Graduate Degree Programs
Application for Admission
In order to be processed, an application packet must include:
Saint Joseph’s College | Office of Admissions | PO Box 890 | Rensselaer, Indiana 47978 | www.saintjoe.edu
• Completed application • $25 processing fee
• Official transcripts from all undergraduate and graduate institutions attended (Mailed in a sealed envelope or emailed from each institution)
• Two letters of recommendation from individuals who can attest to your ability to perform graduate- level work. If you recently completed a degree, one letter should come from a faculty member in your major field of study. Recommendations must be received in their original sealed envelopes.
• Two-page essay that includes your reasons for pursuing graduate study and describes your career aspirations • Vita or resumé
See program-specific requirements at the end of this application. Applications for admission will be considered on a rolling basis throughout the year. Forensics and MBA applicants who need on-campus housing, and forensics applicants considering an assistantship, must submit all application materials by June 1. Applicants can expect to receive an admission decision within three weeks of submitting a complete packet.
Completed application materials and official transcripts should be sent to:
Saint Joseph’s College
Office of Admissions / Attn: Graduate Admission PO Box 890
Rensselaer, IN 47978
Materials, including letters of recommendation, may also be emailed to [email protected].
Saint Joseph’s College admits students of any race, color, gender, national or ethnic origin, and does not discriminate on the basis of any disability in admission or access to its programs.
Name _____________________________________________________________________________________ Date of Birth _____ / _____ / _____ Preferred First Name ____________________
Sex __ Female __ Male Marital Status __ Married __ Single Social Security Number ____ - ___- _______ Place of Birth _______________________________________________________________________________ Country of Citizenship _______________________________________________________________________
SECTION 1 | Personal Information
Last Maiden First Middle
Address ____________________________________________________________________________________ City ________________________________________ State ________________ Zip Code ________________ Phone: Work (_____) _______________ Home (_____) _______________ Cell (_____) _______________ Email __________________________________________
Email 2 _________________________________________
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? ____ Yes ____ No (If “yes,” please explain in an attached statement.)
SECTION 2 | Educational History
List all undergraduate and graduate (if any) schools you have attended, starting with the most recent.
Institution City/State Dates Enrolled Major Degree Final GPA
1. _____________ _______________ _______________ __________ __________ _________ 2. _____________ _______________ _______________ __________ __________ _________ 3. _____________ _______________ _______________ __________ __________ _________
Do you believe that your past academic record is a fair indicator of your current ability to pursue graduate study?
____ Yes ____ No
If “no,” please explain: _________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________
SECTION 1 | Personal Information (Cont’d)
List current and other recent work experience, including formal internships - especially those relevant to your area of study. List your current or most recent employer first.
Employer Position/Responsibilities Dates
1. ________________________________ _________________________________ __________________ 2. ________________________________ _________________________________ __________________ 3. ________________________________ _________________________________ __________________
Have you served in the military? ____ Yes ____ No
SECTION 4 |
Related Experience, Community Service, and AwardsList other information such as awards, volunteer activities, and experience or skills that may be relevant to your graduate study.
___ See enclosed resumé/vita
__________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________________
_____ I will need on-campus housing. _____ I will be living off-campus.
MBA and Forensics applicants who need on-campus housing must submit all application materials by June 1.
How did you hear about graduate study at Saint Joseph’s College?
_____ internet _____ at this event: _____________________________________________ _____ SJC alumnus/a _____ advertisement in: _________________________________________ _____ colleague/friend _____ published work of faculty member: ___________________________ _____ current SJC student _____ other: __________________________________________________
SECTION 5 | Housing
I hereby certify that the information provided on this application is true and accurate.
