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Forensic Pathology Schools and Colleges with Program Information

Forensic pathology is a subfield of the medical sciences that focuses on determining the cause of death by conducting an autopsy. Forensic pathologists are medical doctors who have completed further study in the areas of forensic and anatomical pathology. They often are called to testify in court.

How to Choose a Forensic Pathology School or College

Those who want to work in this field should seek a medical school that offers courses in forensic pathology. These programs won't result in a forensic pathology degree; rather, the medical student will earn a Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.). He or she will then typically complete 4-5 years of residency focused on clinical pathology, including at least one rotation in forensic pathology.

The student next takes the United States Medical Licensing Exam and, once he or she is officially a licensed medical doctor, undertakes a forensic pathology fellowship. These usually last 1-2 years and are followed by the American Board of Pathology exam.

Forensic Pathology Fellowship Program Information

When choosing a forensic pathology fellowship program, students might first look into the program's requirements for licensure. Some fellowship programs mandate that fellows hold a medical license for the state in which the program is offered. For example, if the fellowship is offered by a university in Ohio, then a prospective fellow must hold an Ohio medical license.

Prospective forensic pathology fellows also might consider the amount of autopsies and other clinical experiences a fellowship offers. Fellows typically complete a large number of autopsies, under the supervision of board-certified forensic pathologists, thus gaining insight into the process of handling medical cases.

Those comparing forensic pathology fellowship programs might also explore available research opportunities. For example, some programs allow fellows access to laboratories in areas such as microbiology, histology and clinical chemistry so that they can conduct research.

The ability to specialize might also be an important consideration when choosing a forensic pathology fellowship program. Available subfields might include pediatric pathology, forensic radiology, forensic odontology and neuropathology.

List of Forensic Pathology Schools and Colleges by Student Population

College/University Student PopulationInstitution Type
Ohio State University 53,715 4-year, Public
University of Florida 51,474 4-year, Public
University of Minnesota - Twin Cities 51,140 4-year, Public
Michigan State University 46,510 4-year, Public
University of South Florida 46,189 4-year, Public
New York University 42,189 4-year, Private
University of Wisconsin - Madison 41,620 4-year, Public
University of Michigan 41,028 4-year, Public
University of Washington 39,675 4-year, Public
Florida State University 38,682 4-year, Public
University of California - Los Angeles 38,220 4-year, Public
University of Arizona 38,057 4-year, Public
Temple University 35,490 4-year, Public
University of Southern California 33,747 4-year, Private
Virginia Commonwealth University 32,044 4-year, Public
Boston University 31,766 4-year, Private
Wayne State University 31,024 4-year, Public
University of California - Davis 30,568 4-year, Public
University of Tennessee 30,410 4-year, Public
Indiana University-Purdue University - Indianapolis 30,300 4-year, Public

Forensic Science Careers

The hot field of forensic science, or criminalistics, includes specializations in jurisprudence, odontology, physical anthropology, toxicology and behavioral sciences. Criminalists can obtain certification from the American Board of Criminalistics by passing a rigorous examination.

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