Forensic Science, M.S. at Marshall University

The Forensic Science programme has a reputation as being the best of its type in the country. It will provide you with advanced knowledge of the forensic processes and analytical techniques (particularly chemistry and biology) used in crime investigation. It is run by King's Forensics staff whose research is at the cutting edge of innovation and advancement in the field.

Majoring in Forensic Chemistry will give you a solid background in chemistry, forensics and criminal justice that you can apply in careers with police or fire departments, coroner’s offices, the military, the FBI or CIA, bomb squads or private labs. You’ll learn the fundamentals of crime scene investigation and analyze blood and tissue samples to identify DNA or run toxicology screens. Understand how to verify the chemical composition of drugs taken as evidence and how to detect chemicals associated with explosives or toxic substances.

As a Forensic Science major, you’ll learn how to collect and analyze evidence from crime scenes so it can be used in court cases or the criminal justice system. Become an expert witness in criminal cases, or work in the field as a crime scene or fingerprint technician. Unlike in popular TV shows, crime scenes never have easy answers — but you’ll learn how to approach them in a methodical, detail-oriented way that engages both critical and creative thinking.

You’ll learn crime scene investigation techniques, scientific methods for analyzing the data you collect, and legal and ethical protocols. Get hands-on experience at mock crime scenes, like the one Associate Professor of Forensic Science Casie Parish-Fisher set up using the remains of deceased hogs at Wild Basin Creative Research Center, an Austin wilderness preserve managed by St. Edward’s. Intern with the Austin Police Department, the Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office or other law enforcement agencies, and graduate ready to use science to create a more just and safe society.