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Natural Sciences & Mathematics Programs

FORENSIC SCIENCE

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science is an interdisciplinary program that blends the sciences with curriculum from criminal justice and psychology and prepares graduates for positions working as crime science or lab technicians, and specialized positions including crime scene investigation, Forensic DNA, Forensic chemistry, trace evidence, firearms examination, questioned document, fingerprints, arson, and drug analysis.

This degree is intended to provide students with a well-rounded, hands-on forensic science education in order to prepare students for entrance into a graduate-level educational program, and/or entry-level professional careers in public and private forensic laboratories, federal, state, or local government/law enforcement, military, homeland security and intelligence agencies.

Features of this program include curriculum that offers hands-on training with crime scene techniques and crime laboratory methodologies, simulated crime scene projects, and courses taught by current and/or former professional practitioners from various agencies and laboratories.

Program Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science students will be able to:

  1. Demonstrate the integrated knowledge of the core sciences in the Forensic Sciences (as defined by FEPAC). These core sciences are: 

    a. Biology  

    b. Chemistry  

    c. Physics  

    d. Mathematics  

  2. Demonstrate a core set of competencies and professional practice in the forensic sciences (as defined by FEPAC). These core competencies are: 

    a. Evidence identification, collection, processing  

    b. Quality assurance  

    c. Ethics  

    d. Introduction to law  

    e. Courtroom testimony  

    f. Professional practice  

  3. Students graduating from the program will have gained the following skillsets: 

    a. Demonstrate knowledge of a variety of forensic science disciplines (see Program Learning outcome 1) and utility in the court of law.  

    b. Ability to identify, document, and collect evidentiary material in accordance to the standards outlined by NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology), OSAC (Organization of Scientific Area Committees for Forensic Science) and the International Association for Identification (IAI).  

    c. Ability to process physical, biological, chemical, toxicological, and other evidence as done in a fully accredited crime laboratory or medical examiner office. 

    d. Ability to interpret and analyze data objectively as to not insight bias.  

    e. Ability to communicate scientific evidence to a broader community via written report and oral testimony. 

    f. Ability to apply scientific practice to the criminal justice system through the formal practices of hypothesis testing, experimentation, and data analysis.  

Grade Minimum: Forensic Science majors must earn a minimum grade of C- in all science pre-requisite and requisite courses. Note: For course descriptions outside of Forensic Science please see the respective department listings.

Honors in Forensic Science

To qualify for honors in Forensic Science the following criteria must be met:

  • Maintain a 3.5 GPA overall + 3.5 GPA in Forensic Science major

  • Complete application (Recommendation from faculty)

  • Complete the Science Communications course with B+ or better

  • Complete Independent Research course with B+ or better

  • Complete Honors Research + Senior Honors Thesis (4 cr) with a B+ or better

Forensic Science Curriculum

Credits

PREREQUISITES:

BIOL 1055 Introduction to Organisms (includes Laboratory)

4

BIOL 1065 Introduction to Molecules and Cells (includes Laboratory)

4

CHEM 1010, 1110 Introductory Chemistry I, with Laboratory

4

CHEM 1020, 1120 Introductory Chemistry II, with Laboratory

4

FSC 1010 Introduction to the Forensic Sciences (includes Recitation)

4

 

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REQUIREMENTS FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE MAJOR:

FSC 1700 Forensic Photography

1

FSC 2700 Forensic Science I: Evidence Response (includes Laboratory)

4

FSC 2710 Forensic Science II: Criminalistics (includes laboratory)

4

FSC 3700 Crime Laboratory

4

FSC 3500 Junior Seminar

1

FSC 3900 Senior Seminar

1

FSC 4000 Research Communication

1

FSC 4010 Independent Research OR internship (1-2 cr. per sem. max)

3

FSC 3____ Forensic Science Elective (from list of electives eligible for major)

3-4

BIOL 2100 Genetics (includes Laboratory)

4

CHEM 2030, 2130 Analytical Chemistry, with Laboratory

4

CHEM 2510, 2610 Organic Chemistry I, with Laboratory

4

CHEM 2520, 2620 Organic Chemistry II, with Laboratory

4

PHYS 2010 Physics I (includes Laboratory)

4

PHYS 2020 Physics II (includes Laboratory)

4

MATH 1150 Statistics I

3

MATH 2130 Calculus I

3

 

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REQUIREMENTS IN RELATED AREAS:

CJ 1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

CJ/SOC 2350 Human Diversity in Criminal Justice

3

 

6

ELECTIVES: 4 COURSES FROM THE FOLLOWING LISTS 14-16 credits

Students must select FOUR Electives from the following list. TWO courses are REQUIRED to be an upper level BIOL or CHEM course and any two courses are REQUIRED to have labs (4 credit). A FSC course taken as a free elective cannot double count with the one FSC Elective requirement listed above.  

