The Master in Forensic Science program is a one (1) year multidisciplinary postgraduate program leading to the Master degree. This Master programme is designed in such a way that students with relevant qualification are introduced to the physical, biological and legal applications of the forensic sciences within the context of the criminal justice system. The course work offers broad exposure to forensic laboratory equipment and instrumentation, as well as legal issues, expert testimony, trace evidence, physical evidence, professional ethics, quality assurance and current topics in research and development within the forensic sciences. It also includes a directed research project, which is conducted within a forensic laboratory setting. There is a core component of the course and an elective that will allow students to choose between three areas of specialization: molecular biology, criminalistics and forensic anthropology.
To be considered for admission into the Master progamme, the applicant must satisfy the following requirements:
1. Applicants must have five (5) credit passes including English language, Mathematics, Biology, Chemistry and Physics.
2. A first degree in Biochemistry, any Natural Sciences, Agriculture or Human and Veterinary Medicine or Pharmaceutical Sciences with at least a second class honours of Ahmadu Bello University or
3. An equivalent degree from another University recognized by Ahmadu Bello University.
4. At least two favorable letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the applicant’s previous academic adviser.
The progarmme shall be for a duration of 12 calendar months, inclusive of teaching, research project and examination.
The programme shall be run using a combination of approaches namely, taught courses (lectures), laboratory exercises, seminars, assignments and independent research project activities. The research component may run concurrently with the second semester of the programme.
For successful completion of the coursework aspect of the Masters in Forensic Science programme, a student is required to:
* Attain at least 75% attendance of lectures and laboratory practical works
* Register for and pass all the taught core courses (20 Credit Units) and a minimum of 2 Credit units of electives.
* Obtain a minimum of “C” grade in all the core courses
* Present a written non-thesis, supervised project
* Present at least one seminar per semester