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The Forensic Investigation Emphasis within the BS in Forensic Science will provide an interdisciplinary program that prepares students for public, state, and federal careers with needed forensic investigation subject matter expertise and analytical skills. This emphasis will expose students to the wide variety of critically important forensic investigation techniques, which are currently practiced within various forensic service providers and law enforcement agencies today. Students will be exposed to various techniques such as the identification and proper collection of evidence found at crime scenes, accurate crime scene documentation skills, forensic photography, death investigations, fingerprint processing/examinations, impression evidence/examination, bloodstain pattern analysis, crime scene reconstruction, firearms and tool mark evidence/examination. Students will also acquire skills such as critical thinking, writing, expert testimony, and analysis techniques specifically tailored for forensic investigation fieldwork. This emphasis will provide students with the overall professional skills, work ethic, and demeanor required of forensic investigators.
Total Program Credits: 125
Matriculation Requirements: | |||
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General Education Requirements: | 39 Credits | ||
ENGL 1010 | Introduction to Academic Writing | 3 | |
or | ENGH 1005 | Literacies and Composition Across Contexts (5.0) | |
ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Writing/Academic Writing and Research | 3 | |
Complete one of the following: | 5 | ||
MATH 1080 | Precalculus QL (MATH 1050 or MATH 1060 will also fulfill this requirement) | ||
Complete one of the following: | 3 | ||
HIST 1700 | American Civilization (3.0) | ||
HIST 1740 | US Economic History (3.0) | ||
HIST 2700 | US History to 1877 (3.0) | ||
and | HIST 2710 | US History since 1877 (3.0) | |
POLS 1000 | American Heritage (3.0) | ||
POLS 1100 | American National Government (3.0) | ||
Complete the following: | |||
PHIL 2050 | Ethics and Values | 3 | |
HLTH 1100 | Personal Health and Wellness (2.0) | ||
or | EXSC 1097 | Fitness for Life | 2 |
Distribution Courses: | |||
BIOL 1610 | College Biology I | 4 | |
CHEM 1210 | Principles of Chemistry I | 4 | |
CHEM 1220 | Principles of Chemistry II | 4 | |
COMM 1020 | Public Speaking (recommended for Humanities Distribution) | 3 | |
ART 1050 | Photography I (recommended for Fine Arts Distribution) | 3 | |
CJ 1010 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 | |
Discipline Core Requirements: | 34 Credits | ||
Forensic Science Foundational Courses: | |||
CJ 1330 | Criminal Law | 3 | |
CJ 1350 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 | |
CJ 2350 | Laws of Evidence | 3 | |
FSCI 3400 | Criminalistics | 3 | |
FSCI 3880 | Forensic Experts, Professional Practices and the Legal System | 3 | |
BIOL 1615 | College Biology I Laboratory | 1 | |
CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 | |
CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1 | |
PHYS 2010 | College Physics I | 4 | |
PHYS 2015 | College Physics I Lab | 1 | |
PHYS 2020 | College Physics II | 4 | |
PHYS 2025 | College Physics II Lab | 1 | |
FSCI 3820 | Crime Scene Investigation Techniques I WE | 3 | |
FSCI 3860 | Forensic Microscopy | 3 | |
Emphasis Requirements: | 51 Credits | ||
Complete one of the Following: | 3 | ||
ZOOL 1090 | Introduction to Human Anatomy and Physiology | ||
or | ZOOL 2320 | Human Anatomy | |
and | ZOOL 2325 | Human Anatomy Laboratory (4.0) | |
Complete the Following: | |||
CJ 1340 | Criminal Investigations | 3 | |
FSCI 3300 | Forensic Photography | 3 | |
FSCI 3700 | Fingerprint Processing | 3 | |
FSCI 3720 | Fingerprint Examination | 3 | |
FSCI 3780 | Bloodstain Pattern Analysis | 3 | |
FSCI 3830 | Crime Scene Investigation Techniques II WE | 3 | |
FSCI 4100 | Forensic Pathology | 3 | |
FSCI 4200 | Medicolegal Death Investigations | 3 | |
Complete one of the Following: | 3 | ||
FSCI 481R | Forensic Science Internship | ||
FSCI 489R | Research in Forensic Investigations | ||
FSCI 4990 | Forensic Investigation Capstone | ||
Emphasis Electives: | 21 Credits | ||
Complete 21 Credits from the Following (two course must be upper division): | 21 | ||
FSCI 3500 | Footwear and Tire Mark Evidence and Examination (3.0) | ||
FSCI 3540 | Forensic Trace Analysis I (3.0) | ||
FSCI 3550 | Forensic Trace Analysis II (3.0) | ||
FSCI 3600 | Forensic Anthropology I (3.0) | ||
FSCI 3720 | Fingerprint Examination (3.0) | ||
FSCI 3850 | Marijuana Identification Certificate (3.0) | ||
FSCI 4000 | Firearms Examination (3.0) | ||