Signature ______________________________________________ Date ______________________________
Forensic Entomology and
Forensic Science
Joel Haskell, Coordinator | [email protected] | 219.869.9489
Program for which you are applying
____ Master of Science in Forensic Entomology (thesis option) ____ Master of Science in Forensic Science (non-thesis option)
Program of Study
Master of Science in Forensic Entomology (with Thesis)
Students applying for the Master of Science in Forensic Entomology with Thesis must come from a science based undergraduate curricula. Undergraduate degrees in Biology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Forensic Science, Entomology, Physical Anthropology, and similar backgrounds are the basis for building a strong foundation in Forensic Science at the higher levels. Therefore, it is essential that students wishing to obtain a master’s degree in Forensic Science come into the program with certain skills, knowledge, and grasp of the scientific method from which to form a solid background.
An undergraduate cumulative GPA will be 3.0 (minimum). Grades in the basic science courses (e.g., Math, Chem-istry, Biology, Physics, and Entomology) should be As and Bs. Acceptance into the thesis based program will in-clude only those students who have a high aptitude for the sciences. Applicants are required to take the GRE exam and submit official exam score.
Students may apply for entry with less than the above criteria. However, these students will come into the program under probation, and must maintain at least a 3.0 or higher GPA for the first nine credit hours of classes. A grade of less than a 3.0 will disqualify that student for the program at the end of the current semester he/she is enrolled in. Students may reapply after sitting out a semester.
The Master of Science in Forensic Entomology with Thesis student will select a major professor from the Saint Jo-seph’s College graduate faculty and two additional graduate committee members to assist and guide the student in the line of Forensic Science he/she desires. One member on the committee must be a Saint Joseph’s College adjunct faculty member from an off-campus facility. This committee will guide and direct the student’s research project including designing the experiment, assisting in the methods and materials of the thesis, directing the adequate statistical tests needed in the analysis, and helping develop the thesis into a meaningful and productive paper.
Master of Science in Forensic Science (Non-Thesis)
Students applying for the Master of Science in Forensic Science, Non-Thesis degree, must come from a science based or Criminal Justice undergraduate curricula. It is essential that students wishing to obtain a master’s degree in Forensic Science come into the program with certain skills, knowledge, and background from which to form a solid foundation in the forensic sciences.
An undergraduate cumulative GPA will be 3.0 (minimum). Grades in undergraduate courses in major should be As and Bs. Acceptance into the Master of Science in Forensic Science Non-Thesis degree program will include only those students who have high aptitude for, and the understanding of, the sciences or criminal justice. Applicants are required to take the GRE exam and submit official exam score.
Students may apply for entry with less than the above criteria. However, these students will come into the program under probation, and must maintain at least a 3.0 or higher GPA for the first nine credit hours of classes. A grade of less than a 3.0 will disqualify that student for the program at the end of the current semester he/she is enrolled in. Students may reapply after sitting out a semester.
The Master of Science in Forensic Science, Non-Thesis degree student will complete a research project to demon-strate the ability to perform proper analysis and conclusions of real-world cases. The student will choose a major advisor who must be a faculty member of the College. Upon completing the research project, a research paper will be required, with the advisor assisting the student during development of the research paper. Methods and materi-als, a literature review, results and discussion of the project will all be included in the format of the paper. A very important learning process of the scientific method will be accomplished with this activity.
1. Applicants are required to take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Official exam scores should be sent to the
Office of Admissions. In certain instances, other comparable graduate entrance exam scores or other academic honors can be accepted in place of the GRE. For more information, contact Graduate Admissions at admissions@ saintjoe.edu or 800.447.8781.
2. A two-page essay should be double-spaced with 1-inch margins and explain the following points:
• What sparked your interest in Forensics
• What motivates you to continue pursuing Forensics
• How your educational and professional background prepares you for a career in Forensics • The specific field/s of Forensics in which you want to specialize
• What special contributions you hope to provide to your field • How you envision Forensics in the future, and your place in it • Your thoughts on the role of ethics in Forensics
• What it means to you to be a representative or diplomat for your profession and school
Additional Requirements for Forensic Science Applicants
_____ I would like to be considered for a graduate research assistantship (June 1st deadline).
