Master of Science in Forensic Science

The mission of the Master of Science in Forensic Science is to teach and continually emphasize forensic science foundational principles in all aspects of instruction to students who have a solid background in the natural sciences thereby helping to produce a future generation of competent, credible and ethical forensic scientists.

The program is designed to prepare students for the challenges of forensic science in the 21^st century by providing theoretical and practical background in all areas of criminalistics, a meaningful research experience, and opportunities to develop excellent written and oral communication skills.

The Forensic Science Program

The Forensic Science program is accredited by the Forensic Science Educational Programs Accreditation Commission and is housed within the Department of Forensic Science and Justice Studies . Student research and laboratory coursework are performed in a variety of laboratories in the Poole Science Center, Miller Family Building, Oberkotter Center for Health and Wellness, and Curtis Hall. The forensic science program has laboratories and instrumentation for research and instruction in pattern analysis, crime scene reconstruction, microscopy, and forensic chemical and biological analysis.

Faculty teaching in the program include:

Lawrence Quarino, Director of the Graduate Program and Professor of Forensic Science, Ph.D., City University of New York. 
Jennifer Bonetti, Adjunct Instructor, Ph.D., University of Amsterdam
Thomas Brettell, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry, Ph.D., Villanova University
K. Joy Karnas, Professor of Biology, Ph.D., University of Arizona.
Matthew Kieber-Emmons, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Ph.D., University of Delaware
Janine Kishbaugh, Senior Instructor of Forensic Science, M.S., Cedar Crest College.
Andra Lewis, Assistant Professor of Forensic Science, Ph.D., Sam Houston State University
Carol Ritter, Senior Instructor of Forensic Science, M.S., University of Scranton
Marianne E. Staretz, Associate Professor of Chemistry, Ph.D. State University of New York at Binghamton.
Matthew Wood, Adjunct Instructor, Ph.D., Rutgers University

Program Goals and Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Master of Science in Forensic Science students will:

Have the necessary theoretical background in all the primary areas of Criminalistics. These topics include crime scene reconstruction, pattern analysis, microscopy, forensic molecular biology, forensic chemistry and toxicology.
Demonstrate proficiency in laboratory skills necessary for a career in Criminalistics.
Demonstrate the ability to analyze and interpret scientific data.
Demonstrate the ability to provide proper scientific expert witness courtroom testimony.
Demonstrate professional conduct and the personal characteristics expected of professionals in the Forensic Science community.
Demonstrate the ability to be research scientists.
Demonstrate proficiency in oral and written communication skills.
Demonstrate knowledge of current policy, legal, and ethical guidelines for professional forensic science practice.

General Admissions Information

Students are admitted to graduate programs at Cedar Crest College on the basis of individual qualifications. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until the admission deadline of May 1 for the upcoming fall semester.

Application materials and all correspondence relating to admission should be sent to:
Cedar Crest College
School of Adult and Graduate Education
100 College Drive
Blaney Hall, Room 212
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-740-3770
Email:
Office hours: Monday-Thursday 8:30 am-6:30 pm; Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

International applicants should send materials and correspondence to:
Cedar Crest College
International Admissions
100 College Drive
Allen House, Room 202
Allentown, PA 18104-6196
Phone: 610-606-4666, ext. 4587
Email:
Office hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm

Applicants and prospective students may contact the admissions office to schedule a campus tour, faculty meeting, or in-person, online, or phone appointment with an admissions counselor.

Please see the Admission of Students section at the beginning of the catalog for more information related to admissions processes and policies. Master of Science in Forensic Science Application Requirements
To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must submit the following items:

Completed admission application, found at www.cedarcrest.edu/apply
Official transcripts from the bachelor’s degree-granting institution and any other institutions where relevant coursework was completed.
- Transcripts from institutions located outside the United States will need to be accompanied by an official course-by-course evaluation, with degree equivalency, completed by a NACES-recognized foreign transcript evaluation agency, such as World Education Services (www.wes.org).
Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to the candidate’s scientific ability.
Current résumé
Personal essay

Master of Science in Forensic Science Admission Requirements

To be considered for admission to the program, applicants must meet the following requirements:

Completion of a Bachelor of Science degree in a natural or forensic science (or its equivalent coursework in a relevant field) awarded by an accredited college or university. Applicants may apply while finishing their bachelor’s degree requirements, however the degree must be conferred, as shown on an official transcript, prior to the start of the student’s first matriculated semester at Cedar Crest College.
A minimum bachelor’s degree GPA of 3.0 (on a 4.0 scale) is recommended. However, applications are reviewed holistically, and applicants with a GPA below 3.0 may be granted admission at the discretion of the program r faculty if their application materials demonstrate the potential for success in the program.
Applicants from institutions other than Cedar Crest may be asked to undergo a successful interview with members of the forensic science faculty before acceptance into the program.

