Forensic Chemistry, B.S.

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The Forensic Chemistry major is designed to prepare students as professionals through rigorous scientific and forensic experiences necessary for a forensic laboratory career or related fields and/or to pursue graduate studies in chemistry, forensic science, or law. Program graduates will additionally acquire expertise in scientifically analyzing forensic evidence and in explaining its technical significance in a mock court of law. The Forensic Chemistry degree program follows the guidelines recommended by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) and by the Technical Working Group for Education and Training in Forensic Sciences (TWGED).

Requirements for Graduation:

To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Forensic Chemistry must complete a minimum of 121 credits, achieve a cumulative grade point average of 2.0, satisfy the College’s residency requirements, and complete the General Education Requirements of the College. A minimum grade of 2.0 is required for First Year Seminar and all courses taken as part of Foundations. Courses used to complete General Education Requirements may not be taken on a pass/fail basis.

The General Education Requirements of the college require students to successfully complete a First Year Seminar, Foundations, Disciplinary Perspectives, and a Constellation. Students who enter the college with 30 credit hours completed will not take a First Year Seminar course and therefore must take an additional 3 credits for graduation. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation.

In addition, students majoring in Forensic Chemistry must earn a minimum 2.0 grade in all major requirements.

General Education Requirement

First Year Seminar

FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours

Foundations Requirement

FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
Choose one of the following American Citizenship courses:
ECO 201 Principles of Economics (Micro) 3 credit hours
HIS 111 American Civilization I 3 credit hours
HIS 112 American Civilization II 3 credit hours
LIT 281 American Literature and Identity I 3 credit hours
LIT 282 American Literature and Identity II 3 credit hours
PS 101 (PS141) American Government and Citizenship 3 credit hours
Choose one of the following Global Citizenship courses or students have the option to complete this requirement by successfully completing six credits of the same foreign language:
ECO 200 Principles of Economics (Macro) 3 credit hours
G 100 (G243) World Regional Geography 3 credit hours
HIS 102 The West in the World 3 credit hours
PS 102 Contemporary Global Issues 3 credit hours

Disciplinary Perspectives Requirement

Choose one of the following Humanities courses:
FLM 216 Introduction to Film 3 credit hours
HIS 101 The Foundation of the West 3 credit hours
LIT 200 Perspectives in Literature 3 credit hours
PHL 221 Introduction to Philosophy 3 credit hours
REL 265 World Religions 3 credit hours
PHL 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours
OR
WGS 238 Race, Gender, and Sexuality 3 credit hours
Choose one of the following Arts courses:
ART 101 Art and Visual Culture 3 credit hours
CRW 272 Introduction to Creative Writing 3 credit hours
MUS 186 (MUS200) Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 254 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours
Choose one of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:
ECO 205 (ECO300) Economic Perspectives 3 credit hours
ENT 150 Introduction to Entrepreneurship 3 credit hours
MKT 100 Principles of Marketing 3 credit hours
PS 110 Introduction to Political Science 3 credit hours
PSY 100 General Psychology 3 credit hours
REC 101 Recreation and Leisure in Modern Society 3 credit hours
SOC 100 Introduction to Sociology 3 credit hours

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Transfer students that are awarded 60 or more credits upon acceptance to York College will not be required to complete a Constellation except for Education majors.

Required Major Courses:

Major Requirements

BIO 150 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
CHM 130 First-year Chemistry Colloquium 1 credit hour
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
OR
CHM 146 Advanced Chemistry II 5 credit hours
CHM 150 Introductory Seminar in Computers for Chemists 1 credit hour
CHM 152 Introductory Seminar in Chemistry Issues, Ethics, and Experimental Design 1 credit hour
CHM 230 Chemistry Literature Colloquium 2 credit hours
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 322 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credit hours
CHM 336 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 344 Physical Chemistry I 4 credit hours
FCM 200 Criminalistics 4 credit hours
FCM 362 Crime Scene Processing 3 credit hours
FCM 380 Forensic Trace Evidence Analysis 3 credit hours
FCM 410 Forensic Body Fluid Analysis 4 credit hours
FCM 451 Forensic Laboratory Experience 2 credit hours
FCM 480 Forensic Chemistry Independent Study 3 credit hours
OR
FCM 490 Forensic Chemistry Internship 3 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours
MAT 272 Differential Equations 4 credit hours
MAT 291 Applied Mathematics for Chemists and Mathematicians 3 credit hours
Select one Physics sequence:
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours AND
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
—OR—
PHY 160 Engineering Physics: Mechanics 5 credit hours AND
PHY 162 Engineering Physics: Heat, Thermodynamics, and Sound 4 credit hours

Elective courses (6 credits)

Students may choose any 6 credits of elective courses.

Suggested Course Sequence:

Freshman Year (32-33 credits)

CHM 130 First-year Chemistry Colloquium 1 credit hour
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
OR
CHM 146 Advanced Chemistry II 5 credit hours
CHM 150 Introductory Seminar in Computers for Chemists 1 credit hour
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours
Physics Sequence courses 8 credit hours

Sophomore Year (32 credits)

CHM 152 Introductory Seminar in Chemistry Issues, Ethics, and Experimental Design 1 credit hour
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
FCM 200 Criminalistics 4 credit hours
FCM 362 Crime Scene Processing 3 credit hours
MAT 272 Differential Equations 4 credit hours
MAT 291 Applied Mathematics for Chemists and Mathematicians 3 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours

Junior Year (31 credits)

BIO 150 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
CHM 230 Chemistry Literature Colloquium 2 credit hours
CHM 322 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credit hours
CHM 336 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 344 Physical Chemistry I 4 credit hours
FCM 410 Forensic Body Fluid Analysis 4 credit hours
Elective course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours

Senior Year (29 credits)

FCM 380 Forensic Trace Evidence Analysis 3 credit hours
FCM 451 Forensic Laboratory Experience 2 credit hours
FCM 490 Forensic Chemistry Internship 3 credit hours OR
FCM 480 Forensic Chemistry Independent Study 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Constellation courses 12 credit hours
Elective courses 6 credit hours