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Criminal JusticeDegrees
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Virginia Commonwealth University · Department of Forensic Science

Forensic Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Bachelor'sBSDedicated degreeOn campusFEPAC-accredited

Overview

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science with 34 core forensic science credits and a concentration in forensic biology, forensic chemistry or physical evidence.

Official program name
Forensic Science, Bachelor of Science (B.S.)
Awarded degree
Bachelor of Science · major: Forensic Science
Source: bulletin.vcu.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: bulletin.vcu.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: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School
Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Location
Richmond, VA
Subjects
Forensic Science — core of the degree
Tracks / concentrations
Forensic biology · Forensic chemistry · Physical evidence
Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Required credits
A minimum of 120 credits, including 34 forensic science core credits and 27-28 concentration credits (forensic chemistry)
Source: bulletin.vcu.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.

Why this program is listed

Dedicated laboratory-based forensic science degree in the Department of Forensic Science with forensic biology, forensic chemistry and physical evidence concentrations.

Dedicated laboratory-based forensic science degree in the Department of Forensic Science with forensic biology, forensic chemistry and physical evidence concentrations.

Source: bulletin.vcu.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: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Internship
Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity
Not verified

Curriculum

Curriculum

  • Core forensic science courses include a survey of forensic science, scientific crime scene investigation and forensic microscopy.
    Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Natural-science content

  • Core requirements include general chemistry, two semesters of organic chemistry with laboratories, and biological sciences with laboratories.
    Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Laboratory components

  • Core courses pair biology and chemistry lectures with laboratory sections.
    Source: bulletin.vcu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Accelerated options

  • Accelerated B.S. and M.S. in Forensic Science allows up to 12 graduate hours to count toward both degrees.
    Source: bulletin.vcu.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”.

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

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

  • Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) — accreditedSource: ope.ed.gov · verified October 10, 2026

FEPAC program accreditation

Accredited by FEPAC — listed as “Forensic Science, Concentrations in Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, and Physical Evidence (Bachelors), Full Accreditation” · since January 1, 2012Source: 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.
  1. bulletin.vcu.edu/undergraduate/college-humanities-sciences/forensic-science/forensic-science-bs-conc — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
  2. DAPIP — SACSCOC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026
  3. FEPAC-accredited programs (AAFS) — Accreditor directory, verified October 24, 2026

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Similar programs at other schools

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

Bowling Green State University logo

Bowling Green State University

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Bachelor'sBSDedicated degreeLaboratory scienceBachelor of Science
Format: Campus
Location: Bowling Green, OH
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: HLCFEPAC-accredited program
Subjects: Forensic Science
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Cedar Crest College logo

Cedar Crest College

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Bachelor'sBSDedicated degreeLaboratory scienceBachelor of Science
Format: Campus · Full-time
Location: Allentown, PA
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 92 credits
Tuition: Tuition not verified
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: MSCHEFEPAC-accredited program
Subjects: Forensic Science
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Grand Canyon University logo

Grand Canyon University

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Bachelor'sBSDedicated degreeLaboratory scienceBachelor of Science
Format: Campus
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Attendance: Campus-based study
Duration: Duration not verified · 120 credits
Tuition: $8,250 per semester · All students — Campus
Next deadline: No upcoming verified deadline
Accreditation: Institution accredited: HLC
Subjects: Forensic Science
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Criminal Justice Degrees is independent and not affiliated with Virginia Commonwealth University. Information is collected from official pages and directories and can change; confirm requirements, costs and deadlines with the school.