Directed Readings in Forensic Sciences (1-3)*
FRNS 5990 Special Topics in Forensic Sciences (1-3)*
BIOM 5013 Medical Biostatistics (3) may substitute for STAT 5013, with advisor permission
BIOM 6543 Neurochemical Toxicology (3)
HCA 5023 Human Resources in Health Care and Public Administration (3)*
PLP 5343 Principles of Plant Pathology⁸ (3)
SOC 4950 Current Topics in Sociology: Criminal Behavior Analysis^7,8 (3)
SOC 4990 Exploration of Sociological Issues: Advanced Forensics^7,8 (3)
SOC 5573 Seminar on Victimology⁸ (3)

FEMP courses in OSU’s Fire and Emergency Management Program at http://femp.okstate.edu may qualify as electives.