Accelerated BSFS to MSFS

ACCELERATED BACHELOR’S TO MASTER’S PROGRAM

The Graduate College at Bowling Green State University has several graduate programs that permit qualified undergraduate students who are earning their bachelor’s degree at BGSU to apply to an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program.  Participating in an Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s program provides students with the opportunity to complete both a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree in an efficient manner.  Undergraduate students who apply to and have been accepted into an Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's program will be coded as Undergraduate Accelerated Students until they have completed their bachelor’s degree. While an “Undergraduate Accelerated Student”, they may take up to nine (9) credit hours of graduate credit.  A maximum of nine (9) graduate credit hours may be overlapped between both the bachelor’s and the master’s degrees.  These overlapped credits can count toward both the undergraduate and graduate degrees (according to the curriculum of each program).  In completing the Forensic Science Accelerated program, students earn six (6) overlapping credits that count toward the MSFS degree: FSCI 4400/5400 (3) and CHEM 4450/5450 (3).

Note, Biochemistry (CHEM 5450) will count for the undergraduate Biochemistry requirement (CHEM 4450), and CHEM 5450 will be substituted in place of either FSCI 5230 or FSCI 5300 in the graduate curriculum, as accelerated students complete the undergraduate courses (either FSCI 4230 or FSCI 4300) and cannot repeat the those courses at the graduate level.

See the Graduate College's Accelerated Bachelor's to Master's Program Policy for more detailed information on admissions requirements, student status, credit hour policies, tuition, financial aid, program withdrawal, and program dismissal.  Please note: These policies pertain to students who wish to officially work toward both a bachelor’s degree and master’s degree at BGSU simultaneously. Students who wish to take graduate level courses during their senior year but not officially enroll in a master’s degree program may apply to do so by earning Advanced Undergraduate Status (AUS). 

Students interested in pursuing the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science (BSFS) to Master of Science in Forensic Science (MSFS) must complete the following application process: Formally apply to the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science (BSFS) to Master of Science in Forensic Science (MSFS) program through the BGSU Graduate College admissions portal. 

Eligible students will meet or complete the following application requirements:   

By the start of Accelerated status, they must have either:

• - 75 credit hours earned and an overall BGSU GPA of at least 3.2, OR 
• - 90 credit hours earned and an overall BGSU GPA of at least 3.0; 

• Have completed CHEM 1770; 
• Have completed BIOL 2040; 
• Have completed BIOL 2050; 
• Have completed CHEM 1230 or CHEM 1350; 
• Have completed CHEM 1270 or CHEM 1370; 
• Have completed CHEM 2010;
• Have completed CHEM 3410; 
• Have completed CHEM 3440;

Grades earned in the above courses will be reviewed as part of the application process; 

• Have completed either:  
• FSCI 4300 (if forensic chemistry/drug analysis specialization student) OR  
• FSCI 4230 (if forensic biology/DNA analysis or forensic examination student) 
• and earned a B or better.

Please note, to be eligible for the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program in Forensic Science, students must NOT have taken or previously received credit in as part of the BSFS program:

• FSCI 4400
• CHEM 3080
• CHEM 4450
• CRJU 4510 
• CRJU 4400

The Application

Complete the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program Application;

• Deadline to complete application: February 1st 11:59 pm to take graduate-level courses the following Fall semester 
• Submit official transcripts from all universities attended;
• Submit at least one letter of recommendation from a full-time BGSU faculty member.Note: The letter of recommendation should come from a faculty or staff member of BGSU with personal knowledge of student who is not a faculty/staff from the Forensic Science Program. 
• Provide a personal statement indicating research interest (e.g. chemistry, DNA, pattern evidence, etc.), expectations, future career goals, and any relevant background experience. The statement should indicate how the MSFS program at BGSU can aid the student in obtaining future goals. Where appropriate, this statement should provide information on educational experiences, research background, specialized training, or other matters which make the candidate suitable for admission. 
•  Provide a scientific writing sample (e.g. laboratory report, case study, research paper, published journal article, undergraduate honors thesis, etc.; this should be your own work, group work is not acceptable. Poster presentations are also not acceptable.); 
• Provide a resume
• Note, the MSFS program may require more information from applicants that could require an interview. 

Students will then be evaluated by Forensic Science Program faculty.  If accepted, students be granted Undergraduate Accelerated Status.   

**Students who change majors or transfer into the BSFS program may still be eligible for acceptance into the Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s Program in Forensic Science but should consult Forensic Science Program faculty regarding degree completion.** 

Undergraduate Accelerated Status 

Courses that must be taken while an undergraduate student with Undergraduate Accelerated Status that will overlap between the Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees:

• FSCI 5400
• CHEM 5450

Note, students who successfully completed their Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degree at BGSU prior to receiving Graduate Accelerated Status will not be able to register for cross-listed courses at the graduate level that were previously completed at the undergraduate level (i.e. FSCI 4230/5230 or FSCI 4300/5300). Affected students will be granted a course substitution for CHEM 5450, approved by the Graduate Coordinator. Accelerated MSFS students are strongly advised to complete FSCI 4700 as their culminating experience course because it can be used as preparation for eventual thesis research.   

Graduate Accelerated Status

Courses to be taken once the bachelor’s degree has been completed and the student is fully enrolled as a graduate student in the MSFS master’s program should include any courses not taken in the “Curriculum” section of the MSFS Graduate Student Handbook while the student was on Advanced Undergraduate Status or Undergraduate Accelerated Status. Students are expected to participate in graduate education and research throughout the year, including summer.  At a minimum, master’s degree completion is expected to take an additional 4 semesters, including summer, post-graduation from undergrad.  This program requires you to complete a Plan I Thesis Research Project (FSCI 6990).