Graduate College Application Process and Forensic Science Program Selection Information

Click here to view the Graduate College web pages regarding the application process.

The link to apply to the forensic science graduate program on-line is:

    As of May 1, 2008 the graduate program will accept students throughout the year.  To be considered for admission into the program, your application, transcripts, and GRE scores should be received by the Office of Graduate Studies and Research by the following dates:            

    The application paperwork and fee should be submitted to the Graduate College. The Graduate College will send a copy of these documents to the Graduate Forensic Science Program Director.  The Director reviews these documents and ranks each student according to their overall undergraduate GPA and by their GRE scores.  This is the primary basis for selection, although letters of recommendation are considered in the selection process.  The full-time UCO forensic science faculty meet to review this information and their selections are submitted to the Graduate College.  The Graduate College will then send a letter of acceptance or rejection to each student.  This will occur approximately 2 weeks after the application deadline.

    The Director also checks each student's undergraduate transcript to evaluate which, if any, undergraduate prerequisite courses the student may need to take to be prepared for their graduate level coursework.  Undergraduate prerequisite courses are listed under each program option on the homepage (return to home).  It would be in each applicant's best interest to review these required courses and try to complete as many as possible during the undergraduate years.  Students who are admitted into the program needing prerequisites will be notified of those required prerequisites when they receive their acceptance letter and prerequisite course notification form from the Program Director.

   Students are asked to notify the Program Director on their intent to accept a position by May 15th by returning their prerequisite course notification form with their signature.  An early decision is particularly important for students needing to take undergraduate prerequisite classes because these courses can fill quickly once Spring enrollment begins. 

    Prerequisites can be take at other schools if they are equivalent to UCO courses during the summer before starting the UCO graduate program.  The prerequisite course will be waived after a transcript showing the course was taken with a passing grade is submitted to the Program Director.  Students may also take prerequisite classes at UCO beginning in the Fall, but enrollment in graduate classes requiring the prerequisites will not be allowed until the necessary classes have been taken with a passing grade.

    Once students are selected and indicate they will be attending UCO, the Program Director will send a draft document called a Plan of Study to each student.  This is a planning guide for each student that will allow them to plan what year and semester they will take each course.  A typed and signed Plan of Study is due to the Graduate College by the end of the first semester and can be completed during the first semester.  This plan helps the student balance their course load and to look ahead to when they will be able to do their required Practicum.  Because plans change, this document can be amended at any time during a student's progress through the program by having the Program Director submit a revised and signed document to the Graduate College.

    Full time graduate status is enrollment in 9 credit hours in Fall and Spring, 5 credit hours in Summer.  Some students may wish to take more graduate credit hours and this can be done using an Overload form.  Students can also have a mixed enrollment of undergraduate and graduate hours up to 18 credit hours per semester.  Information pertaining to graduate program academic issues can be found at the Joe C. Jackson Graduate College catalog website.

    During the application, enrollment, and coursework periods of a graduate student's experience at UCO, the Forensic Science Program Director serves as the Advisor and should be able to help you through the graduate school process.