In Short
Designed for registered nurses who wish to pursue advanced leadership positions in the community and the health care system.
Fitchburg State’s online MS in Forensic Nursing degree program offers:
- Specialized coursework in forensic nursing, covering trauma-informed care, death investigations, and legal nurse consulting.
- A fully online curriculum so you can gain an advanced degree without disrupting your work schedule.
- 420 hours of clinical experience and hands-on training in forensic healthcare environments
What we're working on
Program at a Glance: Specialize Your Nursing Expertise in Forensics
As a registered nurse, you can expand your role beyond traditional healthcare settings. The online Master of Science (MS) in Forensic Nursing degree program at Fitchburg State University prepares you to apply forensic principles in clinical and legal environments and pursue leadership positions where healthcare and justice intersect.
Earn your master's degree in nursing specializing in Forensic Nursing — 100% online.
Degree Overview
Fitchburg State’s online Forensic Nursing program combines advanced nursing practice with forensic science to strengthen your ability to evaluate injuries, collect forensic evidence, and navigate healthcare cases involving trauma or criminal activity. Beyond providing direct patient care, you graduate ready to contribute to nursing research, improve forensic healthcare practices, and work toward doctoral study.
Already have a master's degree in nursing? Our online graduate certificate in Forensic Nursing lets you add a forensic specialty to your qualifications without committing to another full degree program.
Program Length
Although you can complete Fitchburg State’s Forensic Nursing degree in as few as three years, you have six years to finish the program. This offers an added layer of flexibility as a working RN or healthcare professional.
What Can You Do With a Master’s in Forensic Nursing?
Whether treating patients in emergency rooms, conducting forensic evaluations, or consulting on legal cases, forensic nurses play a crucial role in documenting injuries, collecting medical evidence, and ensuring patients receive both physical and psychological care.
Graduates work in hospitals, law enforcement agencies, legal teams, and crisis response units, serving as key players in forensic investigations and victim advocacy. Their knowledge shapes criminal investigations, supports survivors of violence, and influences healthcare policies that impact forensic populations.
With a master’s in Forensic Nursing, graduates can pursue career opportunities such as:
- Death Investigator
- Forensic Mental Health Consultant
- Forensic Nurse Hospital-Based Expert
- Legal Nurse Consultant
- Medicolegal Investigator
- Risk Management Specialist
- Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE)
Admissions Requirements
You may begin the online Forensic Nursing program in the spring, summer, or fall terms each year. Fitchburg State University reviews all completed applications on a rolling admission basis.
Submit the following materials to get started:
- Official transcript from a regionally accredited baccalaureate nursing program
- Three letters of recommendation (References must be from professional sources, and one must come from a nurse academician.)
- A current RN License* (must have at least one year of working experience as an RN)
- Professional resume
- Official transcripts of graduate-level coursework from a regionally accredited institution (if applicable)
- Graduate application and $50 fee
- Written two-part essay, including:
- Part I (no more than 300 words): Your reason for wishing to attend graduate school or your reason for pursuing a post-master’s certificate in a specialty area
- Part II (at least 1200 words): Your specific interests, the type of work you would like to pursue in this field, and how you intend to pursue employment or volunteer work in this area
- *A Criminal Offense Record Investigation (CORI) may be required by certain clinical agencies. The cost of funding a CORI may be at the student’s expense.
*Applicants who reside and/or work outside the U.S. are not required to hold a U.S. RN license but, instead, must possess a current license from the country they reside in or in which they will complete clinical coursework hours.
Tuition and Fees
Investing in a master’s in Forensic Nursing degree is a step toward career advancement and specialized expertise. Fitchburg State offers affordable tuition and financial transparency, providing detailed tuition breakdowns to help you understand the cost of your education. Explore scholarships for graduate students and financial aid opportunities.
This is one of the few areas in nursing where you have the luxury of time to spend with the patient which is missing from most of healthcare today.
