Oct 11, 2024

2024-2025 Undergraduate Catalog

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).

Degree Requirements

Institutional Degree Requirements

Program-Specific Degree Requirements: To be eligible for graduation, students majoring in Forensic Chemistry must complete a minimum of 121 credits and 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

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

Natural and Physical Sciences course:

Satisfied by major (CHM 134 and CHM 135 , and CHM 338 and CHM 339 )

Constellation Requirement

The Constellation requirement is met when a student completes four courses from a minimum of three disciplines within the Constellation requirements. Students who transfer in 60 credits or more at the time of admission to the college will be waived from the Constellation requirement, except for Education majors. The waiver applies to the requirement for graduation but does not waive the credits to graduate; students need to meet the overall bachelor’s degree credit requirement.

Required Courses

Required Major Courses

BIO 150 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 151 Introduction to Molecular Biology Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 100 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 102 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHM 137 General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
OR
CHM 146 Advanced Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHM 147 Advanced Chemistry II Lab 0 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 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 235 Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 237 Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 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 324 Physical Chemistry for Biosciences 3 credit hours
CHM 330 Introduction to Chemical Research 2 credit hours
CHM 336 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 337 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 455 Professional Practice in Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry 2 credit hours
FCM 210 Criminalistics 4 credit hours
FCM 211 Criminalistics Lab 0 credit hours
FCM 362 Crime Scene Processing 3 credit hours
FCM 363 Crime Scene Processing Lab 0 credit hours
FCM 392 Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours
FCM 393 Forensic Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
FCM 394 Forensic Biology 4 credit hours
FCM 395 Forensic Biology Lab 0 credit hours
FCM 420 Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry 1 credit hour
FCM 430 Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology 1 credit hour
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours
MAT 272 Differential Equations 4 credit hours
MAT 350 Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 111 General Physics I Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
PHY 113 General Physics II Lab 0 credit hours

Experiential Learning Courses

Students must complete a minimum of 3 credits of the following:

CHM 461 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
CHM 462 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
CHM 463 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
CHM 464 Chemistry Research 2 credit hours
FCM 490 Forensic Chemistry Internship 3 credit hours

Suggested Course Sequence

Freshman Year

Fall Semester (15.5 credit hours)
CHM 100 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 134 General Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 135 General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
FCM 210 Criminalistics 4 credit hours
FCM 211 Criminalistics Lab 0 credit hours
FYS 100 First-Year Seminar 3 credit hours
FYS 102 Common Hour 0 credit hours
MAT 171 Calculus I 4 credit hours
Spring Semester (15.5 credit hours)
CHM 102 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
FCO 105 Rhetorical Communication 3 credit hours
MAT 172 Calculus II 4 credit hours
BIO 150 Introduction to Molecular Biology 4 credit hours
BIO 151 Introduction to Molecular Biology Lab 0 credit hours
CHM 136 General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHM 137 General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
OR
CHM 146 Advanced Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHM 147 Advanced Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours

Sophomore Year

Fall Semester (15.5 credit hours)
CHM 190 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 234 Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHM 235 Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
MAT 272 Differential Equations 4 credit hours
PHY 110 General Physics I 4 credit hours
PHY 111 General Physics I Lab 0 credit hours
Foundations - American Citizenship course 3 credit hours
Spring Semester (17.5 credit hours)
CHM 192 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 236 Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHM 237 Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
FCO 215 Technical and Scientific Communication 3 credit hours
FCM 362 Crime Scene Processing 3 credit hours
FCM 363 Crime Scene Processing Lab 0 credit hours
PHY 112 General Physics II 4 credit hours
PHY 113 General Physics II Lab 0 credit hours
Foundations - Global Citizenship course 3 credit hours

Junior Year

Fall Semester (16.5 credit hours)
CHM 200 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 324 Physical Chemistry for Biosciences 3 credit hours
CHM 330 Introduction to Chemical Research 2 credit hours
CHM 336 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 337 Quantitative Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
FCM 392 Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours AND
FCM 393 Forensic Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
OR
FCM 394 Forensic Biology 4 credit hours AND
FCM 395 Forensic Biology Lab 0 credit hours
Spring Semester (14.5 credit hours)
MAT 350 Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
CHM 212 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
CHM 322 Inorganic Chemistry 3 credit hours
CHM 338 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHM 339 Instrumental Analytical Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
FCM 420 Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry 1 credit hour
OR
FCM 430 Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology 1 credit hour

Senior Year

Fall Semester (13.5 credit hours)
CHM 290 Chemistry Seminar Series 0.5 credit hour
Constellation course 3 credit hours
Disciplinary Perspectives course 3 credit hours
Experiential Learning course 3 credit hours
FCM 392 Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours AND
FCM 393 Forensic Chemistry Lab 0 credit hours
OR
FCM 394 Forensic Biology 4 credit hours AND
FCM 395 Forensic Biology Lab 0 credit hours
Spring Semester (12.5 credit hours)
CHM 300 Senior Chemistry Seminar 0.5 credit hour
CHM 455 Professional Practice in Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry 2 credit hours
Constellation courses 9 credit hours
FCM 420 Advanced Topics in Forensic Chemistry 1 credit hour
OR
FCM 430 Advanced Topics in Forensic Biology 1 credit hour