VCU Department of Forensic Science

What VCU Department of Forensic Science does

The VCU Department of Forensic Science is an academic department within the College of Humanities and Sciences at Virginia Commonwealth University, a public research university in Richmond, Virginia. It delivers FEPAC-accredited undergraduate (B.S.) and graduate (M.S.) programs in forensic science, with concentrations spanning Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, Physical Evidence, Forensic Chemistry/Drugs and Toxicology, Forensic Chemistry/Trace, Forensic Physical Analysis, and a new Digital Forensics and Incident Response concentration launching Fall 2026. The department also supports doctoral research through VCU's Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program and offers continuing-education short courses (e.g., Crime Scene Photography at $540/participant) and a weekly public seminar series.

The department's underlying technology base includes specialized laboratories housed in a 169,000 sq ft STEM building opened in Spring 2023, encompassing crime scene, forensic microscopy, firearms analysis, latent prints, anthropology, and molecular biology facilities. Its research arm operates the VCU Dawson Green Forensic Molecular Biology Research Laboratory (holding two patents on DNA processing and microfluidic analysis), the Forensic Toxicology Research Lab, and faculty projects on rapid forensic cell typing, nanopore-sensing detection, and emerging synthetic cannabinoid/vaping analysis.

The department is publicly funded through Virginia Commonwealth University's state appropriations, tuition revenue, and competitive federal research grants (notably from the National Institute of Justice, NSF, and ASPCA). Revenue mechanics do not follow a commercial SaaS or product model; instead, they combine degree-program tuition, sponsored research funding, and continuing-education fees. Primary "customers" are prospective and enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, with secondary stakeholder demand from government (federal, state, regional, local) and private forensic laboratories that recruit graduates, evidenced by a 91% M.S. lab-employment rate within six months of graduation.

Name

VCU Department of Forensic Science

Legal name

Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Forensic Science

Website

https://forensicscience.vcu.edu

Company type

Public

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The VCU Department of Forensic Science is an academic department within Virginia Commonwealth University that delivers FEPAC-accredited B.S. and M.S. programs in forensic science across multiple concentrations (biology, chemistry, toxicology, trace, physical analysis, and digital forensics), serving prospective students while supplying government and private crime laboratories with trained forensic scientists.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education - Forensic Science

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Schools of Medical Laboratory Science & Clinical Diagnostics (EDAHAGAO)

akta.pro secondary industry

Criminal Investigations & Forensics (Detectives, Crime Labs, CSI) (BPAIAGAI)

Keywords

• Forensic science education
• DNA analysis training
• Crime scene investigation
• Forensic laboratory research
• Higher education programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Richmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Tuition and State Funding: Public university department funded through VCU state appropriations, tuition revenue, and educational grants. Program is full-time two-year format for M.S. students.
2. Federal Research Grants: Research funded by National Institute of Justice, Department of Justice, and other federal agencies supporting faculty research programs and student researchers
3. Short Course Fees: Continuing education fees for professional development courses such as Crime Scene Photography week-long course at $540 per participant

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

The VCU Department of Forensic Science delivers FEPAC-accredited undergraduate (B.S.), graduate (M.S.), and doctoral academic programs in forensic science. Its core educational offerings include concentrations in forensic biology/DNA, forensic chemistry/toxicology, and physical evidence, supplemented by hands-on laboratory coursework, faculty-mentored research projects, and structured internships at forensic laboratories.

