Graduate Certificate in Forensic Health Care
Program Overview
The Graduate Certificate in Forensic Health Care prepares registered nurses to excel in this rapidly developing field by drawing from a broad body of academic knowledge in forensic health care to assist victims of violence and trauma.
Course instruction is delivered online. This graduate-level curricula is available only to registered nurses with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and an active, unencumbered RN license.
Admissions
Minimum requirements for admission:
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and RN license
Additional considerations:
- Recommended 3.0 GPA on all undergraduate and graduate course work
- Community service
- Leadership and involvement in extracurricular and/or professional activities
- Military service
- History of withdrawals, repeats or failures
To apply, submit your:
- NursingCAS application, including:
- Official college transcripts from each institution (including Texas A&M University, if applicable)
- Admission essay(s)
- Professional resume
- International applicant credentials (if applicable)
An offer of admission is conditional pending successful completion of all prerequisite coursework and fulfillment of certain compliance requirements.
Application Deadlines
| Application Open | July 1 |
|---|---|
| Application Deadline | Oct. 1 |
| Mandatory Orientation | TBD |
| First Class Day | January (spring term) |
| Admission decisions are made by Nov. 1 and delivered through NursingCAS. Email nursingadmissions@tamu.edu if you're unsure of your application status. | |
CURRICULUM AND STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES
| Curriculum | Hours |
| FORS 601: Foundations of Forensic Health Care | 2 |
| FORS 602: Victimology: Clinical Implications and Applications | 3 |
| FORS 603: Impact of Violence Across the Lifespan | 3 |
| Total | 8 |
Elective Courses (4 credits)
| Curriculum | Hours |
| FORS 604: Forensic Investigation of Injury | 2 |
| FORS 610: Forensic Sexual Assault Examiner Course* | 3 |
| FORS 611: Clinical Pharmacology: Implications for Victims | 1 |
| FORS 612: Human Trafficking | 1 |
| FORS 613: Forensic Photography | 1 |
| FORS 614: Policy and Ethics Interpersonal Violence | 1 |
| FORS 615: Forensic Mental Health | 1 |
| Total |
*No longer offered
At the completion of the graduate certificate program, graduates will be prepared to:
- Respond to victims and perpetrators of trauma, injury, accidents, neglect, abuse, exploitation, and all forms of violence using evidence-based protocols within systems.
- Translate current research and policies to clinical encounters with persons experiencing violence, injury, trauma, accidents, neglect, abuse, exploitation, and all forms of victimization
- Articulate the role and processes of criminal and civil courts in seeking justice for victims of violence.
- Document techniques to collect and preserve evidence with integrity, competence, and respect.
- Formulate interdisciplinary approaches within systems to address health-related problems associated with accidents, trauma, crime, victimization, abuse, neglect, exploitation, and all forms of violence.
- Integrate knowledge of cultural diversity in working with victims and survivors of violence.
- Advocate for the needs and interests of victims of violence to improve access to services.
- Design interdisciplinary education and crime prevention strategies to address community needs at the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention levels.
Cost of Attendance
For cost of attendance, including estimated cost of tuition and fees, books and supplies, housing and more, visit Aggie One Stop.