OSU Center for Health Sciences Launches New Doctoral Program in Forensic Science
Friday, September 8, 2017
Meeting a growing national need, The Oklahoma State University/A&M Board of Regents approved a new doctoral degree program in forensic sciences from the OSU Center for Health Sciences’ School of Forensic Sciences at its regular meeting Friday.
OSU-CHS, located in Tulsa, will be one of only three institutions in the U.S. to offer a Ph.D. in Forensic Sciences. Sam Houston State University and West Virginia University are the others.
“After years of planning, OSU Center for Health Sciences is pleased to offer students from across the country the opportunity to earn a high quality doctoral degree in forensic sciences from Oklahoma State University,” said Kayse Shrum, D.O., president of OSU Center for Health Sciences.
Historically, the highest attainable degree in forensic science has been the master’s degree. Most forensic science programs in the United States are offered at the undergraduate and graduate levels, leaving students interested in seeking a terminal degree in forensic sciences with limited options.
This shortage of doctoral programs in forensic science has made it difficult for universities, law enforcement agencies, and forensic laboratories to recruit Ph.D.-trained forensic scientists.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Oklahoma State to be the leader in forensic science education,” said Dr. Robert Allen, head of the School of Forensic Sciences at OSU-CHS. “With the rapid pace of technological developments in forensic science, we need more forensic scientists trained at the Ph.D. level to advance the field of forensic science and to push the boundaries of scientific inquiry.”
The School of Forensic Sciences will start accepting applications with expected enrollment to begin in the fall of 2018. Interested candidates must have a master’s degree in forensic sciences or be willing to complete foundation coursework in forensic sciences. Both in class and online courses will be offered.
The School of Forensic Sciences at OSU-CHS currently offers a Master of Science in Forensic Sciences in the following seven tracks: Death Scene Investigation, Forensic Biology/DNA, Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Psychology, Arson and Explosives Investigations, Forensic Document Examination, and Forensic Science Administration.
The School of Forensic Sciences also has training facilities that are second to none, including a crime scene investigation laboratory and a 300-acre explosives range.
The program must receive final approval from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
For more information on the new Ph.D. program in forensic sciences, contact Aaron T. Christensen, 918-561-1108, aaron.t.christensen@okstate.edu
For other Board of Regents actions: