Master of Science in Forensic Science
for the 2010 Spring term
The Forensic Science concentration is provided by the College of Pharmacy. It consists of 18 credits of required courses and a further 14 credits of electives covering a wide range of forensic disciplines. Please note, of the 14 elective credits required for the degree, at least 4 credits need to be a PHA course number. Courses in forensic medicine, anthropology, drug analysis, toxicology and DNA are available. This program may be of interest to those currently working or seeking employment in the following areas:
- Crime laboratories
- Medical Examiners Offices
- Police departments
- Criminal defense and prosecution attorneys
- Hospital and Clinical Chemistry Laboratories
- Pharmaceutical Industry
- High school science teachers
The diploma will state Master of Science issued by the Graduate School of the University of Florida. The transcripts will read Master of Science in Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences with concentration in Forensic Science.
Application Information
Masters Application
| Master of Science in Forensic Science | Fall | Spring | Summer | ||
| PHA 6853* | Biological Evidence and Serology | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| VME 6613* | Forensic Toxicology I | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| VME 6766* | Laboratory QA/QC | credits: 3 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6936* | Literature Survey (Forensic Science) | credits: 2 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6935* | Principles of Forensic Science | credits: 3 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6935* | Scientific Evidence and Statistics | credits: 3 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6936* | Special Topics in Forensic Science (on location in Gainesville) | credits: 1 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6935 | Advanced Criminalistics 2 | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6856 | Blood Distribution and Spatter | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6425 | Drug Biotransformation & Molecular Mechanisms of Toxicity | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6935 | Environmental Forensics 1 | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6935 | Environmental Forensics 2 | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6851 | Forensic Analysis of DNA | credits: 3 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6935 | Forensic Anthropology I | credits: 4 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6855 | Forensic Genetics | credits: 3 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6854 | Forensic Immunology | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| VME 6934 | Forensic Medicine I | credits: 4 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6935 | Forensic Medicine II | credits: 4 | x | x | |
| VME 6614 | Forensic Toxicology II | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| VME 6602 | General Toxicology | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6935 | Mammalian Molecular Biology | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| VME 6650 | Mammalian Pharmacology | credits: 4 | x | x | |
| PHA 6840 | Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs of Abuse | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6935 | Metabolic Biochemistry | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6354 | Natural Medicinal Products | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6417 | Pharmaceutical Analysis 2 | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 5436 | Structure and Function of Nucleotides | credits: 2 | x | x | x |
| PHA 6471 | Synthetic Medicinal Chemistry | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| VME 6605 | Toxic Substances | credits: 3 | x | x | |
| PHA 6935 | Forensic Entomology | credits: 3 | x | x | x |
| *. | Required Course |
- Recommended Course Order:
-
The following is a recommended course order for Forensic Science:
- Special Topics in Forensic Science should be taken preferably with Literature Survey in Forensic Science in the final semester.
- Forensic Medicine 1 should be taken before Forensic Medicine 2
- Environmental Forensics 1 should be taken before Environmental Forensics 2
- Principles of Forensic Science should be taken before Advanced Criminalistics 2
Requirements To Earn Degree
32 credits are required to earn this MS degree.
Grade Requirements
The only passing grades for Graduate Students are A, B+, B, C+, C. Please note C+ and C grades count toward degree only if an equal number of courses numbered 5000 or higher have been earned with B+ and A, respectively. If a grade of C or below is earned, the student will need to re-take the course when it is offered again.
Please also note, as stated above, courses taken before being in the MS status must be earned as a B grade or higher to transfer toward the MS degree.
Transfer of Credits Toward MS
Only 9 credit hours taken at other institutions can be applied to the MS degree OR 15 hours taken at UF in another status. These courses must be graduate level (5000-7999) and earned with a grade of B or better and the course(s) cannot have been taken longer than seven years from the term you begin as a MS student. To have credits reviewed for transfer from another University, please fax (801-504-6192) or email (jlarson@cop.ufl.edu) the following: a copy of your transcript, a course syllabus for review of what was covered in the course, and a letter containing which course(s) you would like to be considered for transfer and which course(s) you think the course(s) will replace in the Forensic Science Program. We will forward the request to the Supervisory Committee for your major who will then make a decision. Also, if your official transcript is not already on file with the University Registrar, please sent it to:
University of Florida
Office of Registrar
201 Criser Hall
Gainesville, FL 32611-4000
Graduation Requirements
Please read the information regarding the Master's graduation credit requirements for your last term.
- Special Topics Course
-
The 1-credit special topic course will consist of three days of reviews, oral examination, and comprehensive final examination in Gainesville, Florida. Refer to Critical Dates for specific dates the course will be held each term.
- Examinations:
In addition to tests, examinations and other assessments incorporated in the individual courses, masters students will be required to take a comprehensive final examination on the courses covered in this program.
- Supervisory Committee:
A faculty member within the department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, and with graduate faculty status, will supervise all of the students enrolled in this program. Currently this person is Dr. Donna Wielbo (dwielbo@ufl.edu).
- Library Access:
Students taking UF Forensic Science courses will also be granted online access to UF's Health Center Libraries.