Biomedical Forensic Sciences, MS

Contact:

Michael Sponsler, sponsler@syr.edu, 1-014 Center Sci & Tech, 315-443-4880

Professor of Chemistry, Director of Curricular Programs for the Forensic and National Security Sciences Institute at Syracuse University

Faculty

James Hewett, James T. Spencer, Michael B. Sponsler, Robert Silver, Ulrich Englich, Michael Marciano, Jonathan Adelman, James Crill

M.S. in Biomedical Forensic Sciences

The M.S. in Biomedical Forensic Sciences is intended for students aimed toward bioforensic careers and/or medical school. The degree program may serve as a post-baccalaureate program for pre-medical students who wish to enhance their academic credentials for admission to medical school. The degree is very well suited for careers in forensic pathology or forensic toxicology. The degree requires 36 credits, as outlined below.

Admission:

GRE or MCAT, three (3) letters of recommendation and official undergraduate transcripts

Student Learning Outcomes

1. Define the field of forensic science and describe how it overlaps with their particular interests

2. Describe the relationship and interplay between forensic science and the legal system

3. Explain the importance of ethical standards and describe the means through which such standards are upheld in forensic science

4. Demonstrate how biological evidence is analyzed in a laboratory, including presumptive testing and confirmatory testing with various techniques and instruments

5. Explain the goals and methods of forensic pathology and forensic toxicology and the interplay between them

6. Employ statistical methods and evaluate statistical results to solve problems in forensic science and to communicate findings

Required Coursework:

Gateway Courses - 15 credits required

FSC 606 - Advanced Forensic Science 3 credit(s)
FSC 631 - Statistics for Forensic Science 3 credit(s)
FSC 645 - Forensic Biochemical Analysis 3 credit(s)
FSC 651 - Forensic Pathology 3 credit(s)
FSC 653 - Forensic Toxicology 3 credit(s) or
FSC 657 - Principles of Human Toxicology 3 credit(s)

Elective Courses - 21 credits required

At least one * course required

FSC 605 - Basic Laboratory Skills for Advanced Research 1 credit(s)
FSC 632 - Research and Career Resources 3 credit(s)
FSC 633 - Quality Assurance and Ethics 3 credit(s)
FSC 634 - Anatomy & Physiology for Forensic Medicine 3 credit(s)
FSC 635 - Medicolegal Death Investigation I 3 credit(s)
FSC 636 - Medicolegal Death Investigation II 3 credit(s)
FSC 641 - Forensic Analysis of Biological Evidence 3 credit(s)
*
FSC 644 - Forensic Chemical Analysis 4 credit(s) *
FSC 652 - Forensic Mental Health 3 credit(s)
FSC 653 - Forensic Toxicology 3 credit(s)
FSC 657 - Principles of Human Toxicology 3 credit(s)
FSC 661 - Firearms and Impression Evidence 3 credit(s)
FSC 662 - Forensic Entomology 3 credit(s)
FSC 663 - Bloodstain Pattern Analysis 3 credit(s)
FSC 664 - Latent Print Processing 3 credit(s)
FSC 665 - Latent Prints 3 credit(s)
FSC 667 - Forensic Photography 3 credit(s)
FSC 668 - Crime Scene Investigation 3 credit(s)
FSC 669 - Science of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction 3 credit(s)
FSC 671 - Firearms and Impressions Evidence II 3 credit(s)
FSC 672 - Advanced Light Microscopy 3 credit(s)
FSC 673 - Mechanics of Modern Firearms 3 credit(s)
FSC 674 - Forensic DNA Analysis 3 credit(s)
*
FSC 675 - Latent Prints II 3 credit(s)
FSC 676 - Cold Cases 3 credit(s)
FSC 678 - Crime Scene Investigation II 3 credit(s)
FSC 690 - Independent Study 1-6 credit(s)
ANT 633 - Human Osteology 3 credit(s)
ANT 634 - Anthropology of Death 3 credit(s)
ANT 636 - Bioarchaeology 3 credit(s)
BIO 501 - Biology of Cancer 3 credit(s)
BIO 503 - Developmental Biology 3 credit(s)
BIO 565 - Cellular Physiology 3 credit(s)
BIO 607 - Advanced Neuroscience 3 credit(s)
BIO 638 - Open Problems in Soft Interfaces 3 credit(s)
BIO 643 - Seminar in Epigenetics 3 credit(s)
BIO 650 - Seminar in Evolutionary Genetics 3 credit(s)
BIO 656 - Seminar in Human Disease Genomics 3 credit(s)
BIO 662 - Molecular Genetics 3 credit(s)
BIO 663 - Molecular Biotechnology 4 credit(s)
*
BIO 665 - Molecular Biology Laboratory 3 credit(s) *
BIO 675 - Biochemistry Laboratory 4 credit(s) *
CHE 575 - Organic Spectroscopy 3 credit(s)
CHE 612 - Metals in Medicine 3 credit(s)
CHE 614 - Introduction to Medicinal Chemistry 3 credit(s)
CHE 627 - Organic Chemistry of Biological Molecules 3 credit(s)
CHE 635 - Physical Cell Biology 3 credit(s)
CHE 677 - Proteins and Nucleic Acids Lab 3 credit(s) *
CHE 678 - Perspectives in Biochemistry 3 credit(s)
IST 602 - Digital Forensics 3 credit(s)
LIN 671 - Dimensions of Bilingualism and Multiculturalism 3 credit(s)
LIN 675 - Forensic Linguistics 3 credit(s)
SWK 626 - Persons in Social Context 3 credit(s)

Seminar Requirement

Each student is required to participate in the FNSSI seminar program by attending at least 50% of the seminars during their semesters as an M.S. student in Syracuse.

Course Catalog