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Arcadia University Forensic Science Program

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United States
Glenside, PA
Arcadia University Forensic Science Program

One of the most renowned FEPAC accredited master programs in forensic science in the country

09/08/2026

Our second-year students were back in the lab this week at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education for their Forensic Toxicology course! Their first laboratory exercise focused on preparing Neat Calibration Curves and Controls for Co***ne and Fentanyl.

A calibration curve is built from a series of samples with known amounts of the analyte being tested. Once the curve is established, its accuracy is checked using controls, which are separate samples with known analyte concentrations that are run and quantified as if they were unknowns. If the calculated concentration falls within the acceptable range of the method, the curve is considered valid for the quantification of analyte concentrations from unknown biological matrix samples.

Our students calculated the target concentrations for these controls before their preparation. Students then spiked the standard at varying concentrations, added internal standard, dried down, and reconstituted them before the samples were ultimately run on GC/MS and tandem LC/MS instruments.

We love seeing our students back in the lab, happy first week of fall semester classes!

08/31/2026

On Friday, August 28th, we welcomed our incoming first-year students to the program with their Orientation Day!

To help our students get acquainted with campus life and the resources available to them, we were joined by guest speakers including: Dr. Oldoni (Director of our program), Professor Schikel (Adjunct Professor), Professor Otieno (Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences), Theresa Smith (Director of Student Health Services), Amy Henning (Director of Counseling Services and AOD Program), and Ruth Evans (Director of Public Safety).

Our first-year students also met full-time faculty members Professor Harris and Dr. Costantino. Over lunch they had the chance to connect with second-year MSFS students for a firsthand look at life in the program.

The day wrapped up with a trip to the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, where students toured the facility and met the personnel there that they will be working with in the semesters ahead.

Congratulations to our first-year students, and please give a warm welcome to our MSFS Class of 2028!

08/28/2026

Our incoming second-year MSFS students recently delivered their summer research progress presentations—a key academic milestone designed for students to share preliminary findings, refine their methodologies, and receive constructive feedback from faculty, advisors, and peers.

Throughout the summer, this cohort conducted rigorous laboratory and field investigations across several key disciplines, including forensic biology, forensic chemistry, forensic toxicology, forensic archaeology, and forensic entomology. These sessions give our graduate researchers the valuable opportunity to strengthen their analytical skills and project design as they continue working toward completing their master's research.

Congratulations to our rising second-year class on delivering insightful presentations and driving innovation across the forensic sciences!

08/03/2026

Join us as we continue to celebrate our recent MSFS graduates and the exciting careers they have already begun!

Meet Jean! During her time in Arcadia University’s Forensic Science program, Jean completed an internship with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. This experience allowed her to explore the field of medicolegal death investigation through hands-on training and mentorship from experienced investigators. Through this opportunity, she discovered her passion for death investigation, recognizing it as the perfect combination of her interest in forensic science and her desire to serve and support her community.

Today, Jean is a Deputy Coroner with the Montgomery County Coroner’s Office. In this role, she assists with medicolegal death investigations by responding to death scenes, documenting findings, collecting evidence, collaborating with law enforcement and medical professionals, interviewing witnesses and family members, and helping determine the circumstances surrounding a person’s death. Jean shares that applying scientific principles to answer important questions while providing familiares with answers and closure has made her career both meaningful and fulfilling. She credits our program for providing the opportunities and experiences that prepared her to successfully transition into the field.

We are incredibly proud of our graduates’ who are putting their education and training into practice as they begin their careers in forensic science. We look forward to seeing the impact they will continue to make in the field!

07/30/2026

Our program is committed to providing our students with the knowledge, skills, and real-world experiences that prepare them to become competitive candidates in the forensic science workforce. We are proud to share that many of our students who graduated this past May have already launched successful careers in the field. Take a look at one of our recent graduates and their accomplishments so far!

Meet Mary! As part of the program, Mary completed an internship at the Center for Forensic Science Research and Education, where she gained experience in forensic toxicology. During her internship, she contributed to the validation of an LC/MS/MS method for benzodiazepines, completed mock casework involving workplace drug testing, human performance toxicology, postmortem toxicology, as well as learned to develop expert opinions from case files. She also participated in a moot court exercise, where she testified as an expert witness on one of her human performance toxicology cases.

Mary believes that this hands-on experience played a significant role in helping her secure her current position as a Forensic Scientist - Toxicology I at the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene in Madison, Wisconsin. She is currently training in evidence accessioning, while observing the laboratory’s quantitative extraction procedures. In the near future, she will begin training in blood alcohol analysis and courtroom testimony, in order to prepare her to testify in operating while intoxicated (OWI) cases. Mary credits her internship experience with providing the practical skills needed to begin her career in forensic toxicology.

07/24/2026

Here are four more of our students working on advancing the many disciplines of forensic science through innovative research!

