Natural Sciences & Mathematics Programs

FORENSIC SCIENCE

Forensic Science is the application of the natural sciences to answer legal questions. The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program is designed to provide graduates with understanding of the legal and ethical practice of applying the scientific method in the natural sciences to the criminal justice system. Students gain skillsets required for various entry level positions in fully accredited crime laboratories, military, homeland security, intelligence agencies, or continuing education needed to practice in the student’s chosen forensic science specialty.

Students in this program receive hands-on training in the documentation, recovery, testing, and reporting of forensic evidence and are taught by current and/or former professional practitioners in a variety of forensic disciplines. At the conclusion of their first year, students can select from a variety of electives that allow them to specialize and be more competitive for entry level positions or continuing education in the following specialties: Criminalistics, Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, Environmental Forensics, Wildlife Forensics, Forensic Microbiology, Forensic Toxicology*, Forensic Pathology/Medical Examiner*.

* Indicates that the discipline often requires a graduate education (Masters or Doctorate) to practice in the given specialty.

Grade Minimum: Forensic Science majors must earn a minimum grade of C- in all FSC, BIOL, and CHEM prerequisite courses.

Program General Goals:

The general goals of the Forensic Science major are to:

Provide students with an in-depth understanding of the application of the biological, chemical, and physical sciences in criminal/civil investigations.

Provide a curriculum that meets the standards set by FEPAC (Forensic Science Educations Programs Accreditation Commission).

Prepare students for entry level positions in crime laboratories, biotech companies, or admittance to graduate/medical schools.

Develop an awareness of historical and current ethical issues in the discipline.

Prepare students to be skilled in the proper procedures and practices for documentation, collection, testing, and reporting of forensically relevant evidence.

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.

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 with B+ or better (3 cr)

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

Example Elective Schematics Based on Desired Career 

Criminalistics  

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

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

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

4. 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 

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

   Forensic Chemist 

   1. CHEM 2710/2810 Physical Chemistry… 4 

2. CHEM 2910 Inorganic Chemistry… 3 

3. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I … 4  

4. CHEM 3580 Biochemistry II … 3 

Environmental Forensic Scientist 

1. ENVS 2215 Environmental Science … 4 

2. ENVS 2300 Geospatial Analysis . . . 3 

3. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I … 4  

4. CHEM 3580 Biochemistry II … 3 

Wildlife Forensic Scientist* 

1. ENVS 2215 Environmental Science… 4 

2. BIOL 2050 Animal Behavior… 3  

3. BIOL 2310 Field Ecology… 4 

4. ENVS 2300 Geospatial Analysis . . . 3 

Forensic Microbiologist* 

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

2. BIOL 2030 Human Disease… 3 

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

4. BIOL 2300 Bioinformatics … 3 

Forensic Toxicologist* 

1. BIOL 3030 Cell Biology… 4 

2. CHEM 3570/3670 Biochemistry I … 4  

3. CHEM 3800 Special Topics in Biochemistry … 3 

4. BIOL 3075 Advanced Physiology… 4 

Pathologist/Medical Examiner (Pre-Med)* 

1. BIOL 3030 Cell Biology… 4 

2. BIOL 3075 Advanced Physiology… 4 

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

4. 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).