SCHEV approves VCU Master of Science degree in forensic science

By Mike Frontiero
VCU School of Education

Virginia Commonwealth University has received approval from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to spin off its Master's of Science in Criminal Justice, Forensic Science track, to a stand-alone Master's of Science in Forensic Science degree. The change, effective for students graduating in December 2003, is designed to further strengthen one of the most competitive university-level forensic science programs in the United States.

It is the only M.S. in Forensic Science program in Virginia and one of only 13 such programs in the country. As a track in the Department of Criminal Justice, the program established a national reputation.

The new M.S. in Forensic Science brings the graduate and undergraduate forensic science degrees together into a unified program. "The union of VCU's B.S. and M.S. programs in forensic science and the partnership with the state Division of Forensic Science will provide an unparalleled forensic science education center for the Commonwealth of Virginia and VCU," said Stephen D. Gottfredson, dean of the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

The M.S. program is one of the few in the nation to partner with a nationally accredited laboratory, the Virginia Division of Forensic Science (DFS). Students work in state-of-the-art forensic science environments alongside practicing professional forensic scientists exposed to real world situations and cases.

Many DFS practitioners teach in the B.S. and M.S. programs, including DFS Director Paul B. Ferrara, Ph.D., a nationally recognized expert in forensic science and a distinguished professor of forensic science and chemistry in the VCU College of Humanities and Sciences.

More than 200 applications from across the nation were received for the 12 available positions, making it one of the most selective programs in the university. "That shows how strong a national reputation the M.S. program has," said William B. Eggleston, Ph.D., Director of the VCU Forensic Science program.

The B.S. program is also popular. Enrollment has grown from 14 in spring 2001 to 410 students in fall 2003. Forensic Science Program Coordinator Sherry B. Mikuta attributes the growth in part to television - crime programs such as C.S.I and real-life dramas like the O.J. Simpson trial. "It's in the news," Mikuta said. "People are more aware of the role forensic science plays."

The objective of the two-year master's program is to prepare students for careers as forensic scientists in government and private laboratories, or to pursue further graduate study. Broad exposure to the specializations within the field is offered, including drug analysis, DNA analysis, as well as introductions to firearms and toolmarks, fingerprint identifications, and legal issues. A strong emphasis on laboratory courses provides students with the extensive lab experience necessary to be competitive in the job market.

Forensic Science is a broad field in which physical and biological sciences are used to analyze and evaluate physical evidence. Physical evidence is any item or physical state having the potential of providing information to the criminal justice system, civil litigation or matters of public interest.