It is recommended that the applicant completes the following coursework at the undergraduate level:

Two semesters of general (freshman) chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry. one semester of analytical chemistry, and one semester of biochemistry.
Two semesters of calculus (differential and integral preferred) or one semester of calculus and one semester of statistics.
Two semesters of physics.
Two semesters of general (freshman) biology and one semester of genetics.
Applicants need not have all the recommended courses for admission. It is understood that curricula vary across disciplines and all applicants will be judged on an individual basis.
Admissions Decisions

An Admissions Committee composed of full faculty members working in the program will make admission decisions based upon the criteria specified above. Each applicant will be considered from a holistic perspective. The Program Director reserves the right to ask the prospective candidate for additional information.

A $250 non-refundable deposit will be required for all admitted students to save one’s place in the program.

Matriculation

Matriculation is required for any student who plans to receive financial aid and graduate degree. A student applies for matriculation by submitting a completed application for admission to the School of Adult and Graduate Education. After submitting a complete application, students receive a letter from the College informing them of the decision concerning their acceptance as a degree candidate. Students are matriculated into the program once they have registered for classes during their first semester of academic study. The date of matriculation is the first day of classes in the term in which the student is enrolled after having satisfied all matriculation requirements. Graduate programs may permit non-matriculated and visiting students to enroll in graduate courses on a case-by-case basis. In the event that a graduate course reaches its enrollment maximum, matriculated students are given preference over non-matriculated students.

Students who have completed all coursework but not their master’s thesis will be required to maintain matriculation by registering for Continuing Research (FSC 599, 1 credit) for each semester until they complete the program. A student will be considered inactive in any semester that they have not registered for at least 1 credit or have not been granted a leave of absence. Those students considered inactive will be subject to the requirements outlined in the Student Handbook and College Catalog for the year they rematriculate.

Transfer Credit Policy

Students entering the program may transfer equivalent coursework from any accredited institution. Forensic Science equivalent coursework will only be considered from FEPAC-accredited programs. All transfer students must however, complete a master’s thesis (or publication) and a graduate seminar at Cedar Crest. The transferred coursework, however, must have been completed within ten years of the date of enrollment in the program (the first day of classes of a student’s first academic year). Once matriculated in the program, students will not receive any credit for coursework taken at another institution. Non-matriculated students that take program courses at Cedar Crest may transfer all Cedar Crest courses after matriculationContinuation, Probation, and Academic Dismissal

Good Academic Standing

To remain in good academic standing, students in the Master of Science program must maintain a minimum cumulative graduate GPA of 3.0.

Academic Monitoring and Probation

Students whose cumulative GPA falls below 3.0 at the conclusion of any semester or summer term will be notified and placed on academic probation for the subsequent semester. Academic probation provides structured support and clear expectations for students to return to good academic standing. To return to good standing, the student must raise their cumulative GPA to 3.0 or higher by the end of the probationary period.

While on probation, the Program Director or Advisor (if delegated from the Program Director) will develop an individualized academic recovery plan outlining strategies for improvement and the probationary period. Additional monitoring or meetings may be required as appropriate based on the student’s academic circumstances and as specified by the Program Director in the academic recovery plan.

Academic Dismissal

A student will be dismissed from the program if one or more of the following occur:

The cumulative GPA remains below 3.0 at the conclusion of the probationary period;
The student fails to complete required academic steps specified in the academic recovery process outlined during probation; or
The student receives a grade of <C- in any course.

C Grades and Course Repetition

A maximum of two grades in the C range (C+, C, or C-) may be applied toward degree requirements. Students may repeat a course in which a grade in the C range was earned to improve academic standing. When a course is successfully repeated, the original grade remains on the transcript but is excluded from cumulative GPA calculations. Each individual course may be repeated only once.

