Skip to Main Content

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science Degree

The major in Forensic Science is designed to provide training for students seeking to work in forensic science laboratories or who are planning to pursue careers in the field of forensic science. The major draws from the biological sciences, physics and chemistry as well as from the fields of criminal justice and the law. The degree is generated from a cross-disciplinary perspective, blending faculty expertise from both the criminal justice and science program areas. A principal focus of the program is to prepare students for entry-level positions and for advancement in various occupations and professions in the criminal justice and science areas. The faculty encourages wide and varied preparation in both the liberal arts and sciences to provide students with an appreciation of the scientific and social environment of crime and criminal justice. As students prepare for a career in forensic sciences, they should be reasonably informed on which area to focus. For example, if one wishes to work in a crime laboratory, most positions are of the 'criminalist' category, but various areas will require specific coursework. Examples are as follows:
    Criminalist I - Physical Evidence. Coursework should include at least two natural science classes, algebra, and trigonometry (coursework in calculus can be substituted for the algebra and trigonometry).

    Criminalist I - DNA. Coursework should include 20 semester hours in biology (course credit in genetics, biochemistry, molecular biology, recombinant DNA technology or other subjects which provide a basic understanding of the foundations of forensic DNA analysis should be included in hours).

    Criminalist I - Trace Evidence. Coursework should include at least 20 hours of chemistry (organic and inorganic).

    Criminalist I - Toxicology. Coursework should include at least 20 hours of chemistry including two semesters of general chemistry and two semesters of organic chemistry, and one semester of quantitative analysis, with a minimum acceptable grade of C.

    Criminalist I - Latent Prints. Coursework should include at least two natural science classes, with a minimum acceptable grade of C.

    Criminalist I - Questioned Documents. Baccalaureate degree should be in one of the Natural Sciences or Criminal Justice.

Students majoring in this degree should work closely with their academic advisor to ensure proper coursework is taken for the student's preferred career option.

Department:

Degree Requirements:

A.
General Education Requirements 38-41 sem. hrs
  Ethics Course Requirement 3 hrs
  CJAD 345View Syllabus Ethics & Morality in Criminal Justice or
  PHIL 330View Syllabus Ethics
 
B.
Multicultural Requirement 3 sem. hrs
 
C.
Core Requirements 46 sem. hrs
  (All courses must be completed with a grade of C or higher. Courses in the major cannot be taken as Pass/Fail.)
  BIOL 110View Syllabus Principles of Biology I 3 hrs
  BIOL 110LView Syllabus Principles of Biology I Laboratory 2 hrs
  BIOL 324View Syllabus (PSYC 324, SOCI 324) Statistics for the Behavioral and Natural Sciences 3 hrs
  BIOL 395View Syllabus (CHEM /ENVS 395) Research Design in the Sciences 3 hrs
  CHEM 110View Syllabus Chemistry I 3 hrs
  CHEM 111LView Syllabus Introductory Chemistry Laboratory Experience 2 hrs
  CHEM 112View Syllabus Chemistry II 3 hrs
  CHEM 112LView Syllabus Chemistry II Laboratory 2 hrs
  CHEM 310View Syllabus Organic Chemistry I 3 hrs
  CHEM 310LView Syllabus Organic Chemistry I Laboratory 2 hrs
  CJAD 335View Syllabus Criminalistics 3 hrs
  CJAD 335LView Syllabus Criminalistics Laboratory 2 hrs
  CJAD 475View Syllabus Senior Seminar in Forensic Science 3 hrs
  MATH 201View Syllabus Calculus & Analytic Geometry I 5 hrs
  MATH 222View Syllabus Calculus & Analytic Geometry II 5 hrs
  PHYS 111View Syllabus College Physics I and 3 hrs
  PHYS 111LView Syllabus Physics I Laboratory or 2 hrs
  PHYS 211View Syllabus Calculus-based Physics I 5 hrs
  In addition to successful completion of the core requirements listed above, students seeking a Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degree must complete one of two tracks: Chemistry or Biology. The decision to choose one of these two options is based on the student's career objectives which can be very specific about which coursework is required. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the student to be familiar with their targeted career track to ensure they have taken the correct coursework to be a competitive candidate for the position desired.

