Minor in Forensic Sciences
The forensic sciences minor is interdisciplinary, and exposes students to concepts and skills of social and natural science disciplines that relate to legal matters. The minor is ideal as a supplement to major programs focused on forensic applications or majors that incorporate forensic-related material, and for students considering careers in forensic analysis, law enforcement, or other areas of the criminal justice and legal systems.
Students must complete seven courses (at least 21 credit hours) from the following list of approved courses. The seven courses must include at least one course from each of the following areas: biological sciences, chemistry, anthropology, and criminal justice studies. The remaining three courses can be approved courses in any of the four areas. Students must pass each of these courses with a “C” or better. Courses applied to the minor may overlap with courses taken for major programs.
Life Sciences: Biological Sciences
Choose at least one course from the following:
- BIOL 140 - Human Biology
- BIOL 150 and BIOL 151- Intro to Biological Sciences I and Intro to Biological Sciences II (count as two courses, but must be taken as a sequence)
- BIOL 220 - Genetics
- BIOL 240A and BIOL 240B – Human Anatomy and Physiology (count as two courses, but must be taken as a sequence)
- BIOL 250 - Bacteriology or BIOL 350 - Microbiology (only one course may count)
- BIOL 423 - Forensic Biology
- BIOL 440 - Functional Human Anatomy
- BIOL 483 - Entomology and Insect Collection
Physical Sciences: Chemistry
Choose only one course from the following:
- CHEM 120A and CHEM 124A - General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry and Laboratory (set counts as one course, taken concurrently)
- CHEM 120B and CHEM 124B – General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry and Laboratory (set counts as one course, taken concurrently)
- CHEM 121A and CHEM 125A – General Chemistry and Laboratory (set counts as one course, taken concurrently)
Other approved chemistry courses include:
- CHEM 241A – Organic Chemistry I
- CHEM 241B and CHEM 245 – Organic Chemistry II and Laboratory (set counts as one course, taken concurrently)
Social Sciences: Anthropology
Choose at least one course from the following:
- ANTH 359 - Legal Anthropology
- ANTH 366 - Human Variation
- ANTH 369 - Introduction Forensic Anthropology
- ANTH 430 - Zooarchaeology
- ANTH 467 - Dental Anthropology
- ANTH 468 - Osteopathology
- ANTH 469 - Forensic Anthropology Applications
- *ANTH 474 - Biological Anthropology Field School
- *ANTH 475 - Archaeological Field School
- *ANTH 474 or 475 for three or six credits. Regardless of credit hours, the field school counts as one course toward the minor.
Social Sciences: Criminal Justice Studies
Choose at least one course from the following:
- CJ 111 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
- CJ 206 - Principles of Criminal Law
- CJ 207 - Criminal Procedure
- CJ 308 - Criminal Investigations
- CJ 410 - Judicial Process: The Criminal Court System
Note that some of these courses may require prerequisites. Some courses may not be offered every semester or every year. For more information regarding this minor, please contact the Department of Anthropology, Peck Hall, room 0212, 618-650-2744.
