Admissions

Students are accepted in the Fall semester only. All application materials must be received by January 15th for consideration the following academic year. A holistic review of each student's application will be completed on a competitive basis. Late applications may be accepted; please contact the program office directly. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

Review of applications will begin January 15th with offers of acceptance distributed shortly thereafter and proceed until enrollment openings are filled. Applicants are automatically considered for graduate assistantships; however, the earlier a student’s application is complete, the better the chance of being selected for an assistantship.

We encourage those applicants interested in the PhD in Forensic Science to also apply for the Masters program. Students can complete the PhD in the same timeframe, whether they are accepted as either a 1st year MSFS student or a 1st year PhD student. Qualified MSFS students can transfer credits into the PhD program upon completion of their 2nd year of coursework.

Apply Now Self Service Center Forensic Science FAQ

Program Eligibility

A bachelor's degree from an accredited institution in chemistry, biology, forensic or natural science.

Successful completion of Organic Chemistry 1 and 2 with lab is required.

Required Materials

  • Graduate Application & Application Fee (ApplyTexas)
  • Program Application (Self-Service)
  • Personal Statement
  • Application Writing Prompt
  • Current Resume or Vita
  • Three Recommendation Letters
  • Official GRE Scores, not more than 5 years old
  • Transcripts from all degree granting institutions and all colleges/universities attended (incl. community colleges)
  • International students are also required to provide a Third Party Transcript Evaluation as well as TOEFL/IELTS Scores
  • In some instances, a personal interview may be requested
  • Ideal Characteristics of a Graduate Student

    Critical Thinking, Resilience, Independence, Initiative, Time Management, Collegial

    Downloadable Documents

    For additional information, please contact:

    General Information about Graduate Applications
    Office of Admissions
    936-294-1971
    graduate@shsu.edu

    Forensic Science Admissions
    Kristin L. Ware, Department of Forensic Science
    936-294-2517
    kware@shsu.edu