American Academy of Forensic sciences accredits VCU’s graduate forensic science degree

By Anne Buckley

The American Academy of Forensic Sciences has awarded full, five-year accreditation to the Virginia Commonwealth University Master of Science degree in forensic science.

The Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission, FEPAC, an arm of the larger organization, made the recommendation following a rigorous review that included a site visit.

“This is a great achievement for the program, and one that I believe will make it even more attractive to students across the United States,” said Robert D. Holsworth, Ph.D., acting dean of VCU’s College of Humanities and Sciences, and director of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs. “This approval makes VCU one of five accredited graduate programs in the entire nation.”

The accreditation recognizes and distinguishes high-quality forensic science programs at colleges and universities. The American Academy of Forensic Sciences, AAFS, is a professional society dedicated to the application of science to law. Its nearly 6,000 members include physicians, attorneys, dentists, toxicologists, physical anthropologists, document examiners, psychiatrists, physicists, engineers, criminalists, educators and others. The academy publishes the Journal of Forensic Sciences.

“This accreditation affirms our standing as one of the most highly regarded forensic science programs in the country,” said William B. Eggleston, Ph.D., chairman of the Department of Forensic Science. “And it complements our undergraduate degree program, which is the only undergraduate forensic science program in Virginia.”