FSCI 4050 | Forensic Approaches to Cold Case Investigation (3.0) | ||
FSCI 4300 | Forensic Genealogy (3.0) | ||
FSCI 4320 | Genealogy Research Methods and Standards (3) | ||
FSCI 4350 | Forensic Genealogy Seminar (3) | ||
FSCI 475R | Current Topics in Forensic Science (3.0) | ||
FSCI 481R | Forensic Science Internship (1.0) | ||
FSCI 491R | Directed Reading and Special Projects (1.0-9.0) | ||
IT 2800 | Computer Forensic Fundamentals (3.0) | ||
CHEM 2310 | Organic Chemistry I (4.0) | ||
CHEM 2315 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory (1.0) | ||
CHEM 2320 | Organic Chemistry II (4.0) | ||
CHEM 2325 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory (1.0) | ||
CHEM 3000 | Analytical Chemistry (2.0) | ||
CHEM 3005 | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory (2.0) | ||
CHEM 3600 | Biological Chemistry (3.0) | ||
CHEM 3605 | Biological Chemistry Lab (1.0) | ||
CHEM 4000 | Instrumental Analysis WE (2.0) | ||
CHEM 4005 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (2.0) | ||
ENGL 3300 | Collaborative Communication for Technology Professions (3.0) | ||
CJ 470G | Comparative Criminal Justice Systems (3.0) | ||
Any Upper Division CJ Course |
Graduation Requirements:
This graduation plan is a sample plan and is intended to be a guide. Your specific plan may differ based on your Math and English placement and/or transfer credits applied. You are encouraged to meet with an advisor and set up an individualized graduation plan in Wolverine Track.
Milestone courses (pre-requisites for a course in one of the subsequent semesters) are marked in red and Italicized.
Semester 1 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
ENGL 1010 or ENGH 1005 | Introduction to Writing OR Literacies and Composition Across Contexts | 3 |
American Institutions 3 credits | 3 | |
EXSC 1097 or HLTH 1100 | Fitness for Life OR Personal Health and Wellness | 2 |
ART 1050 | Photography I | 3 |
CJ 1010 | Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
Semester total: | 14 | |
Semester 2 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
ENGL 2010 | Intermediate Writing/Academic Writing and Research | 3 |
MATH 1080 | Precalculus | 5 |
BIOL 1610 & BIOL 1615 | College Biology I and Laboratory | 5 |
CJ 1350 | Introduction to Forensic Science | 3 |
Semester total: | 15 | |
Semester 3 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
CHEM 1210 & CHEM 1215 | Principles of Chemistry I and Lab | 5 |
COMM 1020 | Public Speaking | 3 |
CJ 1330 | Criminal Law | 3 |
CJ 1340 | Criminal Investigations | 3 |
Semester total: | 14 | |
Semester 4 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
CHEM 1220 & CHEM 1225 | Principles of Chemistry II and Lab | 5 |
CJ 2350 | Laws of Evidence | 3 |
PHIL 205G | Ethics and Values | 3 |
ZOOL 1090 or ZOOL 2320 & 2325 | Introduction to Human Anatomy & Physiology OR Human Anatomy and Lab | 3 |
Semester total: | 14 | |
Semester 5 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
FSCI 3400 | Criminalistics | 3 |
FSCI 3820 | Crime Scene Investigation Techniques I WE | 3 |
FSCI 3780 | Bloodstain Pattern Analysis | 3 |
FSCI 3700 | Fingerprint Processing | 3 |
Semester total: | 12 | |
Semester 6 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
FSCI 3830 | Crime Scene Investigation Techniques II WE | 3 |
FSCI 3300 | Forensic Photography | 3 |
FSCI 3860 | Forensic Microscopy | 3 |
FSCI 3720 | Fingerprint Examination | 3 |
FSCI Elective | 3 | |
Semester total: | 15 | |
Semester 7 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
FSCI 4100 | Forensic Pathology | 3 |
PHYS 2010 & PHYS 2015 | College Physics I and Lab | 5 |
FSCI Elective | 3 | |
FSCI Elective (Upper Division) | 3 | |
Semester total: | 14 | |
Semester 8 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
PHYS 2020 & PHYS 2025 | College Physics II and Lab | 5 |
FSCI 4200 | Medicolegal Death Investigations | 3 |
FSCI 3880 | Forensic Experts/Professional Practices and the Legal System | 3 |
FSCI Elective | 3 | |
Semester total: | 14 | |
Semester 9 | Course Title | Credit Hours |
Complete One of the Following: | ||
FSCI 4990 | Forensic Investigation Capstone | |
FSCI 481R | Forensic Science Internship | |
FSCI 489R | Research in Forensic Investigations | |
FSCI Elective | 3 | |
FSCI Elective | 3 | |
FSCI Elective | 3 | |
Semester total: | 12 | |
Degree total: | 125 |
The Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement department is in the College of Health and Public Service. To find the most up-to-date information, including Program Learning Outcomes for degree programs offered by the Criminal Justice/Law Enforcement department, visit their website.