Program Overview

This B.S. in Forensic Chemistry is designed for students interested in working in a forensics laboratory or pursuing graduate studies in forensics. In addition to the general degree requirements, the track requires satisfactory completion of courses in chemistry, criminal justice, mathematics, and physics. These provide a broad foundation in the field and permit flexibility for evolving and changing student interests. In addition to the core chemistry courses, the Forensic Chemistry track consists of a broad range of upper-level elective courses to expose students to modern techniques in chemistry and chemical forensics and help them expand their college experience. The curriculum emphasizes evidence collection, analysis, interpretation, and presentation of physical evidence.

Career Opportunities

Students majoring in chemistry may pursue careers as teachers, entry level chemist, and medicine.

Program of Study

¹

The hours applied in the Institutional Priorities; Mathematics & Quantitative Skills; and Technology, Mathematics, and Sciences areas must add to 18 credit hours. 

²

ITDS 1145 Comparative Arts, though listed under both Fine Arts and Humanities, may be taken only once. 

³

At least 4 of the credit hours in this area must be in a lab science course.

Major Requirements

Program Map

¹

The Principles of Chemistry sequence are offered each semester and summer. These must be completed by the summer.

²

Introductory Chemistry Seminar is only offered in the fall semester.

³

Organic Chemistry 1 and the co-requisite lab are only offered in the fall semester.

⁴

Organic Chemistry 2 and the co-requisite lab are only offered in the spring semester.

⁵

Quantitative Chemical Analysis and the co-requisite lab are only offered in the fall semester.

⁶

Instrumental Analysis and the co-requisite lab are only offered in the spring semester.

• To graduate, a student must have 39 credits of upper-division courses (3000 level or higher). These courses may be in any discipline.
• A grade of "C" or higher is required for all chemistry courses.
• The prerequisite for Principles of Chemistry 1 (CHEM 1211 Principles of Chemistry I) and its co-requisite lab is College Algebra (MATH 1111 College Algebra) with a grade of "C" or higher or placement in MATH 1113 Pre-Calculus or higher.
• Introductory Physics 1 and 2 with the co-requisite labs are required for completion of the B.S. in chemistry.
• The prerequisite for Introductory Physics 1 (PHYS 1111 Introductory Physics I) and its lab is pre-calculus (MATH 1113 Pre-Calculus) or higher.
• The prerequisite for Organic Chemistry 2 (CHEM 3112 Organic Chemistry II) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II Lab) are Organic Chemistry 1 (CHEM 3111 Organic Chemistry I) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I Lab) with a "C" or higher in each.
• The prerequisite for Biochemistry 1 (CHEM 3141 Biochemistry I) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3345 Biochemistry Lab I) are Organic Chemistry 1 (CHEM 3111 Organic Chemistry I) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I Lab) with a "C" or higher in each.
• The prerequisite for Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 3135 Inorganic Chemistry) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3335 Inorganic Chemistry Lab) are Organic Chemistry 2 (CHEM 3112 Organic Chemistry II) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II Lab) with a "C" or higher.
• The prerequisite for Foundations of Physical Chemistry (CHEM 4115 Foundations of Physical Chemistry and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 4315 Foundations of Physical Chemistry Lab are Calculus 1 (MATH 1131 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I) and Introductory Physics 2 (PHYS 1112 Introductory Physics II) and its lab with a "C" or higher.
• Foundations of Physical Chemistry lecture and lab may be offered at night, i.e. 4:30 - 5:45 for the lecture and 6:00 - 8:50 for lab.
• The prerequisite for Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis (CHEM 4175 Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 4375 Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis Lab are Quantitative Chemical Analysis (CHEM 2115 Quantitative Chemical Analysis) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 2315 Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lab), Organic Chemistry 2 and its co-requisite Lab (CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II Lab), and Calculus 1 (MATH 1131 Calculus with Analytic Geometry I). A minimum grade of "C" or higher is required to satisfy the prerequisite requirement.
• Inorganic Chemistry and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3135 Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM 3335 Inorganic Chemistry Lab) may be offered in the fall or spring semester.
• Quantitative Analysis and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 2115 Quantitative Chemical Analysis and CHEM 2315 Quantitative Chemical Analysis Lab) are only offered in the fall semester.
• Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis (CHEM 4175 Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis) and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 4375 Instrumental Methods of Chemical Analysis Lab) are only offered in the spring semester.
• Inorganic Chemistry and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3135 Inorganic Chemistry and CHEM 3335 Inorganic Chemistry Lab) may be offered in the fall or spring semester.
• Organic Chemistry 1 and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3111 Organic Chemistry I and CHEM 3311 Organic Chemistry I Lab) are only offered in the fall semester and Organic Chemistry 2 and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3112 Organic Chemistry II and CHEM 3312 Organic Chemistry II Lab) are only offered in the spring semester.
• Biochemistry 1 and its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3141 Biochemistry I and CHEM 3345 Biochemistry Lab I) are only offered in the fall semester and Biochemistry 2 with its co-requisite lab (CHEM 3142 Biochemistry II and CHEM 3346 Biochemistry II Lab) are only offered in the spring semester.
• Supervised Undergraduate Research (CHEM 4899 Supervised Undergraduate Research) is offered as a 1, 2, or 3 credit hour course. The course may be repeated with a different topic up to 9 credits.
• Additional courses in astronomy, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, geology, or mathematics courses may be selected as program electives as approved by advisor and the department chair.

Admission Requirements

There are no program specific admission requirements.

Additional Program Requirements

There are no program specific academic regulations.