Requirements, Curriculum and Guiding Principles: Accreditation, Mission, Vision
As a forensic nurse, you must deeply understand everything from clinical practice to legal processes, forensic technology, and trauma-based care for both victims and perpetrators. Fitchburg State’s 39-credit/13 course Forensic Nursing degree program strengthens your existing nursing expertise through a combination of foundational nursing courses, specialty forensic classes, and 420 hours of clinical training in real-world facilities.
Core Nursing Courses (12 Credits)
- NURS 7200 Nursing Theory
- NURS 7300 Advanced Clinical Concepts
- NURS 7400 Contexts and Roles for Advanced Practice
- NURS 8600 Advanced Pathopharmacology and Epigenetics in Forensic Nursing
Scholarly Inquiry Requirement (6 Credits)
- NURS 7700 Nursing Research
- NURS 9600 Forensic Nursing Capstone
Specialty Track: Forensic Nursing (21 credits)
- NURS 8000 Introduction to Forensic Nursing
- NURS 8130 Scientific Foundations for Forensic Nursing Interventions
- NURS 8200 Forensic Nursing: Caring for Victims
- NURS 8300 Forensic Nursing: Caring for Perpetrators
- NURS 8410 Criminal Law: Substantive and Procedural
- NURS 8500 Forensic Science and Technology
- NURS 9500 Practicum in Forensic Nursing
Develop your forensic nursing skill set further through 420 hours of supervised clinical experience in various settings, including hospitals, law enforcement agencies, medical examiner’s offices, and crisis response units. Review the suggested clinical agency resources below to find a placement that fits your goals:
The purpose of the graduate program is to prepare professional nurses who wish to pursue advanced education in forensic nursing. In addition, the graduate is prepared to assume leadership positions and to pursue doctoral study.
Graduates will:
- Integrate knowledge from the sciences and the humanities into the provision of advanced nursing care to diverse populations.
- Design systems change strategies that improve the care environment.
- Lead quality improvement initiatives that integrate socio-cultural factors affecting the delivery of nursing and healthcare services.
- Integrate evidence-based strategies and interprofessional perspectives to improve practice and associated health outcomes.
- Analyze current and emerging technologies to support safe practice environments, and to optimize patient safety, cost-effectiveness, and health outcomes.
- Participate in the promotion of policies to improve public health and advance the nursing profession.
- Employ collaborative strategies in the design, coordination, and evaluation of patient centered care.
- Synthesize broad ecological, global, and social determinants of health to design and deliver population health interventions and strategies.
The Department of Nursing has full approval status from the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Board of Registration in Nursing
239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, 5th floor
Boston, MA 02114
Tel: 617.973.0900
Fax: 617.973.0984
In addition, the Department of Nursing is a member of the American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN), and the Massachusetts Association of Colleges of Nursing (MACN).
The New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE) accredits Fitchburg State University.
The mission of the Forensic Nursing Fitchburg State University program is to prepare professional forensic nurses capable of leading and meeting the evolving societal healthcare needs in a variety of settings. In their teaching, the faculty models respect for diversity, social responsibility, and a commitment to excellence. Interprofessional, collaborative, and interactive teaching methods foster the use of critical thinking to build a strong foundation for the practice of holistic forensic nursing. Legal, ethical, and professional standards guide the faculty in teaching the art and science of forensic nursing.
Fitchburg State University Department of Nursing prepares students to assume healthcare leadership roles in the global society of the 21st century. The program uses continuous program evaluation and innovation to maintain an educational culture that fosters social responsibility, service commitment, client advocacy, and lifelong learning. Graduates are forensic nurse generalists who use critical thinking and current evidence to address problems using integrative, trauma-informed, patient-centered care to meet the evolving healthcare needs of populations and environments.
Still have questions? We're here to help!
Whether you’re curious about career opportunities, clinical placements, or how this program fits into your long-term goals, our team is ready to answer your questions. Connect with us to learn how the online Master of Science in Forensic Nursing degree program at Fitchburg State University can prepare you for leadership in forensic healthcare.
- Email an enrollment counselor gce@fitchburgstate.edu or call 978.665.3182
- Attend an information session
- Watch a webinar
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