Please note: As you schedule your classes, please ensure that you have a sufficient number of upper-level hours to satisfy the 39 upper-level requirement.

 
D.
Chemistry Track 15 sem. hrs
  CHEM 306View Syllabus Analytical Chemistry I 5 hrs
  CHEM 312View Syllabus Organic Chemistry II 3 hrs
  CHEM 312LView Syllabus Organic Chemistry II Laboratory 2 hrs
  PHYS 112View Syllabus College Physics II and 3 hrs
  PHYS 112LView Syllabus College Physics II Laboratory or 2 hrs
  PHYS 212View Syllabus Calculus-Based Physics II 5 hrs
 
E.
Biology Track 15 sem. hrs
  BIOL 342View Syllabus Genetics 3 hrs
  BIOL 342LView Syllabus Genetics Laboratory 2 hrs
  BIOL 410View Syllabus Molecular Biotechnology 3 hrs
  BIOL 410LView Syllabus Methods in Molecular Biotechnology 2 hrs
  BIOL 420View Syllabus (CHEM 420) Biochemistry 3 hrs
  BIOL 420LView Syllabus (CHEM 420L) Biochemistry Laboratory 2 hrs
 
F.
Electives for Chemistry & Biology Tracks 12-17 sem. hrs
  BIOL 290View Syllabus Principles of Cell Biology 3 hrs
  BIOL 290LView Syllabus Principles of Cell Biology Laboratory 2 hrs
  BIOL 395View Syllabus (CHEM/ENVS 395) Research Design in the Sciences 3 hrs
  BIOL 420View Syllabus (CHEM 420) Biochemistry 3 hrs
  BIOL 420LView Syllabus (CHEM 420L) Biochemistry Laboratory 2 hrs
  CHEM 307View Syllabus Analytical Chemistry II 5 hrs
  CHEM 322View Syllabus Inorganic Chemistry 3 hrs
  CHEM 401View Syllabus (PHYS 401) Introduction to Physical Chemistry/Chemical Physics 3 hrs
  CJAD 406View Syllabus Expert and Scientific Evidence 3 hrs
  MATH 380View Syllabus Advanced Calculus 3 hrs
 
G.
General Forensic Science Area Electives 12-18 sem. hrs
  BIOL 221View Syllabus Clinical Microbiology 3 hrs
  BIOL 221LView Syllabus Clinical Microbiology Laboratory 2 hrs
  BIOL 223View Syllabus Anatomy 3 hrs
  BIOL 223LView Syllabus Anatomy Laboratory 2 hrs
  BIOL 312View Syllabus Microbiology 3 hrs
  BIOL 312LView Syllabus Microbiology Laboratory 2 hrs
  CJAD 101View Syllabus Introduction to Criminal Justice Administration 3 hrs
  CJAD 201View Syllabus Criminal Investigation 3 hrs
  CJAD 203View Syllabus Crime Scene Investigation 3 hrs
  CJAD 303View Syllabus Crime Scene Photography 3 hrs
  CJAD 305View Syllabus Forensic Anthropology 3 hrs
  CJAD 413View Syllabus Bloodstain Evidence 3 hrs
  CJAD 415View Syllabus Criminal Procedures 3 hrs
  CJAD 445View Syllabus Forensic Pathology 3 hrs
  CJAD 499View Syllabus Criminal Justice Internship 1-3 hrs
  PHIL 210View Syllabus Logic and Critical Thinking 3 hrs
  PHIL 303View Syllabus (HIST 303) History & Philosophy of Modern Science 3 hrs
  PSYC 450View Syllabus Abnormal Psychology 3 hrs
 
H.
Crime Scene Investigation Certificate (Optional) 15 sem. hrs
 
I.
TOTAL 126-143 sem. hrs
 
J.
A candidate for a baccalaureate degree with a major in Forensic Science must pass, with a satisfactory rating (grade of C or higher), CJAD 475 Senior Seminar in Forensic Science, as a culminating evaluative experience.
 

Locations

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degree is available at the following locations:

Main Campus, Day Program
Main Campus, Evening Program