Ashley is working to develop methods to recover DNA from contact lenses. A typical day in the lab for her involves sampling contact lenses for DNA, working through an extraction protocol, quantifying the recovered DNA, analyzing the data, and figuring out what she can change to improve DNA recovery!

Eliza is investigating the behavioral interactions and attraction of blowflies to bait samples treated with perfume. Her study aims to determine how fragrance compounds may disrupt the normal response of blowflies to decomposing remains, contributing to a better understanding of insect behavior in forensic crime scene investigations.

Samantha is analyzing street-level fentanyl samples using Direct Analysis in Real Time Mass Spectrometry (DART-MS). Her research focuses on validating a quantification method for fentanyl to assist in chemical profiling and common-source determination in illicit drug investigations.

Madeline is exploring how an offender’s familiarity with a given landscape influences clandestine burial site selection. As part of this, she is completing a summer GIS course series to support the analysis of participant movement patterns and final burial locations during simulated burial trials. Her research intends to inform and improve the effectiveness of conventional search techniques by identifying and prioritizing higher probability search areas.

Stay tuned as we continue to highlight the research happening in our program!

07/15/2026

Our students have been busy this summer making progress on their independent research projects for their master’s theses!

Rachael is investigating the persistence of biological evidence on various flooring materials in mock forensic scenarios to better understand how varying lengths of environmental exposure can affect DNA recovery.

Lexa is evaluating blood alcohol analysis methods by examining how gel-based serum separator tubes may affect analytical results by introducing measurable loss or systematic bias when dealing with ethanol concentrations.

Caeden is studying homemade explosive residues by analyzing grocery powders mixed with hydrogen peroxide. His research aims to improve the identification and characterization of homemade explosives.

Haley is investigating the persistence of trace DNA on pocket knife handles and the potential for indirect DNA transfer between individuals in simulated crime scenarios in order to better understand DNA deposition and interpretation in criminal investigations.

From refining laboratory protocols and recruiting participants to collecting samples and analyzing data, our students are making incredible progress on their research. We are proud of all their hard work and look forward to seeing how their projects continue to develop throughout the year. Stay tuned to see what our other students are up to this summer!

06/16/2026

Welcome to Part II of the Global Field Studies CSI trip!

As part of a course exploring the development of forensic science and criminal investigation practices across the US, England, and Switzerland, our students spent the latter part of their trip in Switzerland to gain insight into the field from an international perspective.

At the University of Lausanne, School of Criminalistics, students learned about one of the world’s leading forensic science programs and heard master’s students present their current research.

Dr. Oldoni also presented on the Master’s Program in Forensic Science and the Minor in Forensic Investigation offered at Arcadia University. Arcadia graduate students in Forensic Science and undergraduate Criminology students also shared their experiences and discussed their future career goals.

They also visited the Institute of Legal Medicine, where they explored how forensic scientists use DNA analysis and biomarkers to identify victims of mass fatality incidents, including plane crashes, and assist with paternity and kinship investigations. These experiences provided students with a deeper understanding of how forensic science is practiced globally and how international collaboration, research, and evolving standards continue to shape the profession.

Outside of their academic visits, students experienced the culture and history of Switzerland through visits to the Olympic Museum, Lausanne’s historic Old Town cathedral, Chillon Castle, and the beautiful landscapes of the Swiss Alps, Interlaken, Lauterbrunnen and the nearby Évian-les-Bains, France.

06/05/2026

The Global Field Study CSI England and Switzerland class recently began their international experience in London on May 18th, where students explored the intersection of forensic science, history, and culture.

Upon arriving in London, the group visited Windsor Castle before gathering for a welcome dinner to kick off their time abroad.

Students then had the opportunity to visit King’s College London, where they learned about the university’s forensic science programs, toured laboratory facilities, and heard from a PhD researcher about their work in forensic bodily fluid detection. Thank you to King’s College London for hosting our students and providing such an engaging academic experience!

The class also visited the Old Bailey, London’s historic Central Criminal Court, and spent time exploring some of the city's most iconic landmarks, including Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens.

From academic exchanges to cultural exploration, students gained valuable insight into both forensic science and life in the United Kingdom. Stay tuned for Part 2 as the group continues their journey in Switzerland!

05/28/2026

Keep an eye out this summer for updates on what our Class of 2027 is accomplishing. A number of our students are currently participating in the Global Field Studies study abroad course. Others are building their professional skills through internships, where they will be expanding upon their classroom knowledge and exploring potential career paths. Several students will be dedicating their summer to their thesis research in order to develop valuable independent research experience within their specific disciplines of forensic science. We look forward to sharing their achievements and experiences in the months ahead!

Address

450 S Easton Road
Glenside, PA
19038

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 5pm
Tuesday	9am - 5pm
Wednesday	9am - 5pm
Thursday	9am - 5pm
Friday	9am - 5pm

Website

https://www.arcadia.edu/majors-and-programs/forensic-science-masters/

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