The Master of Forensic Science (MFS) degree and Master of Science in Forensic Science (MSFS) degree prepare students to be leaders in the field of forensic science as law enforcement professionals, crime scene investigators, or forensic laboratory specialists.

Admissions Prerequisites

To be considered for admission to the Forensic Science Master degree programs, students must meet all general eligibility requirements of Nebraska Wesleyan University. Applicants must also meet the following specific admissions requirements:

• Applicant must possess a baccalaureate degree from a regionally accredited institution.
• Applicant’s cumulative undergraduate grade point average must be 3.0 or better (on a 4.0 scale).
• Applicant must agree to a criminal background check.
• Applicants must have prerequisites specific to their track.

Track-specific Prerequisites

Students also must have completed track-specific prerequisites to specialize in one of the three program tracks:

• Behavioral science (MFS)
• Investigative science (MFS)
• Biology and chemistry (MSFS)

International Students Cannot Qualify

The MFS program does not qualify international students for a student visa into the United States because students generally take fewer than the nine credit hours a semester, which is defined as a full-time graduate course load by the United States government. This means that international students do not qualify for a student visa.

Transfer of Credit Policy

• A maximum of nine semester hours of graduate credit with a grade of "B-" or better may be transferred from other institutions, with approval.
• The transferring institution must be regionally accredited.
• A student must be currently enrolled at NWU for transfer work to be posted to the academic record.

Class Schedule

Courses are offered on alternate weekends year round—mainly on Friday evenings and Saturdays, allowing professionals to work full-time while they pursue a graduate degree in forensic science.

Tuition and Fees

Tuition for the 2011–2012 school year is $355 per credit hour.

Application Deadline

Contact Denise Waller at dwaller@nebrwesleyan.edu or (402) 465-2329 for information about applying for the MFS program. Classes begin mid-August each year. Contact Ms. Waller for exact date.

Apply

To apply to the program, do the following:

1. Download and complete the Forensic Science Graduate Admission Application (PDF)
2. Request all previously attended colleges and universities to send transcripts directly to address below. Transcripts issued to students are not accepted.
3. Submit letter stating your personal goals for attending the program.
4. Submit two letters of support verifying your academic and professional abilities.
   • Download a letter of support cover sheet (PDF) to submit with each letter of support.
   • Letters of support should be from faculty members who know your work, internship supervisors, or work supervisors (if applicants already work in the field).
   • Full-time faculty members of the NWU Forensic Science Program are part of the Admissions committee, and therefore unable to write letters of support.
5. On provisional acceptance, the applicant will be asked to submit to a criminal background check for which they will be assessed a $40 fee.

Application materials should be mailed to:

Nebraska Wesleyan University
Forensic Science Program
c/o Denise Waller
5000 St. Paul Ave.
Lincoln, NE 68504-2794
(402) 465-2329
dwaller@nebrwesleyan.edu