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  • Forensic and Investigative Science, M.S.
WVU Morgantown

Forensic and Investigative Science, M.S.

  • Overview
  • Learning Outcomes

Degree Requirements

  • Credit Hours: Students are required to complete a minimum of 42 graduate credit hours in Forensic and Investigative Science at the 500 and 600 level.
  • Grade Point Average: Students must earn a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 and a minimum GPA of 3.0 in courses applied to the degree.
  • Graduation Requirement: Students are required to complete a thesis.  Details, requirements, and timelines are provided in the department's Graduate Student Handbook.
  • Benchmarks: Ideally, the Plan of Study Form should be completed and submitted to the Coordinator of Graduate Studies before the end of the first semester. Failure to complete the Plan of Study by the end of the second semester will result in the student being placed on probation.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
Core Courses22
FIS 501
& 501L
Foundations of Criminalistics
and Foundations of Criminalistics Laboratory
FIS 502
& 502L
Forensic Laboratory Management
and Forensic Laboratory Management Laboratory
FIS 602
& 602L
Forensic Informatics
and Forensic Informatics Laboratory
FIS 614
& 614L
Trace Evidence Examination
and Laboratory Trace Evidence Examinations
FIS 620
Forensic Casework Practicum
FIS 632
& 632L
Advanced Forensic Biology
and Advanced Forensic Biology Laboratory
STAT 512
Statistical Methods 2 *
Forensic Chemistry Requirement4
Please select one of the following lecture and lab pairs:
FIS 451
& 451L
Arson and Explosives Analysis
and Arson and Explosives Analysis Laboratory
FIS 460
& 460L
Analysis of Seized Drugs
and Analysis of Seized Drugs Laboratory
FIS 470
& 470L
Analytical Forensic Toxicology
and Analytical Forensic Toxicology Laboratory
Seminar4
FIS 696
Graduate Seminar **
Research6
FIS 697
Research
Electives *6
Any FIS course at the 400 level or above
Total Hours42
*

Or equivalent graduate class as approved by Graduate Studies Committee

**

Each attempt at FIS 696 is worth one credit hour; students must successfully complete one credit per semester over four semesters.

Major Learning Outcomes

Forensic and Investigative Science

​As a result of completing the MS in Forensic and Investigative Science, students will be able to:

·Assess the value of evidence in different circumstances, describe best practices for its examination and demonstrate competency in performing a variety of different examinations of evidence

·Identify the limitations in the knowledge and capabilities of forensic science,  describe creative solutions and conduct scientifically sound experiments to overcome the identified limitations

·Execute persuasive communications, in written and oral formats, of his/her test results and research discoveries

  • Applied Statistics
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Studies
  • Cultural Resource Management
  • English
  • Forensic and Investigative Science
    • Forensic and Investigative Science, M.S.
    • Forensic Science, Ph.D.
  • Geography
  • Geology
  • GIS and Spatial Analysis
  • History
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Psychology
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Women's and Gender Studies

WVU Morgantown

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Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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