Major in Forensic Science (BS)
Forensic science is the application of scientific knowledge and methods to investigate crimes, enforce government regulations, and resolve civil disputes. Any scientific discipline, when used in combination with law enforcement or a court of law, is a forensic science. The forensic science program is specifically designed for those looking to obtain broad knowledge of several scientific fields and the methods employed to cases in the justice system. The program also enables an in-depth focus in a concentration area.
Core requirements include courses in criminal justice and criminology, data visualization, and specialized coursework in forensic science. The program has four concentrations: 1) digital forensics; 2) behavioral forensics; 3) forensic biology; and 4) forensic chemistry.
65-80 credits
Required Forensic Science courses, 12-15 credits
| FOR 101 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
| FOR 201 | Forensic Analysis | 3 |
| FOR 301 | Biological Forensic Analysis | 1 |
| FOR 302 | Chemical Forensic Analysis | 1 |
| FOR 303 | Digital Forensic Analysis | 1 |
| CS 490 | Software Production Studio | 3 TO 6 |
| | or | |
| FOR 401 | Applied Forensic Science | 3 |
| | or | |
| FOR 402 | Behavioral Forensic Capstone | 3 |
| | or | |
| FOR 479 | Forensic Science Internship | 3-6 |
Required Data Analysis and Visualization courses, 10 credits
| CS 120 | Computer Science 1: Programming Fundamentals | 4 |
| DANA 320 | Data Visualization | 3 |
| | or | |
| GEOG 265 | Introduction to Geographic Information Systems | 3 |
| MATH 181 | Elementary Probability and Statistics | 3 |
| | or | |
| MATH 221 | Probability and Statistics | 3 |
Program Director or Chairperson may grant permission to substitute any other statistics course to satisfy Math 181 or Math 221 course.
Required Criminal Justice and Criminology courses, 12 credits
Students who complete the Forensics major are not eligible to complete the minor in Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Concentration in Digital Forensics, 31-32 credits
Students who complete the Concentration in Digital Forensics are not eligible to complete the minor in Computer Science or the Digital Forensics minor.
Required Digital Forensics courses, 25-26 credits
| CS 121 | Computer Science 2: Data Structures and Objects | 4 |
| CS 124 | Discrete Structures | 3 |
| | or | |
| MATH 215 | Discrete Systems | 4 |
| CS 203 | Introduction to Computer Security | 3 |
| CS 230 | Computer Organization and Architecture | 3 |
| CS 249 | Forensics | 3 |
| CS 250 | Mobile Forensics | 3 |
| CS 316 | Introduction to Operating Systems and Computer Networks | 3 |
| CS 447 | Network Security | 3 |
Digital Forensics Electives, choose 6 credits from:
| CS 322 | Secure Software Development | 3 |
| CS 416 | Computer Networks and Distributed Systems | 3 |
| CS 418 | Database Design | 3 |
| CS 419 | Operating Systems | 3 |
| CS 421 | Data Analytics | 3 |
| FOR 390 | Special Topics in Forensic Science | 3-9 |
| GEOG 438 | Advanced Geographic Information Systems Analysis | 3 |
| GEOG 445 | Geographic Information Systems Applications Design and Development | 3 |
Concentration in Behavioral Forensics, 33 credits
Students who complete the Concentration in Behavioral Forensics are not eligible to minor in Psychological Science
Required Behavioral Forensics courses, 27 credits
Behavioral Forensics Electives, choose 6 credits from:
| CJC 332 | Victimology | 3 |
| CJC 405 | Violent Behavior and Offenders | 3 |
| FOR 390 | Special Topics in Forensic Science | 3-9 |
| PSYS 325 | Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination | 3 |
| PSYS 362 | Motivation and Emotion | 3 |
Concentration in Forensic Biology, 43 credits
Students who complete the concentration in Forensic Biology are not eligible to complete the Biology minor with cellular/molecular biology emphasis.
Required Forensic Biology courses, 37 credits
| BIO 111 | Principles of Biology 1 | 4 |
| BIO 112 | Principles of Biology 2 | 4 |
| BIO 214 | Genetics | 3 |
| BIO 215 | Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO 457 | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 231 | Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1: Fundamental Techniques | 1 |
| CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2: Synthesis and Characterization | 1 |
| CHEM 463 | Principles of Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
Forensic Biology Electives , choose 6 credits from:
| BIO 314 | Methods in Genetics | 3 |
| | or | |
| BIO 315 | Methods in Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIOT 490 | Introduction to Recombinant DNA and RNA Techniques | 3 |
| BIOT 491 | Theory and Applications of the Polymerase Chain Reaction | 3 |
| PHYS 416 | Human Toxicology | 3 |
| FOR 390 | Special Topics in Forensic Science | 3-9 |
Concentration in Forensic Chemistry, 37-38 credits
Students who complete the concentration in Forensic Chemistry are not eligible to minor in Chemistry.
Required Forensic Chemistry courses, 30-31 credits
| BIO 111 | Principles of Biology 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 111 | General Chemistry 1 | 4 |
| CHEM 112 | General Chemistry 2 | 4 |
| CHEM 225 | Chemical Analysis | 3 |
| CHEM 231 | Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 232 | Organic Chemistry for Molecular-Based Sciences: Part 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 241 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 1: Fundamental Techniques | 1 |
| CHEM 242 | Organic Chemistry Laboratory 2: Synthesis and Characterization | 1 |
| CHEM 420 | Chemical Instrumentation 1 | 3 |
| PHYC 110 | General Physics 1 | 4 |
| | or | |
| PHYC 120 | General Physics 1 | 5 |
Forensic Chemistry Electives, choose 7 credits from:
| CHEM 400 | Chemical Communications | 1 |
| CHEM 430 | Intermediate Organic Laboratory Techniques | 2 |
| CHEM 463 | Principles of Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 464 | Principles of Biochemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 465 | Biochemistry Laboratory Techniques | 2 |
| CHEM 470 | Independent Study and Research | 1 TO 3 |
| CHEM 475 | Exploration of Selected Topics in Chemistry | 1 TO 4 |
| FOR 390 | Special Topics in Forensic Science | 3-9 |
Total Credit Hours: 65-80