Forensic Science
At RWU, our rigorous interdisciplinary Forensic Science program pairs legal courses with a strong scientific background in either biology or chemistry to teach you about the crucial role forensic science plays in criminal justice. You’ll learn how to examine, analyze and testify about physical evidence, which will prepare you for a career as a forensic science technician in a laboratory, hospital, university, medical examiner’s office or police department.
Degree Requirements
The Forensic Science Major
Click to OpenStudents pursuing the Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science must satisfy the University Core Curriculum and Interdisciplinary Core requirements, the required major courses based on track selection (biology or chemistry), a 2 semester math sequence, and a sufficient number of electives to total at least 120 credit hours.
Biology Track
Requirements in the Major
(Students in this track cannot declare a double major, minor or core concentration in Biology)
| Subject | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 103/L & BIO 104/L | Biology I & II and Labs | |
| BIO | 200 | Genetics and Lab |
| BIO 215/L & BIO 216/L | Human Anatomy and Physiology I & II and Labs | |
| BIO | 230 | Microbiology and Lab |
| BIO | 340 | Biotechnology and Lab |
| CHEM 191/L & CHEM 192/L | Principles of Chemistry I & II and Labs | |
| PHYS 109/L & PHYS 110/L | Physics I & II and Labs | |
| CJS | 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice |
| CJS | 210 | Law of Evidence |
| CJS | 320 | Criminal and Civil Procedure in the Courts |
| CJS | 405 | Criminal Investigations |
| NATSC | 226 | Forensic Science and Lab |
| and | ||
| A minimum of five (5) Forensic Science Electives which may include FSI 430 – Special Topics in Forensic Science | ||
Requirements in Other Departments
| Subject | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| Select one (1) of the following statistics courses: | ||
| MATH 124 or MATH 207 or MATH 315 | ||
| and | ||
| MATH 213/Lab | Calculus I and Lab | |
Chemistry Track
(Students in this track cannot take CHEM 450 as the CHEM elective)
(Students in this track cannot minor in Chemistry or double major with the B.A. in Chemistry or the B.A. in Environmental Chemistry)
| Subject | Number | Title |
|---|---|---|
| CHEM 191/L & CHEM 192/L | Principles of Chemistry I & II and Labs | |
| CHEM 301/L & CHEM 302/L | Organic Chemistry I & II and Labs | |
| CHEM | 311 | Analytical Chemistry and Lab |
| CHEM | 312 | Instrumental Methods of Analysis and Lab |
| CHEM | 390 | Biochemistry and Lab |
| CHEM | Elective | |
| PHYS 109/L & PHYS 110/L | Physics I & II and Labs | |
| BIO | 103/L | Biology I and Lab |
| CJS | 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice |
| CJS | 210 | Law of Evidence |
| CJS | 320 | Criminal and Civil Procedure in the Courts |
| CJS | 405 | Criminal Investigations |
| NATSC | 226 | Forensic Science and Lab |
| and | ||
| a minimum of five (5) Forensic Science Electives which may include FSI 430 – Special Topics in Forensic Science | ||
To read more about our academic offerings, or to view full course descriptions, please refer to our University Catalog.