Forensic Science Major

The B.S. program in forensic science prepares students for careers as forensic scientists. Potential employers include local, state and federal crime laboratories and law enforcement agencies, such as the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The curriculum is enhanced by internship opportunities with local agencies, including the Tampa FDLE lab and the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner. The track also prepares students for graduate programs in forensic science, chemistry and biochemistry and health professional schools.

Degree Requirements

Requirements for a B.S. in forensic science:

FSC 130	Survey of Forensic Sciences	3
BIO 198	General Biology I	3
BIO 198L	General Biology I Laboratory	1
BIO 199	General Biology II	3
BIO 199L	General Biology II Laboratory	1
CHE 152	General Chemistry I	3
CHE 153L	General Chemistry I Laboratory	1
CHE 154	General Chemistry II	3
CHE 155L	General Chemistry II Laboratory	1
CHE 232	Organic Chemistry I	3
CHE 233L	Organic Chemistry I Laboratory	1
CHE 234	Organic Chemistry II	3
CHE 235L	Organic Chemistry II Laboratory	1
FSC 230	Fundamentals of Physical Evidence	3
MAT 201	Introduction to Statistics	4
MAT 260	Calculus I	4
PHY 200	General Physics I	4
PHY 200L	General Physics I Laboratory	0
PHY 201	General Physics II	4
PHY 201L	General Physics II Laboratory	0
CHE 310	Analytical Chemistry	4
CHE 310L	Analytical Chemistry Laboratory	0
CHE 432	Forensic Chemistry	3
CHE 433L	Forensic Chemistry Laboratory	1
CHE 434	Forensic Toxicology	3
CHE 435L	Forensic Toxicology Laboratory	1
FSC 440	Professional Practice in Forensic Science	4
BIO 200	Genetics	4
BIO 200L	Genetics Laboratory	0
CRM 102	Introduction to Criminal Justice	4
FSC 307	Crime Scene Investigation	4
	One of the following two courses:
CHE 331	Forensic DNA Analysis	3
FSC 340	Microscopic Examination of Firearms Evidence	3
	7 credits from the following courses:
CHE 305	Applied Physical Chemistry	3
CHE 320	Biochemistry	3
CHE 320L	Biochemistry Laboratory	1
BIO 370	Molecular Biology	4
BIO 370L	Molecular Biology Laboratory	0

One of the following:

FSC 461	Forensic Science Seminar	3
CHE 463	Forensic Science Internship	1-4

Or both of the following:

CHE 454	Capstone Chemical Communication	1
CHE 460	Introduction to Forensic Research	1-4

3 credits of FSC 461 or CHE 463; or 2 cumulative credits of CHE 460 and 1 hour of CHE 454 are required.
PHY 205/PHY 205L can substitute for PHY 200 /PHY 200L, and PHY 206 /PHY 206L can substitute for PHY 201/PHY 201L.

Total Credit Hours: 87