Product overview

VCU Department of Forensic Science is an educational department within Virginia Commonwealth University's College of Humanities and Sciences. The department offers a comprehensive portfolio of forensic science programs: an undergraduate B.S. in Forensic Science with three concentrations (Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, Physical Evidence), and an accredited M.S. in Forensic Science with five concentrations (Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry/Drugs and Toxicology, Forensic Chemistry/Trace, Forensic Physical Analysis, and the new Digital Forensics and Incident Response). The department also supports doctoral studies through VCU's Integrative Life Sciences Doctoral Program. Additional offerings include a weekly Forensic Science Seminar Series for professional development and a week-long Crime Scene Photography short course. The department is FEPAC-accredited and operates from a state-of-the-art STEM building featuring specialized forensic science laboratories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• B.S. in Forensic Science FEPAC-accredited Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science for undergraduate students seeking entry-level positions in forensic laboratories or preparation for graduate study.
• M.S. in Forensic Science Master of Science degree in Forensic Science for students who hold a bachelor's degree in a science discipline and seek advanced training and research experience in forensic science.
• Ph.D. in Forensic Science Doctoral degree in Forensic Science providing intensive faculty-mentored research training for careers in forensic science research, academia, and senior laboratory leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of M.S. students are lab-employed within six months of graduation (3-year average)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Virginia Department of Forensic SciencecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSelect required lab courses taught at the Virginia Department of Forensic Science Lab, which is nationally accredited by ASCLD. Partnership provides students with hands-on experience using state crime lab facilities and protocols.
• VA Office of the Chief Medical ExaminerminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecent internship location for undergraduate students gaining practical forensic science experience
• Chesterfield County Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecent internship location for undergraduate students
• Baltimore Police DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecent internship location for undergraduate students
• Haleon (Richmond, VA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRecent internship location for undergraduate students in pharmaceutical/analytical industry
• Powhatan High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement partner for forensic science outreach
• John Rolfe Middle SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement partner for forensic science outreach
• Open High SchoolminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement partner for forensic science outreach
• East Marshall Street Well Project - Family Representative CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing collaboration with community stakeholders on respectful handling of ancestral remains, DNA sequencing for identification, and educational outreach about medical racism history
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVictor 'Jake' Olesen recently retired from FBI where he served 22+ years as Special Agent pursuing computer hackers and specializing in digital forensics

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• Bode Technology: Bode Technology is a major private forensic DNA testing laboratory that is a significant employer of forensic science graduates and thus a key industry stakeholder for VCU's graduate placement outcomes.

Direct peers

• John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY): John Jay offers B.S. and M.S. programs in Forensic Science with concentrations in criminalistics and molecular biology, competing for the same student market and employer recognition with strong crime lab placement outcomes.
• University of Central Florida - Forensic Science Program: UCF offers a FEPAC-accredited B.S. in Forensic Science as well as M.S. tracks, making it a directly comparable program competing for the same nationwide applicant pool interested in laboratory-based forensic careers.
• George Washington University - Department of Forensic Sciences: GWU's Department of Forensic Sciences offers M.S. and Ph.D. programs in forensic science — and notably VCU's current Chair Tracey Dawson Green previously served as Visiting Assistant Professor there, making it a closely-tracked peer program.
• Towson University - Forensic Science Program: Towson University offers a FEPAC-accredited B.S. in Forensic Chemistry and related tracks, focused on preparing students for crime laboratory careers in a comparable regional university setting.
• University of New Haven - Forensic Science Department: University of New Haven runs a long-established FEPAC-accredited M.S. program in Forensic Science with multiple concentrations, sharing the same target market of prospective graduate students seeking lab-based forensic science careers.
• Penn State Forensic Science Program: Penn State offers a B.S. and M.S. in Forensic Science with FEPAC accreditation across multiple concentrations, serving the same student persona and competing directly for the top high school recruits and graduate students in forensic science.
• Florida International University - Global Forensic and Justice Center: FIU offers FEPAC-accredited B.S. and M.S. programs in Forensic Science through the Global Forensic and Justice Center, positioning itself as a peer with comparable concentrations and direct competition for graduate enrollment.
• Sam Houston State University - Forensic Science Program: Sam Houston State offers FEPAC-accredited B.S. and M.S. degrees in Forensic Science, drawing from the same national pool of students targeting careers in crime laboratories and related fields.

Broad incumbents

• Virginia Department of Forensic Science: While primarily a state crime lab rather than an academic program, VDFS is both a teaching partner (hosting select required lab courses) and an employer of VCU graduates — making it a partner/incumbent in the Virginia forensic science labor market.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCWv4qWq3Z5h6aXzQ1
• Facebookfacebook.com/125936300756336
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vcu-department-of-forensic-science
• Instagraminstagram.com/vcuforensicscience

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about VCU Department of Forensic Science