Forensic Nursing

School of Nursing

The Forensic Nursing (FN) Program at Oakland University is the first and only FN program in the state of Michigan and one of only a handful in the nation. Endorsed by the Founder of Forensic Nursing as a Scientific Discipline, Virginia Lynch, the FN program prepares graduates for professional practice in the role of the forensic nurse through the application of knowledge and principles foundational to nursing and forensic science.

Delivery Type: 100% online and partially online

Credit required/Time to completion:

• MSN in Forensic Nursing - 39 credits / 28 month plan of study
• Graduate Certificate in Forensic Nursing - 18 credits / 16 month plan of study

Cost of degree: Tuition rates

Projected National Average Salary: $82,500

Projected National Job Growth: 17%

Career opportunities: Forensic nurse examiner, sexual assault nurse examiner, forensic nurse hospitalist, forensic nurse death investigator, risk management, legal nurse consultant, emergency preparedness/disaster management nurse, injury prevention nurse, trauma program manager, correctional nurse, forensic nurse consultant

Who should apply: Nurses who hold a minimum of a BSN or equivalent from an accredited school of nursing and are interested in advanced nursing education that prepares them for a career in healthcare where nursing and the legal system intersect. Taking care of patients who are victims, suspects, and/or perpetrators of trauma, violence, or maltreatment.

Who is hiring OU grads: Corewell Health, US Department of Veterans Affairs, Henry Ford Healthcare System, Michigan State University, University of Michigan, Ferris State University, and more.

*Data was last reviewed in February 2024. Projections may not reflect local and/or short-term economic or job conditions and do not guarantee actual job growth.