Biomedical Forensic Sciences

Overview

Key facts

Professionals trained in these disciplines are crucial to today’s comprehensive forensic investigations. Completing the Biomedical Forensic Sciences degree at Boston University will qualify graduates to work as forensic scientists, DNA analysts, chemists, death investigators, and crime scene responders at the local, state, and federal levels. The MS in Biomedical Forensic Sciences is a FEPAC-accredited graduate program. FEPAC (Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Committee) maintains and enhances the quality of forensic science education through a formal evaluation of college-level academic programs. The primary function of the committee is to develop and maintain standards and to administer an accreditation program that recognizes and distinguishes high-quality undergraduate and graduate forensic science programs.

Forensic Science Education at the Boston University School of Medicine

All of our faculty remain actively involved in casework and commonly utilize their own experience to teach students about science and the application of science to the law.

The forensic curriculum and courses at Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) are specially developed for forensic science education. A significant number of courses are designed such that there is a laboratory or practical component included. This ensures that our students obtain a significant amount of hands-on experience not available through lecture classes alone. The master’s degree program is a 38-credit program that can be completed in two years.

The BMFS program is housed in the Boston University School of Medicine and the master’s degree awarded is an MS in Biomedical Forensic Sciences from the Boston University School of Medicine. Therefore, our students primarily take courses and perform research in BUSM facilities and laboratories.

Our criminal law classes (Criminal Law I and II) are taught by practicing attorneys. This allows our students to get a real sense of expert testimony while receiving advice and expertise from the attorneys who regularly practice direct and cross examination.

All students actively engage in independent research. Experience gained through this endeavor has allowed our students not only to present at conferences and publish in journals, but also to develop expertise in a field of study not accessible through courses alone.

These requirements, experiences, and in-depth laboratory practice are what allow us to offer high-quality, graduate-level, research-grade, forensic science education to MS students at BUSM.