Catalog Description
Coordinator: Dr. A. Midori Albert
The College of Arts and Sciences offers an interdisciplinary minor in Forensic Science. The minor affords students the opportunity to gain foundation-level exposure to the various sciences from which forensic applications are derived. Students will acquire broad-based knowledge and skills in a combination of areas such as biology, chemistry, anthropology, criminal justice, sociology, environmental science and law. The minor is designed to prepare students for future graduate education and or on the job training in specialized fields within forensic science; examples include but are not limited to search and recovery of human remains, human identification, crime scene investigation, evidence collection and or laboratory analyses.
Requirements for a Minor in Forensic Science: A minor in Forensic Science requires 21 hours, distributed as one 3 hour core course, and 18 hours of electives including at least one course in each of two groups--Group 1 (A) Biology or (B) Chemistry, and Group 2 Social-Behavioral Sciences.
Core: ANT 211
Group 1: Option A) Biology, or Option (B) Chemistry
Option (A) Biology: BIO 240-241, BIO 335-BIOL 335, BIO 488
Option (B) Chemistry: CHM 380, CHM 417
Group 2: Social and Behavioral Sciences
ANT 207-ANTL 207, ANT 326-ANTL 326, ANT 426, CRJ 220, CRJ 380, CRJ 385, CRJ 495 Criminalistics, EVS/BLA 362, SOC 355
Some 400 level courses focusing on forensic science, such as directed independent study, seminars, or honors work, may substitute for courses in Group 2 if approved by the coordinator. Students must have at least a “C” (2.00) average in all courses counted for the minor. Many courses listed above have prerequisites and or co-requisites, which do not count for the minor but may satisfy basic study requirements or other major requirements.
