Curriculum & Requirements
Chemistry/Biochemistry Major with Forensic Science Option, Bachelor of Science (BS)
The forensic science option prepares students for entry-level positions in state and federal forensic science labs as well as for graduate and professional schools.
Major Declaration Requirements
Students must complete 45 hours of specified core courses with a combined minimum GPA ≥3.0 before being eligible to declare the forensic major (see note below).
It is assumed that the student will enter the program ready to take .
For all internships with law enforcement agencies, students will be required to pass a thorough background check. Competitive internships at regional forensic labs are integrated into the curriculum along with research and independent study.
This option will require more than 12 terms (or 4 years) to complete at an average of 15 credits per term.
Note: these core courses are to be completed before formal acceptance into the forensics major and enrollment in the forensics science internship course: , , , , , , , , , , , .
Grade Requirements: due to the cumulative nature of chemistry courses, the department strongly recommends that students receive a grade ≥C in all prerequisite chemistry courses.
| CRIMINALISTICS AND FORENSIC CHEMISTRY | 5 |
& & & & & | GENERAL CHEMISTRY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I and GENERAL CHEMISTRY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II and GENERAL CHEMISTRY III and GENERAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY III | 15 |
& | QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS and QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS LAB | 6 |
| MODERN INORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY | 3 |
| ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I | 3 |
| ORGANIC CHEM LABORATORY II | 3 |
| INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS | 5 |
| PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY | 4 |
| PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LABORATORY | 1 |
| TOPICS IN FORENSIC CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| ADVANCED FORENSIC CHEMISTRY | 5 |
| BIOCHEMISTRY | 5 |
| INTERNSHIP | 5 |
or | DIRECTED STUDY |
or | DIRECTED STUDY |
| BIOLOGY I | 5 |
| BIOLOGY II | 5 |
| BIOLOGY III | 5 |
| FUNDAMENTALS OF GENETICS | 5 |
| MOLECULAR BIOLOGY | 5 |
| INTRODUCTION TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM | 5 |
| CALCULUS I | 5 |
| CALCULUS II | 5 |
| CALCULUS III | 5 |
| ELEMENTARY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS | 5 |
| GENERAL PHYSICS I | 4 |
| GENERAL PHYSICS II | 4 |
| GENERAL PHYSICS III | 4 |
| MECHANICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| HEAT AND OPTICS LABORATORY | 1 |
| ELECTRONICS LABORATORY I | 1 |
| SENIOR THESIS (variable credit–must be taken for 5 credits) | 5 |
Total Credits | 151 |
| MICROBIOLOGY | 5 |
| PUBLIC SPEAKING | 5 |
| FORENSIC INQUIRY | 5 |
| BASIC CONCEPTS OF CRIMINAL LAW | 5 |
| INTRODUCTION TO TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION | 5 |
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