The Master of Science in Forensic Science is designed for students who possess the equivalent of a baccalaureate degree in forensic science, chemistry, or a related scientific field. At a minimum, applicants for the Master of Science in Forensic Science should have successfully completed the following undergraduate course work: one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry, one year of calculus, one year of physics, one semester of biochemistry, one semester of physical chemistry and one semester of statistics. Students must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) prior to admission.

I.                 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ADMISSION

1.     A baccalaureate degree or the equivalent from an accredited institution.

2.        Evidence of ability to pursue graduate work successfully. In general, the minimum requirements will be an undergraduate average of B or the equivalent in the undergraduate field of concentration and an overall average of B minus or the equivalent.

3.     The Aptitude Test of the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) is required of all students.  For information and arrangements to take the test, applicants may write to the Registrar or directly to:

Graduate Record Examination              Graduate Record Examination

Educational Testing Service            or         Educational Testing Service

Princeton, New Jersey 08540                     Berkeley, California 94704

Students are advised to take the GRE no later than March for Fall Admission.

4.  Applicants who have not studied in English-speaking countries are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language TOEFL), administered by the Educational Testing Service, Princeton NJ. John Jay is authorized under federal law to enroll nonimmigrant alien students.

5.   Holders of the B.S. degree in Forensic Science from this College may normally proceed directly with their program of graduate study. Students holding degrees from other institutions may be required to include in their programs courses in some of the basic sciences as prerequisites for graduate forensic science courses. See Item #2 below.

 ADMISSION STATUS

There are three categories of graduate students - matriculated, matriculated-with-conditions, and nonmatriculated. An applicant may be admitted to graduate work without regard to residence or citizenship under one of these three categories.

1.     Fully matriculated students: those who have fulfilled all general and special program specific requirements.

2.        Matriculated-with-conditions: students whose undergraduate training is deficient, but who have otherwise qualified for admission. For example, some holders of B.S. degrees in biology may not have taken a full year of organic chemistry. Such deficiencies must be removed upon completion of not more than 15 credits and a B average must be maintained.

3.    Nonmatriculant: non-degree-oriented students accepted on a one-semester basis, according to space availability. Students in this category must apply for matriculation during their first semester of attendance.

Under exceptional circumstances, students with an undergraduate average of less than B minus but in no instance less than C, may be admitted as "matriculated-with-conditions." Such students must maintain a B average for 12 credits to attain fully matriculated status. If they do not, they will not be permitted to enroll for further graduate work.

Students who are “matriculated-with-conditions” are expected to enroll for 6 credits per semester. In exceptional circumstances, a student may exceed or fall short of these limits by no more than 3 credits with the permission of the graduate coordinators.