Four-Year Degree Plan for Major in Forensic Science

Note that this is a sample four-year plan. There are other course sequences that will allow a student to graduate within four years as long as prerequisite courses are taken in the proper sequence. This sample plan does not guarantee course availability, and adjustments to students’ plans may be necessary if they are unable to take specific courses during specific semesters. Students who are placed into lower level FYW, MAT or other prerequisite courses will need to adjust their four-year plans accordingly. Similarly, students who bring in Advanced Placement, Dual Enrollment or transfer credit for courses will need to adjust their four-year plans. A minimum of a 2.0 GPA both overall and in the major is required for graduation. In addition to major requirements, all components of the Baccalaureate Experience must be completed in order to graduate.

Degree Requirements

First (Freshman) Year - Fall Semester

CHE 152	General Chemistry I	3
CHE 153L	General Chemistry I Laboratory	1
MAT 260	Calculus I	4
BIO 203	Biological Diversity	4
BIO 203L	Biological Diversity Laboratory	0
FYW 101	Writing and Inquiry	4
GTW 101	Gateways	1
	or
HON 101	Pathways to Honors 1	1
Total Credit Hours:		17

CHE 152, CHE 153L: Grade "C" or better

First (Freshman) Year - Spring Semester

CHE 154	General Chemistry II	3
CHE 155L	General Chemistry II Laboratory	1
MAT 201	Introduction to Statistics	4
BIO 204	Biological Unity	4
BIO 204L	Biological Unity Laboratory	0
AWR 201	Writing and Research	4
GTW 102	Gateways II	1
	or
HON 102	Pathways to Honors 2	1
Total Credit Hours:		17

CHE 154, CHE 155L: Grade "C" or better

Second (Sophomore) Year - Fall Semester

CHE 230	Selected Topics in Forensic Science	3
CHE 232	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHE 233L	Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	1
CHE 310	Analytical Chemistry	4
CHE 310L	Analytical Chemistry Laboratory	0
BIO 300	General Genetics	4
BIO 300L	General Genetics Laboratory	0
Total Credit Hours:		15

CHE 232, CHE 233L (W), CHE 310: Grade "C" or better

Second (Sophomore) Year - Spring Semester

CHE 234	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHE 235L	Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	1
CRM 102	Introduction to Criminal Justice	4
CRM 200	Law Enforcement	4
	Social Science (Bacc Exp.)	4
Total Credit Hours:		16

CHE 234, CHE 235L (W): grade of "C" or better

Social Science: (IG) (NW)

Third (Junior) Year - Fall Semester

CHE 320	Biochemistry	3
CHE 320L	Biochemistry Laboratory	1
CHE 432	Forensic Chemistry I	3
CHE 433L	Forensic Chemistry I Laboratory	1
PHY 200	General Physics I	4
PHY 200L	General Physics I Laboratory	0
	Humanities/Fine Arts (Bacc. Exp.)	4
Total Credit Hours:		16

Humanities/Fine Arts: (A) (W)

Third (Junior) Year - Spring Semester

CHE 434	Forensic Chemistry II	3
CHE 435L	Forensic Chemistry II Laboratory	1
CRM 206	Criminal Investigation	4
PHY 201	General Physics II	4
PHY 201L	General Physics II Laboratory	0
BIO 370	Molecular Biology	4
BIO 370L	Molecular Biology Laboratory	0
Total Credit Hours:		16

Third (Junior) Year - May Term

CHE 340	Microscopic Examination of Firearms Evidence	3
Total Credit Hours:		3

CHE 498 may be taken instead of CHE 340. It may be taken during the spring semester of the senior year.

Fourth (Senior) Year - Fall Semester

CHE 305	Applied Physical Chemistry	3
CRM 307	Crime Scene Investigation	4
	Social Science (Bacc. Exp)	4
	Humanities Fine Arts (Bacc Exp)	4
Total Credit Hours:		15

CHE 432, CHE 433L: grade "C" or better

Humanities/Fine Arts: (IG) (NW)

Fourth (Senior) Year - Spring Semester

CHE 440	Professional Practice in Forensic Science	3
	Humanities Fine Arts (Bacc Exp)	4
	Social Science (Bacc. Exp)	4

One of the following:

CHE 410	Senior Seminar	2
CHE 460	Introduction to Forensic Research	1-4
CHE 463	Forensic Science Internship	1-4
Total Credit Hours:		13

Social Science (IG) (NW)

2 credits of CHE 410, CHE 460, or CHE 463 are required

Total Credit Hours: 128

Note: The natural science and math components of the Baccalaureate Experience are fulfilled by courses in the above sequence (i.e., BIO 204, CHE 152, MAT 260). BIO 203, as a part of the biology lower-core curriculum, is a prerequisite for all upper-level biology courses.

WRI 281 is strongly recommended for the Forensic Science major. The above schedule of classes is recommended for students who are most interested in the chemistry and toxicology fields of forensic analysis. Students who are more interested in DNA analysis are encouraged to schedule CHE 320, BIO 300, and BIO 370 earlier in their plans noted in the model plan shown above, and students who are more interested in crime scene investigation are encouraged to schedule CRM 206 and CRM 307 earlier in their plans in consultation with their academic advisors.