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 124 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 (FCO 103 will be a required co-requisite with FCO 105 for students who have a high school GPA below 3.20), 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
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours

Foundations Requirement

Communication course:
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
Advanced Communication course:
FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
Quantitative Fluency course:

Satisfied by major (MAT 171)
Choose 3 credits of the following American Citizenship courses:
ECO 201 Principles of Economics (Micro) 3 credit hours
HIS 111 American History from Colonization to Civil War 3 credit hours
HIS 112 American History from Civil War to Global Power 3 credit hours
PS 101 American Government and Citizenship 3 credit hours
REL 269 American Religious Thought and Culture 3 credit hours
Choose 3 credits of the following Global Citizenship courses or students have the option to complete this requirement by successfully completing 6 credits of the same foreign language:
ECO 200 Principles of Economics (Macro) 3 credit hours
G 100 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 3 credits 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 Introduction to Literary and Textual Studies 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 3 credits 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 Listening to Music 3 credit hours
THE 154 Introduction to Theatre 3 credit hours
Choose 3 credits of the following Social and Behavioral Sciences courses:
ECO 205 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
Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (CHM 134/135, 136/137, 146/147, 234/235, 336/337, 338/339)

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 (87-88 credits)

BIO 150/151 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
CHM 100 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 102 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 134/135 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 136/137 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
OR
CHM 146/147 Advanced Chemistry II 5 credit hours
CHM 190 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 192 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 200 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 212 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 234/235 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 236/237 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 290 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 300 Senior Chemistry Seminar 0.5 credit hour
CHM 322 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credit hours
CHM 330 Introduction to Chemical Research 2 credit hours
CHM 336/337 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 338/339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 344/345 Physical Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 455 Professional Practice in Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry 2 credit hours
FCM 210/211 Criminalistics 4 credit hours
FCM 362/363 Crime Scene Processing 3 credit hours
FCM 392/393 Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours
FCM 394/395 Forensic Biology 4 credit hours
FCM 420 Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry 1 credit hour
FCM 430 Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology 1 credit hour
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 4 credit hours
PHY 110/111 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 112/113 General Physics II 4 credit hours

Elective Courses (0-1 credits)

Students may choose any credits totaling 0-1, but must also ensure that the 124 credits required to complete the degree have been met.

Suggested Course Sequence:

Freshman Year (31-32 credits)

CHM 100 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 102 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 134/135 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 136/137 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
OR
CHM 146/147 Advanced Chemistry II 5 credit hours
FCM 210/211 Criminalistics 4 credit hours
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours
PHY 112/113 General Physics II 4 credit hours

Sophomore Year (33 credits)

CHM 190 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 192 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 234/235 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 236/237 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
FCM 362/363 Crime Scene Processing 3 credit hours
MAT 272 Differential Equations 4 credit hours
MAT 291 Applied Mathematics for Chemists and Mathematicians 4 credit hours
PHY 110/111 General Physics I 4 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours

Junior Year (33 credits)

BIO 150/151 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
CHM 200 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 212 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 322 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credit hours
CHM 330 Introduction to Chemical Research 2 credit hours
CHM 336/337 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 338/339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 344/345 Physical Chemistry I 4 credit hours
FCM 392/393 Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours AND
FCM 420 Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry 1 credit hour
OR
FCM 394/395 Forensic Biology 4 credit hours AND
FCM 430 Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology 1 credit hour
FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours

Senior Year (27 credits)

CHM 290 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 300 Senior Chemistry Seminar 0.5 credit hour
CHM 455 Professional Practice in Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry 2 credit hours
FCM 392/393 Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours AND
FCM 420 Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry 1 credit hour
OR
FCM 394/395 Forensic Biology 4 credit hours AND
FCM 430 Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology 1 credit hour
FCM 480 Forensic Chemistry Independent Study 3 credit hours
OR
FCM 490 Forensic Chemistry Internship 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Constellation courses 12 credit hours
Elective course 1 credit hour