Frequently Asked Questions

Is this a UC Davis master’s degree or an Extension master’s degree?

The program is a UC Davis master’s degree program, under the operational control of the UC Davis Graduate Division. The program is financially administered through UC Davis Extension which acts as the administrative arm for the Forensic Science Graduate Group.

Do I need to take the GRE or another graduate entrance examination before applying to this program?

No, a graduate entrance examination is not required for acceptance to the Graduate Program in Forensic Science but if you have good scores, they may make a difference in borderline admission cases.

Are there any prerequisites to the program?

A bachelor’s degree is required for admission. We require one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of calculus and one year of physics in addition to a reasonable number of courses in your technical area. You will need a minimum GPA of 3.0 average in all your technical courses. Along with these courses, it is recommended that you hold a degree in one of the physical or natural sciences such as biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, biology, genetics, engineering or other closely-related field. Applicants lacking this preparation may be asked to make up deficiencies before consideration for admission, depending on the area of emphasis they wish to pursue.

Does my GPA have to be a 3.0 to apply?

The primary requirement for admission to any graduate program is evidence of intellectual achievement and promise. Your application will be evaluated primarily on the basis of your transcript to assure that your qualifications meet minimum standards as set universitywide and by UC Davis graduate councils. Generally, you must have a minimum grade point average of B (3.0) in undergraduate coursework from an institution of acceptable standing to be considered for admission. We also evaluate all of your technical courses and we generally expect these to have a GPA of 3.0 or better.

Do I have to select an area of specialization right away, or can I take a few courses before choosing a specialization?

While it is not mandatory to choose an area of specialization immediately, many students will find it helpful in drafting their statement of purpose and in choosing the right elective courses. We expect that by the end of your first year, you will be working on a research project.

Will I have to take a final examination or oral defense upon completion of the degree?

Plan I does not have a comprehensive exam or oral defense but does require that a thesis be completed and approved to earn the degree. The student will be required to present his/her research in one of the seminars.

Plan II requires the submission of a capstone project followed by an oral examination on that subject.

When are the courses offered?

The required courses and the forensic science elective courses are generally offered one to two times a week, in the evening, typically from 6-9 p.m. The general electives are usually offered on the UC Davis campus during regular campus hours.

When are the application and supporting materials due?

Applications are accepted and reviewed for the fall quarter each year. Complete applications received by February 1 will be given priority review. Applications received after February 1 will be considered on a space available basis. No application received after March 1 will be considered.

What does the application entail?

Completing a Graduate Studies online application requires information about your undergraduate studies, statement of purpose, letters of recommendation, GRE/TOEFL scores (if applicable) and the application fee of $60 for domestic applicants or $80 for international applicants. Official transcripts from all colleges/universities attended are sent to the Forensic Science program separately.

Where can I obtain an application?

You must apply online via the Graduate Studies Web site: http://gradstudies.ucdavis.edu/prospective/appl/-online.html

How much does the program cost?

The tuition fee is $475 per unit. This fee is subject to change without notice. The tuition fee does not cover the costs of books, lab fees or minor supply fees. At the current rate, your overall tuition for 48 units would cost $22,800. At the present time, the self-supporting MS Forensic Science program is exempt from campus fees. There are no additional fees for non-resident students.

Is financial assistance available for this program?

Some students will be employed and will therefore be responsible for their fees. Some students may receive full or partial support from their respective employers or from research grants. Financial assistance may be available via student loans (see page 8 for more information).

How competitive is this program?

Our acceptance rate ranges from 40-50% and 28% of the students who apply are enrolled in the program.

What qualifications do most forensic science crime laboratories require?

If you want a position in a crime lab, the forensic science laboratories generally mandate a degree in one of the physical or natural sciences with anywhere from 8 to 30 units of chemistry. For DNA analysis, labs prefer to employ people who have also completed a course in biochemistry, genetics or molecular biology. In California, most labs require a course in quantitative analysis (lower division) or equivalent.

I want to be a crime scene investigator— is this the right education path for me to meet that goal?

The focus of our program is to develop graduates who will be working as forensic scientists or criminalists in a crime laboratory. Most laboratories respond only to major crime scenes such as homicides and officer-involved shootings. Some crime labs will not go to crime scenes. If you want to perform crime scene work, then a good option would be to consider evidence technician or crime scene technician positions in a law enforcement agency. These generally do not require a college degree, although a degree may be helpful.

I am a student in junior college, and I was wondering what you would recommend as a major for a college undergraduate program?

We would suggest a B.S. degree in one of the physical or natural sciences such as biochemistry, chemistry, molecular biology, biology, genetics, etc. which will provide good qualifications in order to be well qualified to work in the forensic sciences. To become a DNA analyst in a crime lab, besides having a science degree, national standards also require coursework in molecular biology, genetics and biochemistry.

On average, how long does it take to earn the Master of Science Degree in Forensic Science?

For the student who does not have a full-time professional position, we would like you to complete the program in two years. For those who are working as a professional in a crime lab, we expect the degree to be completed within five years.

What are the issues facing foreign students?

Although the Immigration and Naturalization Service has strict requirements, we can accept foreign students and have had several enrolled in the program. Foreign students are required to take 12 units a quarter, but since our program is self supporting, we can make some accommodations so that overall fees for foreign students will be the same as other UC Davis Forensic Science Program students. Foreign students will be expected to complete the program in two years or less.

Go to the UC Davis Services for International Students Web site at http://siss.ucdavis.edu for relevant information on visa issues. You may also have to meet the English language requirement for the graduate divison, which sets the minimum TOEFL scores.

Do you have any fellowships or grants?

This is a self-supporting program that currently does not have any fellowships or paid research positions. Some of our students have paid positions based on their prior work here or grants they that have been submitted with individual faculty. Financial aid is available as a loan from Citibank at a reduced interest rate. Teaching assistant positions may also be available, but you would have to contact the various departments that may have openings. Ours is an interdisciplinary forensic science group with members representing many different departments.

How long does it take to do the research?

Plan I students can expect to spend approximately 1000 hours on the research effort. This includes writing a thesis. A principal advisor will guide students in what needs to be done for the thesis. Students will be expected to complete a thesis, an article ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal and the presentation of the results at a forensic science seminar.

What type of research will I be doing?

The program’s focus on research is based on the assumption that students who have done scientific research have learned the skills needed to identify problems, propose solutions and test these solutions in a laboratory environment. Students are responsible for choosing their research topic. The graduate group has a variety of research topics in many diverse areas that are related to forensic science. You are required to have a research advisor from the graduate group. If you are working in a laboratory and have an area of interest you would like to pursue, you may select one outside advisor.

Will I be paid for my research?

In general, unless the UC Davis faculty has identified funds for the research, you will not be paid for your research effort. However, most UC Davis sponsors will provide the facilities and the basic supplies.

Can I earn the Master of Science in Forensic Science by doing only coursework?

While we prefer that students enroll in the Plan I research option, we have recently added a Plan II option for those students who are unable to complete a thesis. The Plan II option requires more course work than the Plan I and requires a capstone project followed by an oral exam of that project. A capstone project requires considerably less time than a typical thesis project. We do encourage students to choose Plan I because it will provide practice skills to identify problems, propose solutions, validate the solutions and publish the results.

What are the job opportunities for graduates of your program?

Job opportunities in forensic science are available in many geographical areas. The American Academy of Forensic Science (www.aafs.org) has a listing of available jobs. You should also check the human resource department Web sites of the cities and counties that have forensic science laboratories.