Students are advised to review schematics from the Example Elective Schematics Based on Desired Career with advisor and forensic science faculty before choosing electives to ensure elective courses increase competitive ability when applying to entry level positions. 

forensic science

FSC 3010 Forensic Anthropology

FSC 3020 Medicolegal Forensic Entomology

FSC 3800 Special Topics in Forensic Science

science and math

BIOL 2030 Human Disease

BIOL 2040, 2140 Microbiology for Science Majors

BIOL 2050 Animal Behavior

BIOL 2160 Population Genetics

BIOL 2300 Bioinformatics

BIOL 2310 Field Ecology

BIOL 3030 Cell Biology

BIOL 3050 Immunology

BIOL 3075 Advanced Physiology

BIOL 3120 Evolution and Genomics

CHEM 2710, 2810 Physical Chemistry

CHEM 2910 Inorganic Chemistry

CHEM 3570, 3580 Biochemistry I

CHEM 3670, 3680 Biochemistry II

ENVS 2215 Environmental Science

ENVS 2300 Geospatial Analysis

MATH 2140 Calculus II

MATH 2150 Statistics II

MATH 3120 Calculus III

MATH 3150 Statistics III

MATH 3200 Mathematical Modeling

criminal justice and related

ACNT 2060 Forensic Accounting and Fraud Examination (Prerequisite: ACNT 1010)

CJ 2020 Criminal Law

CJ 2030 Criminal Procedure

CJ/SOC 2340 Developing a Foundation for Success

CJ/SOC 2505 Environmental Law, Crime and Justice

CJ 2610 Forensic Psychology and the Law

CJ 2620 Computer Forensic Investigations and Tools

CJ 3305 Wrongful Convictions

Example Elective Schematics Based on Desired Career 

Criminalistics  

  1. BIOL or CHEM Science Elective WITH LAB from Eligible List… 4 

  1. BIOL or CHEM Science Elective WITH LAB from Eligible List… 4 

  1. Any Class from Elective Eligible for the Major list… 3-4 

  1. Any Class from Elective Eligible for the Major list… 3-4 

Forensic Biologist (DNA Analyst) 

  1. BIOL 2040, 2140 Microbiology for Science majors . . . 4  

  2. BIOL 2160 POPULATION GENETICS… 3  

  3. BIOL 2300 Bioinformatics … 3 

OR MATH 2150 Statistics II . . . 3 

  1. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I (includes Laboratory) … 4  

    Forensic Chemist 

    1. CHEM 2710/2810 Physical Chemistry… 4 

  1. CHEM 2910 Inorganic Chemistry… 3 

  1. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I … 4  

  1. CHEM 3580 Biochemistry II … 3 

Environmental Forensic Scientist 

  1. ENVS 2215 Environmental Science … 4 

  1. ENVS 2300 Geospatial Analysis . . . 3 

  1. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I … 4  

  1. CHEM 3580 Biochemistry II … 3 

Wildlife Forensic Scientist* 

  1. ENVS 2215 Environmental Science… 4 

  1. BIOL 2050 Animal Behavior… 3  

  1. BIOL 2310 Field Ecology… 4 

  1. ENVS 2300 Geospatial Analysis . . . 3 

Forensic Microbiologist* 

  1. BIOL 2040, 2140 Microbiology for Science majors . . . 4  

  1. BIOL 2030 Human Disease… 3 

  1. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I (includes Laboratory) … 4  

  1. BIOL 2300 Bioinformatics … 3 

Forensic Toxicologist* 

  1. BIOL 3030 Cell Biology… 4 

  1. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I … 4  

  1. CHEM 3800 Special Topics in Biochemistry … 3 

  1. BIOL 3075 Advanced Physiology… 4 

Pathologist/Medical Examiner (Pre-Med)* 

  1. BIOL 3030 Cell Biology… 4 

  1. BIOL 3075 Advanced Physiology… 4 

  1. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I (includes Laboratory) … 4  

  1. CHEM 3580 Biochemistry II …3

Students should take Psych/SOC courses to satisfy collegiate electives for MCAT 

* Indicates that track prepares students for graduate education required to practice in the given specialty. Note that in some [rare] instances, graduate/medical school is not necessary for these fields (For example, the Pathologist/Medical Examiner track can prepare students to serve as a Coroner in select jurisdictions in the US and would not require further education). 

REQUIREMENTS FOR FORENSIC SCIENCE MINOR:

BIOL 1055 Introduction to Organisms (includes Laboratory)

OR

BIOL 1065 Introduction to Molecules and Cells (includes Laboratory)

OR

BIOL 1075, 1175 Anatomy and Physiology I with Laboratory

4

CHEM 1001, 1002 Chemical Concepts with Laboratory

OR

CHEM 1010, 1110 Introductory Chemistry I with Laboratory

4

CJ 1000 Introduction to Criminal Justice

3

FSC 1010 Introduction to the Forensic Sciences (includes Recitation)

4

FSC 1700 Forensic Photography

1

FSC 2700 Forensic Science I: Evidence Response (includes Laboratory)

4

 

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