Chemistry: Forensic Science

View the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for B.S. in Chemistry with Concentration in Forensic Science

• CHEM1101 Principles of Chemistry I (SI-L)(NSL)
• CHEM1102 Principles of Chemistry II(SI-L)(NSL)
• CHEM1117 Forensic Chemistry (SI)(NS)
• CHEM2101 Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM2102 Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM2104 Analytical Chemistry
• CHEM2114 Chemistry of Fire and Explosives(SI)
• CHEM3105 Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics
• CHEM3106 Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics
• CHEM3108 Instrumental Methods of Analysis
• CHEM3115 Introduction to Toxicology
• CHEM3160 Social Justice Chemistry Seminar (SJ) (WI)
• CHEM4194 Internship in Chemistry
• MATH1111 Calculus I (QA)(QR)
• MATH1112 Calculus II (QA)(QR)
• PHYS2201 General Physics I (calculus based) (SI-L)
• PHYS2202 General Physics II (calculus based) (SI-L)(NSL)

View the 2024-2025 Academic Catalog to find course titles, numbers and descriptions.

Requirements for B.S. in Chemistry with Concentration in Forensic Science - ACS

• CHEM1101 Principles of Chemistry I (SI-L)(NSL)
• CHEM1102 Principles of Chemistry II(SI-L)(NSL)
• BIOL1105 Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology 
• CHEM1117 Forensic Chemistry (SI) (NS)
• CHEM2101 Organic Chemistry I
• CHEM2102 Organic Chemistry II
• CHEM2104 Analytical Chemistry
• CHEM2211 Biochemistry
• CHEM2114 Chemistry of Fire and Explosives(SI)
• CHEM3105 Physical Chemistry I: Thermodynamics
• CHEM3106 Physical Chemistry II: Quantum Mechanics
• CHEM3108 Instrumental Methods of Analysis
• CHEM3115 Introduction to Toxicology
• CHEM3160 Social Justice Chemistry Seminar (SJ) (WI)
• CHEM4194 Internship in Chemistry
• MATH1111 Calculus I (QA)(QR)
• MATH1112 Calculus II (QA)(QR)
• PHYS2201 General Physics I (calculus based) (SI-L)
• PHYS2202 General Physics II (calculus based) (SI-L)(NSL)

At the completion of the Chemistry degree the student will be able to:

• Apply knowledge of the sub-disciplines of chemistry including inorganic, organic, analytical, and physical chemistry.
• Develop testable chemical hypotheses, design and execute experiments to test the hypotheses, analyze the data, and draw meaningful conclusions.
• Effectively communicate chemical knowledge and research to general and specialized audiences.
• Execute chemical literature searches to assess experimental design, results, and conclusions in scientific scholarly articles.
• Utilize laboratory skills of experimental design, chemical synthesis, purification, data and error analysis, and computational analysis with full regard to safe laboratory practices.
• Follow a high standard of ethics in regard to the scientific method.

A degree in forensic science can open up several career opportunities in the field of criminal justice and law enforcement. Some of the career options available with a degree in forensic science include:

• Crime scene investigator: Collecting, preserving and analyzing physical evidence at crime scenes.
• Forensic toxicologist: Analyzing bodily fluids and tissues to identify the presence of drugs or poisons.
• Forensic biologist: Examining biological evidence such as blood, saliva, hair, and tissue samples to help solve crimes.
• Forensic chemist: Analyzing chemical substances such as drugs and explosives in the laboratory.
• DNA analyst: Analyzing DNA samples to identify suspects and provide evidence in court cases.
• Forensic accountant: Investigating financial crimes such as embezzlement and fraud.
• Forensic engineer: Investigating accidents and disasters to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
• Digital forensics expert: Examining digital evidence such as computer hard drives and mobile devices to recover data and identify digital crimes.

To succeed in the field of forensic science, you will need to have strong analytical, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills, as well as attention to detail and the ability to work well under pressure. Strong communication and interpersonal skills are also important as you will often work as part of a team and may need to communicate complex scientific concepts to non-scientific audiences such as lawyers, judges, and juries.