Forensic Science, B.S.

Bachelor'sBSDedicated degreeOn campusFEPAC-accredited

Overview

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science at University Park built on biological, physical and mathematical sciences, with molecular biology and chemistry options.

Official program name: Forensic Science, B.S.
Awarded degree: Bachelor of Science · major: Forensic Science
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Degree level: Bachelor's
Subject focus: Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science or a closely related justice subject.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Forensic type: Laboratory forensic scienceA natural-science degree built around chemistry, biology and laboratory analysis of evidence. Laboratory and prerequisite requirements are listed on the profile.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School: Penn State University
Location: University Park, PA
Subjects: Forensic Science — core of the degree
Tracks / concentrations: Forensic Molecular Biology Option · Forensic Chemistry Option
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Required credits: 122 credits (Forensic Molecular Biology option) or 123 credits (Forensic Chemistry option)
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration: Not verified

Entry pathway

Not verified whether this degree admits first-year students or only applicants with prior credits.

Prerequisite courses: RequiredC or better in CHEM 110, 111, 112, 210, FRNSC 210, MATH 140, 141 and PHYS 211 or 250.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Why this program is listed

Dedicated natural-science forensic science degree in the Eberly College of Science with forensic molecular biology and forensic chemistry options.

Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

We list associate, bachelor's, master's and research-doctorate programs in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science and related subjects at institutionally accredited US schools — degrees in the subject and formal concentrations, never certificates or one-elective degrees. Eligibility rules

Format and attendance

Formats, online delivery, campus visits, internships and class schedule are shown separately, each only as the school states it.

Formats offered: On campus
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Internship: Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity: Not verified

Curriculum

Natural-science content

Entrance to the major requires a C or better in chemistry, forensic science, calculus and physics courses.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Laboratory components

Required courses include a laboratory in crime scene investigation and a laboratory in organic chemistry.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Organic chemistry laboratory is among the prescribed courses.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Careers and licensure

An academic degree and an occupational licence are different things.

Career and licensure statements for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

A degree does not guarantee police academy admission, sworn officer certification, federal employment, a security clearance, a position with a named agency, a forensic laboratory job or eligibility to practice as a psychologist. Those have separate training, scientific prerequisites, examinations or hiring requirements set by the agency, state or licensing board. Academic degrees vs police academy training

Admissions

Required, optional, waived and not-required items are shown exactly as the school states them. Anything not listed is not verified — not “not required”.

Technical preparation

Prerequisite courses: RequiredC or better in CHEM 110, 111, 112, 210, FRNSC 210, MATH 140, 141 and PHYS 211 or 250.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Minimum GPA: RequiredMinimum 2 — Entrance to the major requires at least a 2.00 cumulative GPA.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Minimum GPA: RequiredMinimum 2.5 — Entrance to the major requires at least a 2.50 aggregate GPA in the eight entrance-to-major courses.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Tests

Entrance and English-language test policy: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

We do not publish acceptance rates or estimate admission chances.

Start dates and deadlines

Dates are shown with the term the school printed. A past date is marked passed and is never carried into a new cycle.

Application deadlines: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Tuition and fees

Each amount keeps its student category, academic year and basis. Per-credit, per-term and whole-program figures are not comparable with each other, and tuition is not the full cost of attendance.

Tuition for this program: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Scholarships and funding

Awards published by the school for this program or for its level. Loans must be repaid and are not scholarships; service scholarships require government service after graduation. Graduate funding guide

Program-specific scholarships: not verified. We publish this only when the institution states it on an official page.

Accreditation

Two different things: the school's institutional accreditation, and FEPAC accreditation of this exact forensic science program.

Institutional accreditation

Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

FEPAC program accreditation

Accredited by FEPAC — listed as “Forensic Science (Bachelors), Fully Accredited” · since March 1, 2025Source: aafs.org · verified October 24, 2026

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 24, 2026.

bulletins.psu.edu/undergraduate/colleges/eberly-science/forensic-science-bs/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
DAPIP — MSCHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
FEPAC-accredited programs (AAFS) — Accreditor directory, verified October 24, 2026

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Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Penn State University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.