#9 Penn State
University Park, Pennsylvania
Our number 9 pick of the best forensics graduate programs in America is The Pennsylvania State University's Professional Science Masters. Unique among its peers, Penn State grants a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Forensic Science, a slightly different take on the traditional M.S. degrees you see offered at other schools.
One thing you'll notice that jumps out about Penn's program is the admissions requirements: no GRE score is required. That's right -- no nail-biting, Saturday-ruining exam. Instead, your admissions chances will rise or fall on the strengths of your college GPA (which must be at least a 3.0) and a couple of essays. There's the standard "personal statement," but also an off-the-wall one-page statement on your understanding of the word "ethics." Seriously. Toss in a couple recommendations for good measure, and possibly a faculty interview, and you have the sum total of your application package
One thing we liked about Penn's program is the variety of elective courses, the likes of which you won't find at many other programs. For example, you can take interest courses in skeletal and molecular forensic anthropology, forensic entomology, and even forensic nursing. However, you will have to have a bachelor's degree in biology, chemistry, or a closely related field to enroll. This is, after all, a science masters. If your background is more in the liberal arts, you might be better off looking toward other programs with more of a criminal justice bend.
