Master of Science in Forensic Medicine (MS) 

The degree program is a 40-credit program leading to a Master of Science in Forensic Medicine. Applicants to the program will have a strong foundation in biology, chemistry and anatomy and physiology. It provides a solid foundation in the theory, concepts and principles of forensic medicine, the medico-legal and technical aspects of death scene investigations and clinical pathology skills. The emerging demands and the roles and responsibilities of medico-legal investigators and clinical forensic specialists are also addressed.

Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM) admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.

Admission to PCOM is not open to applicants who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents for the 2027-2028 academic year.

All applicants for the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine must have successfully completed a bachelor’s degree from a regionally accredited college or university with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or better. Candidates will be evaluated utilizing a holistic admissions process. Upper-level life science courses, such as anatomy and physiology, are required. Appropriateness of coursework for the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program is up to the discretion of the program director.

Forensic Medicine Pathway Overview

The Forensic Medicine Pathway online course is designed for those who are interested in forensic medicine and who possess a bachelor's degree in a forensic-related field (i.e. criminal justice, psychology, sociology or anthropology) but lack coursework in the core sciences (biology, chemistry, anatomy and physiology). This course was developed to allow those without a strong science background to receive the necessary information to be successful in the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program. Candidates requiring the Pathway option will be admitted to the MS degree program contingent upon completion of the Pathway preparatory course.

The Pathway is a 10-week online course in general biology and human anatomy and physiology, which lasts from June to August. Once completed and successfully passed, the student will continue in the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine degree program in the fall term. Please note that this is a pass/fail course and no degree is awarded upon completion of the Pathway course.  

Classes for the Master of Science in Forensic Medicine program begin in the Fall term only (early September).

Admissions Process

The Forensic Medicine programs utilize a rolling admissions policy. Therefore, applications will be considered throughout the year as received until the desired enrollment has been achieved. Application requirements and a link to the online application are available at https://www.pcom.edu/admissions/apply/. The application closes in May 2027 for Pathway and in August 2027 for the MS program, but an early application is highly recommended.

The Faculty Committee on Admissions screens the applications, evaluates the applicants, and selects the new students. Following completion of the admissions process, applicants will be notified of the Admissions Committee’s decision in writing, including any conditions that must be satisfied prior to or following enrollment.

Once your application has been processed, you will be contacted via email with a confirmation of its receipt, including reminders of the appropriate steps to complete the application process.

The Faculty Committee on Admissions for Forensic Medicine uses the following information in making decisions concerning admission:

• Official transcripts of all undergraduate and graduate/professional coursework
• One letter of recommendation
• A general autobiographical statement explaining your interest in the Forensic Medicine program as it relates to your career goals (in 500 words or less)
• Writing sample (preferably graded, APA format)
• Resume/CV
• Current professional, state or federal license, certificates or registration documents, if applicable

All materials must be forwarded to PCOM’s Office of Admissions.

Note that official college transcripts from all colleges/universities schools attended must be sent directly to:

​Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Office of Admissions
4170 City Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19131

We will accept electronic transcripts via email from Parchment Services and National Student Clearinghouse to admissions@pcom.edu.

Letters of recommendation can be sent directly to PCOM Admissions in PDF format to recommend@pcom.edu. Recommenders can be directed to our “For Recommenders” page for guidance. All other admissions documents can be sent to admissions@pcom.edu.