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 file will be completed on a competitive basis. Late applications may be accepted; please contact the program office directly. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

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Program Eligibility

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

Required Materials

• Graduate Application & Application Fee (ApplyTexas)

Program Application (Self-Service)

Application Supplement

Personal Statement

Application Writing Prompt

Current Resume or Vita

Recommendation Letters (3) with Admissions Recommendation Checklists

Transcripts from all degree granting institutions and all colleges/universities attended (incl. community colleges)

Third Party Transcript Evaluation from WES (for international students)

Official GRE Scores, not more than 5 years old (strongly preferred but not required)

Official TOEFL or IELTS Scores (for international students)

In some instances, a personal interview may be requested

Forensic Science FAQ

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.

Ideal Characteristics of a Graduate Student

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

Downloadable Documents

A number of undergraduate courses in chemistry and biology are helpful in pursuing a graduate degree in forensic science. For more information, read the model career path.

Note: In order to be more competitive, it is strongly recommended that students successfully complete Molecular Biology BEFORE the start of the fall semester they intend to apply.

As part of the criminal justice system, graduates of the Department of Forensic Science are held to the same professional ethics as law enforcement and correctional officials.

Please note that all students are required to complete a 6-10-week, full-time internship at a crime laboratory. Most students must complete a criminal background check as part of the placement process.

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

Curriculum and Laboratory Questions
Kelsie Bryand, Department of Forensic Science
936-294-4370
kelsie@shsu.edu

International Students
Justin Ball, Office of International Programs
936-294-4607
jrb021@shsu.edu

Graduate Funding and Financial Aid
Lacey Price, Financial Aid & Scholarships
936-294-1774
lmp017@shsu.edu