Leaves of Absence. Course Withdrawals, and Incompletes

Students wishing to take a leave of absence from the program may request to do so in writing to the Program Director. The granting of the requested leave is at the discretion of the Program Director and pending approval from the Provost. The time frame for a leave of absence will not exceed one year and will be counted in the ten years necessary to complete the program.

Students wishing to withdraw from a course must do so by the date determined by the College. It is advised that students consult the graduate catalog to determine what this date is for both the fall and spring semesters.

A temporary grade of Incomplete (I) is only given to a student who is doing passing work in a course but who, for reasons beyond the student’s control, is not able to complete the course requirements by the deadline for submitting grades. At least 75% of the assigned work for the class must have been completed before a grade of “I” can be requested. A grade of “I” is not entered on a student’s permanent record. Ordinarily, coursework must be completed within the first six weeks after the last day of final examinations. If the instructor does not turn in a grade within the six-week period, a grade of “F” will be recorded for the course. If the instructor subsequently wishes to change the grade, s/he should follow the procedure for change of grade indicated below.

Students must always maintain matriculation every fall and spring during their enrollment. A student will be considered inactive in any semester that they have not registered for at least 1 credit or have not been granted a leave of absence. Those students considered inactive will be subject to the requirements outlined in the program’s student handbook and College Catalog for the year they rematriculate.

Maximum Period of Candidacy

Students must complete the program in seven academic years beginning from the semester of matriculation.

Completion of the Graduate Program and Graduation

To successfully complete the MSFS, a student must adhere to the following:

Complete all required coursework with no more than 2 grades in the C range Successful completion of a graduate level research project cumulating in a peer-reviewed publication or thesis.
Successful completion of a graduate level research project cumulating in a peer-reviewed publication or thesis.
Successful completion of a graduate research seminar presented to students and faculty. Approval is granted by the student’s research committee.
Apply to the Registrar for graduation by the published application deadline.
Fulfill all financial responsibilities to the College.

Graduate 2026-2027 Tuition and Fees

Forensic Science Graduate Tuition, per credit $923.00 
Undergraduate Tuition rate per credit, daytime students $485.00
Deposit (non-refundable) due upon acceptance to the program $500.00 
Master’s Research Fee (non-refundable) (FSC 504) $250.00 
Full-Time/Part-Time Student Activity Fee, per semester $35.00 
Full-Time Technology Fee, per semester $175.00 
Part-Time Technology Fee, per semester $87.50

Note: The College reserves the right to change fees and charges as necessary. Books, supplies, lab materials and other program costs are not included in the tuition. The deposit is credited toward the tuition cost for the first semester.

Graduate Assistantships in Forensic Science

Graduate assistantships are designed to promote the educational goals and objectives of the master’s program by providing students with opportunities to actively participate in a range of instructional and research activities which serve to promote mastery of knowledge in the field of forensic science. To this end, graduate assistants are placed with individual forensic science faculty and are expected to work a minimum of 10 hours per week.

The duties of a graduate assistant may include:

Quality control testing of reagents and instrumentation,
Tutoring of undergraduate and other graduate students,
Maintaining cleanliness of program and department laboratories,
Develop undergraduate forensic science laboratories,
Data analysis,
Enhance program databases,
Special projects,
8. Attend weekly group meetings.

To be eligible to receive an assistantship, a student must be a full-time student in their first or second year of the program.

Assistantships are awarded on a semester basis and recipients are selected on a competitive basis based on GPA by the Program Director in consultation with the faculty. The number of assistantships available in any given academic year and the stipend to be awarded to each graduate assistant is determined by the Program Director in consultation with the Provost. The decision of the Program Director regarding award recipients is final and is not subject to appeal.

Program of Study for the M.S. in Forensic Science

During the first year of academic study, students are required to write a research proposal and select their thesis committee as part of the 1-credit Thesis Prospectus course (FSC 500) which is offered during both the fall and spring semesters. The research committee will consist of a primary mentor and two other individuals. All members of the research committee must have at a minimum a master’s degree. The primary mentor must be a full-time member of the Cedar Crest faculty who teaches a course in the program and the second reader must be external to the Forensic Science Program. The selection of the second reader may, for instance, be a faculty member from another department or program at Cedar Crest College, a faculty member from another institution, or a forensic science practitioner. The role of the second reader is to provide the student with technical guidance in consultation with the primary reader. The third reader can be a full- or part-time faculty member, forensic practitioner, and others with specialized knowledge. The composition of the research committee must be approved by the faculty.

