If a minor is required in your degree program, at least 9 (lower and/or upper-division) hours of courses in the minor must be completed at the University.
| Minor Requirements | Course Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| All forensic science minors must take the following core courses: | 13 | |
| AN 250 | Forensic Anthropology | |
| CH 201/CH 201L, or CH 265/CH 265L | Organic Chemistry I or Introductory Analysis | |
| CJ 105 | Introduction to Criminal Justice (formerly CJ 205: Introduction to Criminal Justice) |
|
| CJ 223 | Introduction to Forensic Science (formerly CJ 423: Criminalistics) | |
| All forensic science minors must select two of the following upper-division courses* | 6 | |
| AN 335 | Field Work in Archaeology | |
| AN 365 | Human Osteology | |
| BLY 302 | Genetics | |
| BLY 354 | General Entomology | |
| CH 440 | Biochemistry I | |
| CH 465 | Instrumental Analysis | |
| CJ 332 | Criminal Law | |
| CJ 360 | Theories of Offending | |
| CJ 380 | Drugs and Crime | |
| CJ 422 | Criminal Investigations | |
| PSY 425 | Mental Health and Law | |
| *Students must take at least one upper division course outside of their major discipline. | ||
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| Forensic Science Administrative Staff | |
|---|---|
| Co-Directors | Dr. Lesley Gregoricka, Dr. Sarah Koon-Magnin |
Forensic Science at USA is an interdisciplinary program offering students the opportunity to gain foundation-level exposure to the various social and physical sciences from which forensic applications are derived. Students will acquire broad-based knowledge and skills in a combination of areas such as chemistry, anthropology, criminal justice and biology.
The minor is designed to prepare students for future graduate education or job training in specialized fields within forensic science, including the search for and recovery of human remains, human identification, crime scene investigation, evidence collection, and laboratory analyses. Although all students at USA are welcome to minor in FS, the minor will be especially useful for students in anthropology, biology, biomedical sciences, chemistry, and criminal justice. Students who plan to pursue careers in forensic science will benefit from a broader understanding of the criminal justice system, offender behavior, and due process law. Students who plan to pursue careers in the criminal justice system will benefit from a broader understanding of forensic science so that they understand what happens to evidence once it is taken to a lab for processing.