Forensic Science, M.S.

• At least 48 credit hours of college science and mathematics courses are required.
• One year of general chemistry with laboratory, one year of organic chemistry with laboratory, a course in analytical chemistry, one year of general biology (including cell biology), a course in genetics or population genetics, and a course in either molecular biology or biochemistry
• Minimum GPA of 2.75 for all courses and 2.90 for chemistry and biology courses

You may be conditionally accepted if your academic records are excellent. Once accepted, you will be required to take extra courses to correct the deficiency before graduation.

Send your transcript (unofficial transcript is acceptable) to the Graduate Coordinator, Dr. S. Suwal (suwals@buffalostate.edu), he will be able to tell you what courses to take.

Students with a GPA lower than 2.75 are sometimes accepted. In this case, you may be conditionally accepted to pre-major and required to complete several required courses with B or better grade.

Some M.S. students complete their degrees part-time, but this can double or triple the time required for completion.

Selected students (international and domestic) who are admitted are awarded financial assistance in the form of a graduate assistantship (GA). Selection is generally made based upon applicants’ GPA and courses taken. Once awarded, tuition and some fees are waived, basic health insurance is provided, and a monthly stipend is paid. Limited seats are available every year and early application is strongly recommended.

Students awarded graduate assistantships are required to work ~20 hours per week. This includes teaching two classes of 100-level lab classes (e.g., general chemistry), working in the stockroom, preparing for labs, and attending the chemistry help desk for undergraduate students.

Application Processing and Decision: There is no standard time for processing an application and receiving a decision. However, it is generally 2-4 weeks between the time a complete application is received and the time a decision is made.

Application Status: Please contact the Graduate Program Coordinator, Dr. S. Suwal (suwals@buffalostate.edu), with any questions regarding your status.

They are currently working at federal/state agencies, research/industrial laboratories. Some students are attending the graduate school for doctoral degree or professional school (pharmacy). 

Thesis option: requires thesis research (BIO/CHE/FOR795 6 crs) which is creative and extensive research regarding forensic science-related topics. Other scientific topics including chemistry and biology are also possible if you and your research advisor mutually agree. In addition, thesis option requires thesis seminar and defense (CHE699 2 crs) which consists of thesis seminar open to public, defense with your thesis committee, and submission of thesis to the Graduate School and chemistry department. 

Required total 31 credits

• 17 crs of required courses
• 6 crs of thesis research
• 2 crs of thesis seminar and defense
• 6 crs of electives

Project option: requires project research (BIO/CHE/FOR690 4 crs) which is related to forensic sciences. Other scientific topics including chemistry and biology are also possible if you and your project advisor mutually agree. In addition, thesis option requires project seminar open to public and submission of project report to the Graduate School.

• Required total 30 credits
• 17 crs of required courses
• 4 crs of project research
• 9 crs of electives
   

Thesis research is more extensive and creative than project research. The goals and scopes will be decided by you and your advisor. Essentially, the thesis option is characterized as the more traditional research option that typically focuses on choosing an original topic, conducting an extensive literature review to delimit the scope of the topic and to develop research questions which the student seeks to answer. The thesis option requires the researcher to carefully focus on the methodology to be utilized that includes identification of how data will be collected to help answer the research questions or hypotheses and to develop a detail data analysis plan.

Example: Development of a new analytical method of cocaine and its metabolites in blood by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.

The project option oftentimes involves the researcher seeking to solve a problem or issue of significance in regulatory affairs or quality assurance. The methodology employed will vary depending on the scope of the problem chosen but will include an analysis and evaluation of the process involved. The topic chosen may be less novel or original as compared to an identified need.

Example: Chemical analysis of cocaine metabolites in blood samples via gas chromatography and mass spectrometry.  

After admission, you can choose your research advisor from faculty member of chemistry department or other departments or chemistry adjunct professors by mutual agreement. When you choose your advisor from other institute like UB, approval is needed in advance. Once you select your research advisor, topics, and specific research goals, you can start thesis/project research.

You will be advised by the graduate advisor (Dr. Suwal) regarding the selection of thesis/project research advisor after school starts.