FORENSIC INVESTIGATION (B.S.)
School of Arts and Sciences
The forensic investigation curriculum explores the application of science to law in a criminal justice setting. Students explore the role that science plays in recognizing, documenting, and harvesting evidence at crime scenes, and how this evidence is evaluated in a courtroom setting. The program emphasizes the historical evolution of investigative techniques and terminology, and the use of scientific methods to solve crimes. Appropriate for those planning a career in crime scene investigation as well as current practitioners, the curriculum combines classroom instruction, hands-on laboratory and practical field applications, and practicum experience.
Degree Requirements
The program requires 36 hours of general education, 36 hours of departmental core courses, and 24 hours of career component electives for a total of 130 semester hours. Students may be eligible to earn an associate degree in criminal justice after two full years of study.
A minimum grade of C is required in all major courses. Students are responsible for purchasing a uniform and a 35mm camera and for film development expenses. Some courses may require the purchase of additional equipment. Students are also responsible for practicum placement and for personal expenses (including travel, lodging, and meals) during their practicum experience.
| General Education Requirements | ||
| COMM 204 | Intro to Speech Comm or | |
| ENGL 220 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| ENGL 101 | English Composition I | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | English Composition II | 3 |
| MATH 120 | College Algebra | 3 |
| PHIL 190 | Introduction to Ethics | 3 |
| POLI 201 | American Federal Govt or | |
| POLI 202 | State and Local Govt | 3 |
| PSYC 201 | Principles of Psychology | 3 |
| SOCI 201 | Intro to Sociology | 3 |
| SPAN 101 | Spanish I | 3 |
| Biology elective | 3 |
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| Computer proficiency elective | 3 |
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| Physics elective | 3 |
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| Total general education | 36 |
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| Departmental Core Requirements | ||
| CRJS 101 | Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| CRJS 220 | Juvenile Justice | 3 |
| CRJS 230 | American Legal System | 3 |
| CRJS 240 | Introduction to Policing | 3 |
| CRJS 250 | Introduction to Corrections | 3 |
| CRJS 254 | Criminology | 3 |
| CRJS 256 | Criminal Law | 3 |
| CRJS 258 | Constitutional Law | 3 |
| FORIV 101 | Intro to Criminalistics and FS | 3 |
| FORIV 401 | Foren Investigation Research | 3 |
| FORIV 409 | Sr Seminar in Foren Invest | 3 |
| PSYC 310 | Social Science Statistics | 3 |
| Total | 36 |
|
Transfer students and those not seeking an associate degree in criminal justice may substitute lower-level FORIV courses for CRJS 220, 250, and 254.
| Forensic Investigation Requirements | ||
| CHEM 201 | Chem for Health Sci I | 3 |
| CHEM 201L | Chem for Health Sci I Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 202 | Chem for Health Sci II | 3 |
| CHEM 202L | Chem for Health Sci II Lab | 1 |
| FORIV 200 | Criminalistics I: Indoor and | |
| Outdoor Crime Scenes | 3 |
|
| FORIV 210 | Intro to Fingerprint Evidence | 3 |
| FORIV 210L | Intro to Fingerprint Evid Lab | 1 |
| FORIV 220 | Intro to Forensic Photography | 3 |
| FORIV 300 | Criminalistics II: Firearms | |
| and Toolmarks | 3 |
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| FORIV 320 | Criminalistics III : Trace and | |
| Blood Spatter Evidence | 3 |
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| FORIV 330 | Kinesics Interviewing and | |
| Interrogation | 3 |
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| FORIV 335 | Legal Issues in Foren Invest | 1 |
| FORIV 410 | Senior Thesis | 3 |
| FORIV 490 | Practicum | 3 |
| Total FI requirements | 34 |
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FORIV 490 Practicum can be extended to a maximum of 12 hours.
Career Component Electives
Choose a minimum of 24 hours from the following options, with at least 18 hours at the 300 level or above:
| CHEM 211 | College Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 211L | College Chemistry I Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 212 | College Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 212L | College Chemistry II Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 301 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHEM 301L | Organic Chemistry I Lab | 3 |
| CHEM 302 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHEM 302L | Organic Chemistry II Lab | 3 |
| FORIV 120 | Academy Preparation | 3 |
| FORIV 240 | Adv Fingerprint Evidence | 3 |
| FORIV 245 | AFIS Technology I | 3 |
| FORIV 246 | AFIS Technology II | 3 |
| FORIV 250 | Adv Forensic Photography | 3 |
| FORIV 255 | Digital Evidence | 3 |
| FORIV 260 | Foren Facial Reconstruction | 3 |
| FORIV 280–289 | Special Topics | 1–3 |
| FORIV 340 | Fire and Arson Investigation | 3 |
| FORIV 342 | Fire Inspection, Structures, | |
| and Systems | 3 |
|
| FORIV 345 | Bio-Markers as Identification | 3 |
Career component electives may include approved courses in criminal justice, social work, or other areas.
It is recommended that students planning to apply to a graduate program in forensic science select career component electives from the following options: CHEM 211/211L, CHEM 212/212L, CHEM 301/301L, CHEM 302/302L, FORIV 345, FORIV 355, FORIV 360, FORIV 375.
| General education | 36 |
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| Departmental core | 36 |
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| FI requirements | 34 |
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| Career component | 24 |
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| Degree total | 130 |
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