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Penn State University

Forensic Science, M.P.S.

Master'sMPSDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

Forty-two-credit professional master's in forensic science at University Park for applicants with a science bachelor's degree.

Official program name
Forensic Science, M.P.S.
Awarded degree
Master of Professional Studies · major: Forensic Science
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Degree level
Master'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
Location
University Park, PA
Subjects
Forensic Science — core of the degree
Tracks / concentrations
Chemistry Emphasis · Molecular Biology Emphasis
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Required credits
A minimum of 42 credits
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration
Not verified
Why this program is listed

Dedicated Master of Professional Studies in Forensic Science with chemistry and molecular biology emphases.

Dedicated Master of Professional Studies in Forensic Science with chemistry and molecular biology emphases.

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

Capstone

  • A research project with a publication-quality paper and oral presentation is the culminating experience.
    Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Science prerequisites

  • The program is described as appropriate for applicants with a bachelor's degree in biological sciences, chemistry or a related field.
    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”.
Minimum GPA
RequiredMinimum 3 — Minimum cumulative undergraduate GPA of 3.00.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Recommendation letters
Required2 letters — Two letters of reference.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Interview
OptionalApplicants may be selected for an interview with forensic science faculty.
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Tests

GRE General Test
Optional
Source: bulletins.psu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

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

This program does not appear in FEPAC's accredited-program list. FEPAC accredits forensic science programs only and is optional; its absence is not a sign that a program is illegitimate, and the school's other programs or institutional accreditation do not imply it.

Sources and verification

Every fact on this page comes from the official pages and directories below. Last verified October 24, 2026.
  1. bulletins.psu.edu/graduate/programs/majors/forensic-science/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
  2. DAPIP — MSCHE institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026

Something out of date? Request a correction · Represent this school? Claim the profile

Similar programs at other schools

Same degree level and focus. Listed for discovery, not ranked.

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Arcadia University

Master of Science in Forensic Science

Master'sMSDedicated degreeLaboratory science
Format: Campus · Full-time, Part-time
Location: Glenside, PA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: 2 years (full-time (as printed on the program page)) · 59 credits
Tuition: $35,150 per academic year · All students — Program page tuition
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHEFEPAC-accredited program
Subjects: Forensic Science
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Cedar Crest College

Master of Science in Forensic Science

Master'sMSDedicated degreeLaboratory scienceMaster of Science
Format: Campus · Full-time
Location: Allentown, PA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: full-time, two-year program (full-time)
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHEFEPAC-accredited program
Subjects: Forensic Science
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George Washington University logo

George Washington University

Master of Forensic Sciences

Master'sMFSDedicated degreeLaboratory science
Format: Campus
Location: Washington, DC
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 37 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHE
Subjects: Forensic Science
View program

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.