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Master of Forensic Science at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

United States of America, Indianapolis

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis offers the Master of Forensic Science as a full-time degree delivered on campus at its main campus in Indianapolis , United States of America. Taught in English and completed over 2 years, the program equips students with the theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for forensic science and related professional fields. The next available intake begins on August 22, 2027.

About Master of Forensic Science

The Master of Science degree in Forensic Science is a Purdue University degree offered in the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program.

Forensic science is the application of scientific methods and processes to matters that involve crime or the public. The Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program combines the best of biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics, along with criminal justice and law.

The M.S. in Forensic Science requires 30 credit hours of study beyond the baccalaureate level. The thesis option can be completed in two years. It is designed for students seeking careers as professional forensic scientists who desire employment in the criminal justice field or a related area.

Students who chose the thesis option are encouraged to identify a thesis topic with the help of the FIS faculty as soon as possible. It is normally expected that the research and write up of the thesis will take at least one year of the program. Collaborative research projects with local forensic science laboratories are encouraged. Thesis research done in conjunction with a crime lab must be approved by the student's thesis director at IUPUI.

Understanding the requirements

Thesis option

Students must apply in one of the following concentrations: forensic chemistry or forensic biology. Here are the required courses:

Core courses (10 credits)
- FIS 50500 - Current Issues in Forensic Science (3 credits)
- FIS 50600 - Advanced Forensic Microscopy (3 credits)
- FIS 51500 - Legal Issues in Forensic Science (3 credits)
- FIS 69500 - Forensic Science Seminar Series (1 credit)
Additional required courses for forensic biology concentration (8 credits)
- FIS 52100 - Forensic Biology (3 credits)
- FIS 52101 - Forensic Biology Lab (2 credits)
- FIS 53000 - Population Genetics (3 credits)
Additional required courses for forensic chemistry concentration (8 credits)
- FIS 51100 - Forensic Chemistry I (3 credits)
- FIS 51101 - Forensic Chemistry I Lab (1 credit)
- FIS 51200 - Forensic Chemistry II (3 credits)
- FIS 51201 - Forensic Chemistry II Lab (1 credit)

Students will take an additional 3 credit course in their area of specialty (and with the guidance of their thesis advisor). The remainder of the credits taken are FIS 69800 Thesis Research (9 credits).

To learn more about our faculty and their areas of research, visit the research page.

When you are ready to apply, check out our admissions requirements.

Disciplines

School of Science

Requirements and Admission Criteria for Master of Forensic Science at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Entry Requirements

Students who hold a baccalaureate degree from an accredited institution with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.00 on a 4.00-point scale, or with an overall “B” grade equivalent may be considered for admission to graduate degree programs in the School of Engineering and Technology. International applicants must submit official test score reports from the Educational Testing Service (ETS) for the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be considered for admissions. Some graduate programs require official test scores for the Graduate Record Exam (GRE) from both domestic and international applications.

English Requirements

IELTSMin 6.5
TOEFLMin 79

English Program Requirements

All international students must demonstrate English proficiency for admission into IUPUI graduate and professional programs. Non-native English speaking domestic applicants may also be required to complete standardized testing dependent on their English proficiency.

There are many different ways to demonstrate your English proficiency to meet our graduate or professional admission requirements. Please make careful note of the different minimum requirements for Purdue and IU graduate programs shown below. Additionally, some graduate programs only accept the TOEFL, and some may require a score higher than the minimum campus standard. Verify this information with your program before selecting an alternative to the TOEFL.

Tuition and Fee Information for Master of Forensic Science at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Application Fee 65

How to Apply for Master of Forensic Science at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Your first step is to talk to the academic department that offers your program. You will want to check their admission standards and deadlines before you start the application process.

The online application takes about 30 minutes to complete.

All applicants use the same application to apply to IUPUI, whether they are interested in entering Indiana University programs or Purdue University programs on our campus.

You are required to submit some supporting documents for your department to make the initial admission decision. Each department has different requirements.

Once all required documents have been submitted for your application, your program’s graduate committee will review for an admission decision and directly communicate the decision to you. If you want to know the status of your application, you will need to reach out directly to your department.

*Please allow 4-6 weeks from the point that your application and all required documents have been submitted for an admission decision from your program.

If the graduate department has made a decision to admit you to their program, then the Office of International Admissions (OIA) carries out a second review to finalize the admission.

You will receive an email from [email protected] that has instructions about how to submit your final documents. You will submit them electronically through Atlas, our online portal for international students. You will have to supply the original documents before you enroll.

At this step, you can also log into Atlas to see your next steps and see which documents have been reviewed and accepted. Our international admissions team will contact you if there are any questions about your documents.

After you submit your final supporting documents and we conduct a final review of your application, we will notify you via a letter. You will be able to access the letter about your admission status in Atlas.

If your government requires academic admission before you can get your other required documents (such as your financial documentation), you can use your Admission Letter to get those documents.

Be sure to check your email on a regular basis. We will email you if we need any additional documentation or if we have any other instructions for you.

The Office of International Admissions (OIA) sends out the official admission package that contains information about your arrival, program costs, orientation, and immigration documents to secure your non-immigrant student visa (F1/J1).

Master of Forensic Science at Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis

United States of America, Indianapolis