Forensic Science

Concentration

The forensic science program is a specialized track for majors in Chemistry, Biology, Biochemistry, or Genetic Engineering. In other words, 4 majors are available for students wishing to concentrate in forensic science. The curriculum is designed to give students the necessary scientific foundation needed to be a good forensic scientist. Students will be introduced to all the major types of physical evidence analysis. In addition to course requirements for the major and the liberal arts curriculum, there are course requirements for the concentration.

There are five forensic courses that all students in the concentration have to take:

• CHE 241 Crime Scene Reconstruction and Pattern Analysis (4 credits)
• CHE 302 Instrumental Analysis with Forensic Science Lab (4 credits)
• CHE 347 Trace Evidence and Microscopy (4 credits)
• CHE 348 Forensic Molecular Biology and Population Statistics (4 credits)
• CHE 349 Professional Issues in Forensic Science(3 credits)

Students within the forensic science concentration are required to register for two semesters of research. Research proposals are to be written in the Fall semester of the junior year with work beginning in the spring semester. Research helps in the development of critical thinking skills needed to approach forensic problems. Opportunities to work on a research project relevant to forensic science will be provided by the faculty. At the end of the project, students will be required to write a manuscript about the research and orally present the research to the faculty and students. An approved summer internship in a forensic science laboratory may be substituted for one semester of research.

In addition to the core forensic science courses and research, students in the concentration will take courses in the biology, chemistry, and math. All students in the forensic science concentration will take:

• BIO 121 Principles of Biology I (4 credits)
• BIO 122 Principles of Biology II (4 credits)
• BIO 231 Genetics (4 credits)
• BIO 248 Biostatistics (3 credits)
• CHE 111 Chemical Principles (4 credits)
• CHE 112 Chemical Equilibrium and Analysis (4 credits)
• CHE 205 Organic Chemistry I (4 credits)
• CHE 206 Organic Chemistry II (4 credits)
• CHE 307 Biochemistry I (4 credits)
• MAT 141 Calculus I (3 credits)
• MAT 142 Calculus II (3 credits)
• PHY 101 Introductory College Physics I (4 credits)
• PHY 102 Introductory College Physics II (4 credits)

In addition, students are required to take one of the following two courses: :

• BIO 335 Molecular Genetics I (4 credits)
• CHE 314 Toxicology (3 Credits)