Forensic Science (Interdisciplinary), BS

Total number of hours for the program: 120.

Liberal Studies Hours (42 hours)

Liberal Studies Program Requirements

Major Requirements (73 hours)

Core Science Courses: (31 hours)

BIOL 140 - Principles of Biology I Credits: 4
CHEM 139 - General Chemistry I Credits: 4
CHEM 140 - General Chemistry II Credits: 4
CHEM 241 - Organic Chemistry I Credits: 4
MATH 153 - Calculus I Credits: 4
MATH 270 - Statistical Methods I Credits: 3
PHYS 130 - Introductory Physics I Credits: 4
OR
PHYS 230 - General Physics I Credits: 4
PHYS 131 - Introductory Physics II Credits: 4
OR
PHYS 231 - General Physics II Credits: 4

Additional Forensics and Science Courses: (21 hours)

Students must take an additional 21 hours of Forensics and Science courses. 18 hours should be from the following list:

CJ 150 - Introduction to Criminal Justice & Criminology Credits: 3
CJ 323 - Crime Scene Investigations Credits: 3
CHEM 242 - Organic Chemistry II Credits: 4
BIOL 361 - Principles of Biochemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 361 - Principles of Biochemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 475 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1
OR
CHEM 575 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1
FS 466 - Physical Methods in Forensic Science Credits: 3
FS 495 - Seminar in Forensic Science Credits: 1

Forensic Science students must complete 3 semester hours from the following:

CJ 305 - Social Justice and the Law Credits: 3
CJ 343 - Criminal Procedure and Judicial Process Credits: 3
CJ 370 - Ethics in Criminal Justice Credits: 3
FS 110 - Survey in Forensic Science Credits: 3
LAW 201 - Individual Rights Credits: 3
PAR 230 - Logic: Legal, Scientific & Critical Reasoning Credits: 3
PAR 313 - Philosophy of Law Credits: 3
PAR 366 - Science, Religion & Knowledge Credits: 3

One concentration selected from Biology or Chemistry (21 hours)

Forensic Biology Concentration

The concentration requires a total of 21 hours. Students must take the following (15 hours):

BIOL 240 - Introduction to Genetics Credits: 4
BIOL 330 - Population Genetics for Forensic Science Credits: 3
OR
FS 330 - Population Genetics for Forensic Science Credits: 3
BIOL 333 - Cell and Molecular Biology Credits: 4
FS 422 - Forensic Biology Credits: 4
OR
BIOL 422 - Forensic Biology Credits: 4

AND choose two from the following (6 hours)

BIOL 412 - Cellular and Molecular Immunology Credits: 3
BIOL 413 - Principles of General Microbiology Credits: 4
BIOL 414 - Methods of General Microbiology Credits: 2
BIOL 415 - Plant Physiology Credits: 3
BIOL 416 - Plant Molecular Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 418 - Advanced Techniques in Microscopy Credits: 4
BIOL 419 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 420 - Darwin’s Origin of Species Credits: 3
BIOL 421 - Principles of Biotechnology Credits: 4
BIOL 424 - Pharmacology Credits: 3
BIOL 425 - Flora of the Southern Appalachians Credits: 4
BIOL 433 - Ecological Co-Adaptations Credits: 4
BIOL 434 - Terrestrial Landscape Ecology Credits: 4
BIOL 435 - Aquatic Ecology Credits: 4
BIOL 441 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3
BIOL 453 - Principles of Systematics Credits: 3
BIOL 455 - Vascular Plants Credits: 4
BIOL 467 - Biostatistics Credits: 3
BIOL 470 - Biology of Arthropods Credits: 4
BIOL 471 - Animal Behavior Credits: 4
BIOL 472 - Ornithology Credits: 4
BIOL 473 - Microbial Ecology Credits: 4
BIOL 475 - Animal Development Credits: 4
BIOL 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: 4
BIOL 477 - Herpetology Credits: 4
BIOL 480 - Research in Biology Credits: 1-3, R6
BIOL 493 - Studies in Biology Credits: 1-6, R12
BIOL 498 - Senior Thesis I Credits: 2
BIOL 499 - Senior Thesis II Credits: 1
CHEM 450 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 550 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 462 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 562 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3
CHEM 463 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 563 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3
FS 493 - Topics in Forensic Science Credits: 1-4, R9
CHEM 464 - Genomics Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 564 - Genomics Credits: 3
FS 380 - Research in Forensic Science Credits: 1-3, R15
FS 388 - Internship in Forensic Science Credits: 1-3, R9
FS 389 - Cooperative Education in Forensic Science Credits: 3

Forensic Chemistry Concentration

The concentration requires a total of 21 hours. Students must take the following (15 hours):

CHEM 232 - Quantitative Analysis Credits: 4
CHEM 352 - Physical Chemistry: Chemical Thermodynamics Credits: 3
CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: 4
FS 465 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4
OR
CHEM 465 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4
OR
CHEM 565 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4

AND choose two from the following (6 hours)

FS 460 - Forensic Toxicology Credits: 4
OR
CHEM 460 - Forensic Toxicology Credits: 4
OR
CHEM 560 - Forensic Toxicology Credits: 4
CHEM 321 - Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 380 - Research in Chemistry Credits: 1-3, R12
CHEM 421 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 521 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 435 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 535 - Instrument Analysis II Credits: 3
CHEM 440 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 540 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 441 - Physical Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 541 - Physical Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 442 - Introduction to Organic Polymers Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 542 - Introduction to Organic Polymers Credits: 3
CHEM 445 - Structural Determination Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 545 - Structural Determination Credits: 3
CHEM 450 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 550 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 453 - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 553 - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Credits: 3
CHEM 454 - Computer Interfacing Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 554 - Computer Interfacing Credits: 3
CHEM 455 - Chemometrics Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 555 - Chemometrics Credits: 3
CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 561 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
CHEM 462 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 562 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3
CHEM 463 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 563 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3
CHEM 464 - Genomics Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 564 - Genomics Credits: 3
CHEM 472 - Organic Syntheses Credits: 1
OR
CHEM 572 - Organic Syntheses Credits: 1
CHEM 467 - Nanomaterials: Fundamentals and Applications Credits: 3
OR
CHEM 567 - Nanomaterials: Fundamentals and Applications Credits: 3
CHEM 493 - Topics in Chemistry Credits: 1-3, R6
OR
CHEM 593 - Topics in Chemistry Credits: 1-3 Lecture, 0-3 lab or seminar
FS 380 - Research in Forensic Science Credits: 1-3, R15
FS 388 - Internship in Forensic Science Credits: 1-3, R9
FS 389 - Cooperative Education in Forensic Science Credits: 3
FS 493 - Topics in Forensic Science Credits: 1-4, R9

Electives

General electives (5-17 hours) are required to complete the program (depending on the number of hours in the major that also count for Liberal Studies). Students must take at least 30 hours at the junior-senior level at WCU to satisfy general university degree requirements. Though not required and depending on the desired career path, students may wish to consider some or all of the following electives to aid in their development as a professional forensic scientist and/or to prepare for further professional, post-baccalaureate training.

ANTH 251 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Credits: 3
ANTH 333 - Medicolegal Death Investigation Credits: 3
BIOL 291 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
BIOL 292 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4
CS 150 - Problem Solving and Programming I Credits: 4
CS 151 - Problem Solving and Programming II Credits: 4
PSY 375 - Forensic Psychology Credits: 3
PSY 470 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3

Additional Information

Visit the Forensic Science Program website at forensicscience.wcu.edu to view the eight-semester curriculum guide.