Forensic Degree Info.

Entrance requirements

All students must meet the UCF entry requirements for Graduate study. These are a GPA of at least 3.0 over the last 60 attempted hours of a baccalaureate degree or a GRE of at least 1,000 (combined verbal-quantitative portions).

Students must also be capable of taking Web-based study. Click here for details of system recommendations.

Completion

The degree must be completed within 7 years.

How to apply

Apply to the Office of Graduate Studies. You can request an application form or complete the form on-line. Two letters of recommendation are required. All student applicants must take the GRE, as required by the Office of Graduate Studies.

Initial steps to success

Receive acceptance letters from UCF's Graduate Studies and Forensic Science Track Department of Chemistry
Meet the requirements for taking Web-based courses and take the orientation course
Receive PIN code and register for classes via touch tone telephone by calling 800 876 5308 or on-line via the POLARIS system.
Pay fees. See application information and on-line catalog for details of residency requirements.

Subsequent steps to success

Select an Advisor and Advisory Committee
Receive personalized plan of study
Decide research topic
Confirm laboratory director's support for Research and DNA laboratory (if applicable)
Complete all course work
Complete research thesis
Oral defense of thesis at UCF

More information

Contact the program coordinator, Dr Jack Ballantyne at Telephone (407) 823 0163 or jballant@mail.ucf.edu.

CHS 6513 QA and bioinformatics

This class introduces the student to the Web as a source of information in molecular biology; looks at how to evaluate the many sites; introduces the concept of the asynchronous learning network; and addresses issues in QC and QC in forensic molecular biology.

CHS 6536 Forensic Analysis of DNA data

This is DNA statistics, based on Dr Bruce Weir's book "Interpreting DNA Evidence".

CHS 6535 Forensic DNA Analysis of Biological Materials

The molecular biology core of the degree, along with the DNA laboratory class.

The class will cover the fundamentals of molecular biology as they apply to forensic analysis.

CHS 6535L Forensic DNA Analysis of Biological Materials Laboratory

Students will receive instruction on the principles underpinning their analytical work, and on the practical aspects. Those working professionals can prepare a portfolio of laboratory based exercises to demonstrate their practical competency. All students will be required to take a test on campus and if they pass the test and have a satisfactory portfolio, they will not need to take the practical tuition part of this class.

CHS 6938 Seminar

Students are required to prepare a seminar on a relevant topic but not the one chosen for their research and present it to the class and faculty.

The University of Central Florida

The University of Central Florida (UCF) is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and schools to award degrees at the associate, baccalaureate, masters, and doctoral levels.

UCF is a member institution of the State University System. The university was established in 1963 as Florida Technological University and began classes in October 1968 with an enrollment of 1,948 students. The name was changed to the University of Central Florida in December 1978. The main campus of the University encompasses 1415 acres near Orlando, FL. UCF also maintains campuses in Cocoa, Daytona Beach, and downtown Orlando. Total enrollment is over 28,000 of which 22,000 are undergraduates.

UCF, a metropolitan institution, has developed rapidly by working cooperatively with surrounding mid-Florida communities to deliver programs of instruction, research and service that sustain and stimulate progress throughout the region. Many electro-optics, electronic, and defense firms are located in the area, including NASA, Lockheed-Martin and Westinghouse Corporation. The university offers degree programs in five colleges: Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education, Engineering, and Health and Public Affairs. UCF's programs in communication, film and the fine arts help to meet the cultural and entertainment needs of a growing metropolitan area. For more information on UCF click here (http://www.oir.ucf.edu/pubrel/facts/index.htm).