Forensic science courses provide students both classroom and laboratory exposure to the field of criminalistics (e.g., forensic serology, trace evidence, and drug chemistry) and familiarization with the related areas of forensic toxicology and forensic pathology. Emphasizing the development of problem-solving skills, the curriculum encourages concentration in at least one forensic science speciality area and exposes students to both relevant laboratory techniques and medico-legal developments. Students benefit from casework experiences gained via internships with practicing forensic scientists and laboratories, including the serology/DNA-typing unit of the Alabama State Department of Forensic Science. In addition to the full-time forensic science faculty whose primary appointment is with the Department of Justice Sciences, MSFS Program support comes from UAB faculty members in several other departments (e.g., the Departments of Chemistry, Biology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, and Pathology), personnel from the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences' Birmingham laboratory, the Jefferson County Medical Examiner's Office, and local forensic science-related private institutions. The program also hosts the DNA profiling laboratories of the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences and houses the editorial offices of Forensic Science Review (the only review journal in forensic science). Faculty members' research and practice focus especially on forensic drug chemistry. Qualified students can complete the MSFS Program in 21 months.