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Forensic Science - BS

Forensic Science - BS

Take a lead role in crime scene investigation or laboratory analysis.

WHY STUDY FORENSIC SCIENCE?

Forensic science technicians play an important role in the criminal justice system by analyzing physical evidence and providing scientifically based information.

WHAT WILL I LEARN?

You’ll complete coursework in criminal justice and learn how police agencies and the courts operate. In your biology, chemistry and mathematics courses, you’ll discover the science behind forensic investigation. You’ll choose a concentration in either biology or chemistry, which will give you the in-depth knowledge you’ll need. You’ll also get your hands dirty in the lab and in the Crime Scene Investigation House to analyze drugs, hair and fiber, DNA or conduct other analyses for your senior capstone project.

Student looking at fingerprints

WHAT CAN I DO WITH A DEGREE IN FORENSIC SCIENCE?

You’ll be prepared to work as a forensic scientist in industry and government labs as well as forensic science labs.

Job titles:

  • Arson investigator
  • Bloodstain pattern analyst
  • Computer forensics examiner
  • Crime lab technician
  • Crime scene investigator
  • DNA analyst
  • Forensic accountant
  • Intelligence officer/analyst
  • Serologist
  • Toxicology medical technician

Employers:

  • State/federal government
  • Police departments
  • Morgues
  • Crime labs
  • Coroners’ offices
  • Law offices
  • Pharmaceutical industries
  • Hospitals

Featured Courses in This Program

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  • ADMJ   0230

    Intro To Forensic Science

    This course examines forensic techniques commonly used in criminal investigations such as: crime scene reconstruction, hair, fiber, soil, inorganic and organic analysis, spectroscopy, microscopy, toxicology, fingerprints, firearms, and DNA. The description, scientific underpinnings, and limitations of forensic techniques are discussed. The course gives students a background in scientific tools available to investigate crime.

  • ADMJ   1325

    Criminal Evidence/investigation

    This course provides an introduction to criminal evidence. The topics include how evidence is collected and developed, the different types of evidence, the legal standards for admissibility of evidence, and the role of evidence in criminal investigation.

  • ADMJ   1330

    Criminal Forensics 1

    This course will allow students to demonstrate basic criminal forensic investigative skills. Students will be exposed to ""hands-on"" fieldwork regarding criminal investigations. This course will focus on several types of crime scene scenarios to include, but not limited to: arson; assault; burglary; drug; robbery; sexual assault; and homicide investigations. This course will also provide students with the ability to apply basic skills used in criminal investigations to include: securing and processing crime scenes; interviewing witnesses and suspects; report writing and search warrant documentation preparation; and the practical application of criminal procedure and courtroom testimony.

  • ADMJ   1430

    Criminal Forensics 2

    This course will allow students to demonstrate advanced criminal forensic investigative skills. Students will focus on several types of advanced indoor and outdoor crime scene scenarios, specifically concentrating on violent criminal investigations. The various scenarios will include multiple homicides, criminal profiling; sex-related homicides; homicides made to appear as accidents; homicides made to appear as suicides; handling buried body cases; murder-suicide; infant abductions and SID cases.