| Admission deadlines: | Fall – April 1 (February 1 for applicants applying for assistantships/fellowships) |
| Standardized test scores: | GRE not required. |
| The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), the academic International English Language Testing System (IELTS), or the PTE Academic is required of all applicants except those who hold a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree from a college or university in the United States or from an institution located in a country in which English is the official language, provided English was the language of instruction. | |
| Minimum scores for the program are: | |
| - Academic IELTS: an overall band score of 6.0 with no individual score below 5.0; or | |
| - TOEFL: 550 on paper-based or 80 on Internet-based; or | |
| - PTE Academic: 53 | |
| Recommendations required: | Two (2) recommendations |
| Prerequisite requirements: | An undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university with a major in biological sciences. Applicants must have completed 12 credit hours in biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology or molecular genetics, and statistics or population genetics. |
| Prior academic records: | Transcripts are required from all colleges and universities attended, whether or not credit was earned, the program was completed, or the credit appears as transfer credit on another transcript. Unofficial transcripts from all colleges and universities attended must be uploaded to your online application. Official transcripts are required only of applicants who are offered admission. |
| If transcripts are in a language other than English, English language translations must be provided. The English translation alone should be uploaded into your application. | |
| Statement of purpose: | In an essay of 250 – 500 words, state your purpose in undertaking graduate study in your chosen field. Include your academic objectives, research interests, and career plans. Also discuss your related qualifications, including collegiate, professional, and community activities, and any other substantial accomplishments not already mentioned on the application. |
| International applicants only: | Please follow this link - https://columbian.gwu.edu/international-graduate-applicants - to review the International Applicant Information carefully for details on required documents, earlier deadlines for applicants requiring an I-20 or DS-2019 from GW. |
Supporting documents not submitted online should be mailed to:
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences, Office of Graduate Studies
The George Washington University
801 22nd Street NW, Phillips Hall 107
Washington DC 20052
For additional information about the admissions process visit the Columbian College of Arts and Sciences Frequently Asked Questions page.
Contact:
askccas@gwu.edu
202-994-6210 (phone)
Hours: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Required | ||
| FORS 6004 | Fundamentals of Forensic Science I | |
| FORS 6005 | Fundamentals of Forensic Science II | |
| FORS 6020 | Ethics, Professional Responsibility, and Quality Assurance | |
| FORS 6201 | Forensic Biology | |
| FORS 6224 | Criminal Law for Forensic Scientists | |
| FORS 6225 | Statistics for Forensic Scientists | |
| FORS 6241 | Forensic Molecular Biology I | |
| FORS 6242 | Forensic Molecular Biology II | |
| FORS 6243 | Forensic Molecular Biology III | |
| FORS 6247 | Population Genetics | |
| FORS 6292 | Graduate Seminar (taken twice) * | |
| Electives | ||
| Six additional credits selected in consultation with the departmental advisor | ||
| Other requirements | ||
| Successful completion of an independent research project is required. | ||
| Successful completion of a master’s comprehensive examination is required. | ||
| *Students must register for FORS 6292 in their first semester and again after or during the completion of the required independent research project. | ||