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Joint M.S./J.D. in Forensic Science and Law


Key Benefits of our program:

  • Meaningful collaboration between Syracuse University's College of Law and the College of Arts and Sciences
  • Access both schools' resources, career counseling, internships and faculty expertise
  • Jump-start a career and save on tuition by obtaining a joint degree, completed in 3 years with 100 credit hours (123 credits required if degrees obtained separately)
  • Become an attractive candidate for federal agency positions, which value candidates with experience in both law and forensics

Career Paths: Graduates may obtain positions in the following settings:

  • Lawyer
  • U.S. Attorney and District Attorney
  • Judge
  • Federal Agency member
  • Homeland Security member or member of international organizations


Program Requirements

The joint degree program is a partnership between The College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Law. Residing at the nexus of forensic sciences and law, it trains lawyers, U.S. and district attorneys, judges, federal agents, and homeland security experts (state, federal, and international). The 100-credit-hour program takes approximately three years to complete and involves less time and money than pursuing the M.S. and J.D. separately. The program is especially timely for judges and lawyers, in light of recent reforms in the legal handling of forensic evidence.


Law Requirements - 42 - 43 Credits Required

  • LAW 601 Civil Procedure (4)
  • LAW 602 Constitutional Law I (3)
  • LAW 603 Contracts (5)
  • LAW 604 Criminal Law (3)
  • LAW 607 Property (5)
  • LAW 608 Torts (5)
  • LAW 609 Legal Communication & Research I (2)
  • LAW 609 Legal Communication & Research II (2)
  • LAW 610 Legislation and Policy (3)
  • LAW 690 Legal Communication & Research III (2)
  • LAW 699 Consititutional Law II (3)
  • LAW 746 Professional Responsibility (3)
  • Writing Requirement (2 - 3)


Law Electives - 29 - 30 Credits Required

Choose from any course with a LAW prefix

At least six credits must be from this list: LAW 708, LAW 718, LAW 719, LAW 781


Forensic Science Requirement (36 credits needed; 8 credits from the Law requirement may be counted)

 

I. GATEWAY COURSES - 12 Credits Required

  • FSC 606 Advanced Forensic Science (3 credits)
  • FSC 631 Statistics for the Forensic Sciences (3)
  • FSC 632 Research and Career Resources (3)
  • FSC 633 Quality Assurance & Ethics (3)


II. Electives - 21 Credits Required

At least 9 elective credits must be part of a designated concentration. Student-specific concentrations, potentially including FSC 690, may be allowed by petition.

Biology Concentration

  • BIO 675 Biochemistry I (3)
  • BIO 676 Biochemistry II (3)
  • BIO 631 Population Genetics (3)
  • BIO 662 Molecular Genetics (3)
  • BIO 663 Molecular Biotechonology (3)
  • BIO 665 Molecular Biology Laboratory (3)
  • BIO 675 Biochemistry Laboratory (3)
  • CHE/BCM 677 Prep & Analysis of Proteins and Nucleic Acids (3)
  • FSC 640 Forensic Biochemical Analysis (3)

Crime Scene Investigation Concentration

  • FSC 637 Medicolegal Death Investigation for Emergency Responders (3)
  • FSC 662 Forensic Entomology (3)
  • FSC 665 Latent Prints (3)
  • FSC 667 Forensic Photography (3)
  • FSC 668 Crime Scene Investigation (3)

Forensic Anthropology Concentration

  • ANT 633 Human Osteology (3)
  • ANT 634 Anthropology of Death (3)
  • ANT 636 Bioarchaeology (3)
  • ANT 662 Forensic Entomology (3)

Forensic Chemistry Concentration

  • CHE 575 Organic Spectroscopy (3)
  • CHE/BCM 677 Prep & Analysis of Proteins & Nucleic Acids (3)
  • FSC 644 Forensic Chemical Analysis (4)
  • FSC 657 Principles of Toxicology (3)

Impressions Evidence Concentration

  • FSC 661 Firearms & Impression Evidence (3)
  • FSC 665 Latent Prints (3)
  • FSC 671 Firearms & Impression Evidence II (3)

Jurisprudence Concentration

  • LAW 604 Criminal Law (3)
  • LAW 708 Constitutional Criminal Procedure Investigation (3)
  • LAW 718 Evidence (4)
  • LAW 719 Psychology & the Law (3)
  • LAW 759 Computer Crimes (3)
  • LAW 781 Forensic Evidence (2)

Linguistics Concentration

  • LIN 601 Introductory Linguistic Analysis (3)
  • LIN 631 Phonological Analysis (3)
  • LIN 671 Dimension of Biligualism & Multiculturalism (3)
  • LIN 675 Forensic Linguistics (3)

Medicolegal Death Investigation Concentration

  • FSC 635 Medicolegal Death Investigation I (3)
  • FSC 636 Medicolegal Death Investigation II (3)
  • FSC 651 Forensic Pathology (3)

National Security Sciences Concentration

  • FSC 654 Nuclear Forensics (3)
  • FSC 640 Countering WMDs (3)
  • NUC 520 Radiochemistry, Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing and Nonproliferation (3)

Psychiatry & Behavioral Science Concentration

  • FSC 652 Forensic Mental Health (3)
  • PSY 674 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
  • SWK 724 Psychopathology (3)
  • SWK/WGS 626 Persons in a Social Context (3)

Regulatory Science Concentration

  • FSC 656 Regulation and Compliance (3)
  • FSC 657 Drug Development, Testing, and Approval (3)
  • FSC 653 Forensic Toxicology (3)

Toxicology Concentration

  • FSC 651 Forensic Pathology (3)
  • FSC 653 Forensic Toxicology (3)
  • FSC 657 Principles of Human Toxicology (3)

Full Electives List

  • ANT 633 Human Osteology (3)
  • ANT 634 Anthropology of Death (3)
  • ANT 636 Bioarchaeology (3)
  • BIO 675 Biochemistry I (3)
  • BIO 676 Biochemistry II (3)
  • BIO 631 Population Genetics (3)
  • BIO 662 Molecular Genetics (3)
  • BIO 663 Molecular Biotechnology (3)
  • BIO 665 Molecular Biology Laboratory (3)
  • BIO 675 Biochemistry Laboratory (3)
  • CHE 575 Organic Spectroscopy (3)
  • CHE/BCM 677 Prep & Analysis of Proteins & Nucleic Acids (3)
  • FSC 635 Medicolegal Death Investigation I (3)
  • FSC 636 Medicolegal Death Investigation II (3)
  • FSC 637 Medicolegal Death Investigation for Emergency Responders (3)
  • FSC 640 Selected Topics in Advanced Forensic Science (3)
  • FSC 644 Forensic Chemical Analysis (4)
  • FSC 651 Forensic Pathology (3)
  • FSC 652 Forensic Mental Health (3)
  • FSC 653 Forensic Toxicology (3)
  • FSC 654 Nuclear Forensics (3)
  • FSC 657 Principles of Human Toxicology (3)
  • FSC 661 Firearms & Impression Evidence (3)
  • FSC 662 Forensic Entomology (3)
  • FSC 665 Latent Prints (3)
  • FSC 667 Forensic Photography (3)
  • FSC 668 Crime Scene Investigation (3)
  • FSC 669 Science of Countering WMDs (3)
  • FSC 671 Firearms and Impression Evidence II (3)
  • FSC 672 Advanced Light Microscopy (3)
  • FSC 676 Cold Cases (3)
  • FSC 690 Independent Study or Internship in Forensic Science (1 - 6)
  • IST 602 Digital Forensics (3)
  • LAW 604 Criminal Law (3)
  • LAW 708 Constitutional Criminal Procedure Investigation (3)
  • LAW 718 Evidence (3)
  • LAW 719 Psychology & the Law (3)
  • LAW 759 Computer Crimes (3)
  • LAW 781 Forensic Evidence (2)
  • LIN 601 Introductory to Linguistic Analysis (3)
  • LIN 631 Phonological Analysis (3)
  • LIN 671 Dimension of Bilingualism & Multiculturalism (3)
  • LIN 675 Forensic Linguistics (3)
  • NUC 520 Radiochemistry, Nuclear Fuel Reprocessing and Nonproliferation (3)
  • PSY 674 Advanced Social Psychology (3)
  • SWK 724 Psychopathology (3)
  • SWK/WGS 626 Persons in Social Context (3)


III. Internship or Independent Study Research - at least 3 credits required

(additional credits may be used to satisfy elective requirements)

  • FSC 690 Independent Study in Forensic Science (1-6)


Total Credits for Degree - 100