Undergraduate prerequisites include biochemistry and genetics. Students accepted into the program without these courses must take these courses at the undergraduate level normally during the first year.

Students will be required to perform the bulk of their master’s research during the summer between the first and second year. Research can be performed on campus or at an external laboratory (requires prior approval from the Program Director and faculty).

During the second year Graduate Seminar course, each student will be required to present a one-hour seminar on the results of their research as part of FSC 504 (Seminar). However, the seminar will only be conducted with the approval of the primary mentor and after a competed draft of the thesis or manuscript has been submitted to the student’s research committee. Students requiring additional time to prepare for the seminar may do so as long as they do not exceed the required timeframe for completion of the degree. A primary mentor is responsible for writing a review of the seminar and providing a grade to the instructor of the Graduate Seminar. Students will also be required to write a thesis or manuscript for publication during the second year. Students requiring additional time to complete the thesis or manuscript may do so as long as they do not exceed the required timeframe for completion of the degree. Students are also required to register for 1 credit of research in both semesters under FSC 599 in the academic year immediately after summer research.

Course Sequence

Fall I:
FSC 500 Thesis Prospectus 1 credit
FSC 503 Professional Communication 2 credits
FSC 505 Chemical Separations 2 credits
FSC 506 Analytical Spectroscopy 2 credits
FSC 508 Forensic Toxicology and Pharmacology 3 credits

Spring I:
FSC 500 Thesis Prospectus 11 credit
FSC 510 Recent Advances in Forensic Biology 4 credits
FSC 511 Molecular Biology 3 credits
FSC 548 Research Design and Statistics 3 credits
BIO 313 Human Genetics* 3 credits
*only required if not taken at the undergraduate level

May I:

FSC 519 Using Multivariate Statistics in Forensic Analysis 1 credit

Summer:
FSC 501 Research 6 credits

Fall II:
FSC 507 Forensic Chemistry 3 credits
FSC 513 Advanced Microscopy 3 credits
FSC 516 Forensic Chemistry/Toxicology Laboratory 2 credits
FSC 599 Continuing Research 1 credits

Spring II:

FSC 504 Seminar 2 credits
FSC 509 Crime Scene Reconstruction 3 credits
FSC 517 Forensic Quality Assurance, Control & Management 2 credits
FSC 518 Legal, Ethical, and Administrative Issues in Forensic Science 3 credits
FSC 599 Continuing Research 1 credit

Advising

Students coming into the program will be asked to attend an orientation prior to their first semester of academic study. During this time, each student will be assigned the Program Director as their academic advisor until they choose a primary research mentor who will then serve as advisor. It is the responsibility of students to meet with their advisor regarding academic issues.

Graduate Student Handbook

Each student will be given a copy of the Graduate Student Handbook prepared specifically for the M.S. in Forensic Science. The purpose of the handbook is to provide students with information pertaining to the curricular requirements and policies and procedures associated with the program. Students are responsible for familiarizing themselves and understanding the information presented in the Graduate Student Handbook. Questions regarding the content of the handbook should be directed to either the student’s faculty advisor or the Director of the program.

Professional Organizations for Students

Student memberships are available with the national forensic science organization, the American Academy of Forensic Sciences. Applications for membership are available on-line at www.AAFS.org and all students are encouraged to apply. Additionally, regional organizations such as the Northeastern Association of Forensic Scientists (NEAFS) and the Mid-Atlantic Association of Forensic Scientists (MAAFS) also offer student memberships. NEAFS has their annual meeting in the fall and MAAFS holds their annual meeting in the spring.

Student Code of Conduct

Students in the program are required to read Section I of the Technical Working Group on Education and Training in Forensic Science (TWGED) document titled, “Qualifications for a Career in Forensic Science.” This document may be found in the Graduate Student Handbook for the Forensic Science Program. Section I of the document details the personal, academic, and professional characteristics needed for the model candidate for a career in forensic science. The TWGED document states, “A model candidate for all forensic science practices should have personal integrity. Because forensic science is part of the criminal justice system, personal honesty, integrity, and scientific objectivity are paramount”. Students wishing to enter a career in forensic science should strive to achieve and maintain these standards. If it is proven that a student in the forensic science program has engaged in behavior contrary to these standards (for instance, illegal drug use or in violation of the Cedar Crest College Honor Code), the Director of the Forensic Science Program at his discretion may recommend dismissal from the program.