Forensic Science, Master of Science

Program Director: Professor Marta Concheiro-Guisan

([e-mail])

The Master of Science in Forensic Science is designed to provide advanced education for scientists, administrators, managers and other professionals currently employed in crime laboratories, medical examiners’ offices and in related areas such as public safety, arson investigation, and environmental protection. The program also prepares individuals who are interested in entering such careers. Drawing from the areas of chemistry, biology, physics and law, the program involves the mastery of techniques for the laboratory and the courts. The curriculum meets an urgent national need for broadly trained forensic scientists.

The master’s degree program offers specializations in criminalistics, forensic toxicology, or molecular biology. Within these three areas, sub-specialization is available through electives offered periodically at John Jay College or (with permission) at the CUNY Graduate School and University Center.

Admissions. General admissions information for John Jay's graduate programs can be found under the Admissions section of this bulletin along with any Program-specific admissions requirements.

Program Codes:
IRP Program Code: 02526
HEGIS Code: 1999.20
CIP Code: 43.0406

Degree Requirements

Program requirements consist of 42-44 credit hours. Core courses provide the student with the knowledge and skills required of crime laboratory analysts; elective courses, coupled with research experience, provide training in more specialized areas such as microspectrophotometry, firearm examination, microscopy, forensic anthropology and questioned documents.

All students are required to write a thesis. There are no alternatives.

Additional information. Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in September 2025 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here.  Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose the form shown here or the earlier version of the major.  A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2024-2025 Graduate Bulletin.

Required Courses

FOS 706	Physical and Biological Evidence	3
FOS 707	Fundamentals of Forensic Toxicology	3
FOS 708	Human Genetics and Forensic DNA Technology	3
FOS 709	Applied Statistics and Data Analysis for Forensic Scientists	4
FOS 710	Advanced Criminalistics I	5
FOS 721	Advanced Instrumental Analysis I	5
FOS 722	Advanced Instrumental Analysis II	5
FOS 795	Thesis Prospectus I	1
FOS 796	Thesis Prospectus II: Graduate Seminar	1
FOS 797	Thesis Prospectus III	1
Total Credit Hours:		31

Required Courses for the Criminalistics Specialty

FOS 711

Advanced Criminalistics II

5

Select one of the following:

FOS 735	Advanced Topics in Physical Science	3
FOS 736	Firearms and Toolmark Examination	3
FOS 738	Crime Scene Investigation for Forensic Scientists	3
Total Credit Hours:		8

Required Courses for the Molecular Biology Specialty

FOS 732	Advanced Molecular Biology I	5
FOS 733	Advanced Molecular Biology II	5
Total Credit Hours:		10

Required Courses for the Forensic Toxicology Specialty

FOS 725	Forensic Toxicology I	5
FOS 726	Forensic Toxicology II	5
Total Credit Hours:		10

Highly Recommended Electives for All Specialties

Choose one.

FOS 717	Organic Compound Structure Determination	3
FOS 727	Case Analysis in Forensic Toxicology	3
FOS 735	Advanced Topics in Physical Science	3
FOS 736	Firearms and Toolmark Examination	3
FOS 737	Microscopy, Spectrometry and Diffraction with Electrons in Forensic and Chemical Analysis	3
FOS 738	Crime Scene Investigation for Forensic Scientists	3
FOS 760	Scientific Evidence, Expert Testimony, and Ethics for Research and Forensic Scientists	3
FOS 761	Forensic Anthropology: Osteological & Genetic Identification	3
FOS 762	Current Trends in Forensic Pathology and Entomology	3
CRJ 708	Law, Evidence and Ethics	3
Total Credit Hours:		3

Total Credit Hours: 42-44