Forensic Science, Ph.D.

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeOn campus

Overview

Seventy-one-hour Ph.D. in forensic science with an oral qualifying examination, dissertation proposal presentation and dissertation defense.

Official program name: Forensic Science, Ph.D.
Awarded degree: Doctor of Philosophy · major: Forensic Science
Source: catalog.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Degree level: Doctoral — research doctorate
Subject focus: Dedicated degreeThe degree itself is in criminal justice, criminology, forensic science or a closely related justice subject.
Source: catalog.wvu.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: forensics.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
School: West Virginia University
Location: Morgantown, WV
Source: forensics.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Subjects: Forensic Science — core of the degree
Required credits: A minimum of 71 credit hours, up to 31 of research
Source: catalog.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Duration: Not verified

Why this program is listed

Dedicated research doctorate in forensic science.

Source: catalog.wvu.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: forensics.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026
Internship: Internship requirement: not verified
Study intensity: Not verified

Curriculum

Other

Students with an M.S. from another institution can enter; their coursework is evaluated against WVU's M.S. program.
Source: forensics.wvu.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

Research and doctoral requirements

Research areas, supervision, examinations and residency as the school publishes them.

Research proposal

A dissertation proposal presentation is part of the program of study.
Source: catalog.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Qualifying examinations

An oral qualifying examination in criminalistics is required.
Source: catalog.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Dissertation

Students are required to complete a dissertation and orally defend it.
Source: catalog.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

Residency

Doctoral students attend the departmental seminar for at least six semesters.
Source: forensics.wvu.edu · verified October 24, 2026

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

Higher Learning Commission (HLC) — 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.

catalog.wvu.edu/graduate/eberlycollegeofartsandsciences/forensicandinvestigativescience/phd/ — Official catalog / bulletin, verified October 24, 2026
forensics.wvu.edu/graduate-students/m-s-in-forensic-and-investigative-science — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
forensics.wvu.edu/graduate-students/ph-d-in-forensic-science — Official program page, verified October 24, 2026
DAPIP — HLC institutional accreditation record (data files downloaded 2026-10-10) — U.S. Department of Education dataset (IPEDS / DAPIP), verified October 10, 2026

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Similar programs at other schools

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

Sam Houston State University

Doctor of Philosophy in Forensic Science

Research doctoratePhDDedicated degreeLaboratory scienceDoctor of Philosophy

Campus

Huntsville, TX

Campus-based study

typically four to five years of full-time study (full-time) · 86 credits

$9,488 per academic year · In-state — Full-time graduate, Texas resident (tuition and fees, fall 2026 and spring 2027 estimate) · 2026-2027

No upcoming verified deadline

Institution accredited: SACSCOC

Forensic Science

View program

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