BS in Forensic Science - Curriculum Requirements

Technical Competencies - Forensic Science:

All students are expected to carry out the tasks that are required in both foundational and advanced science courses, laboratories, clinical experiences either without accommodation(s) or with those accommodation(s) that are reasonable in the range of settings and circumstances in which the educational program is based.

These skills encompass academic and non-academic technical standards essential to Centenary University Forensic Science Program.

Observation

The ability to observe is required for demonstrations, visual presentations in lectures, laboratories, field trips, clinical experiences and/or internships. Students must be able to observe, participate in, and conduct experiments within the laboratory, instructional setting, and/or healthcare facility as required by the Forensic Science Program.

Communication

Students must be able to communicate effectively and efficiently in both oral and written English, either independently or through the use of an intermediary. If a student uses an intermediary, the intermediary is permitted to function only as an information conduit and may not serve in an integrative or evaluative role.

Students must be able to:

  • communicate via person to person and electronic communications.
  • communicate theoretical, experimental or clinical findings as required by the program with faculty, peers, patients/clients, or other professionals.
  • present information to the class using visual media aids. During presentations, students must be able to respond to questions in a manner that reflects the norms of professional discourse.

Students must possess communication skills at a level sufficient to accomplish, in a timely manner, all administrative requirements and to meet the performance expectations of the faculty in all areas of the curriculum.

Sensory and Motor Function

Students must possess motor and sensory capacity to perform activities required for the Forensic Science program.

Students must be able to:

  • manipulate small, sensitive materials in a controlled manner in a laboratory setting.
  • execute movements to complete classroom activities or provide instruction for a proxy to complete the task. These tasks may include, but are not limited to standard use of the equipment, instruments, apparatus, or tools required by the appropriate area of study, practice, internship, or research.

Intellectual

Students must have the intellectual ability to exercise sound judgment and to complete all task and responsibilities in a timely and professional manner.

Students must be able to:

  • measure, calculate, reason, analyze, hypothesize, and synthesize ideas into final deliverables.
  • absorb and process information from faculty, peers, patients/clients, supervisors, and/or from the scientific literature, as components of problem solving and critical thinking.
  • acquire information from experiences and demonstrations conveyed through coursework, lecture, group seminar, small group activities, field trips, laboratories, clinical experiences, internships, and other. These may include, but are not limited to laboratory dissection and demonstrations, microbial cultures, microscopic images of microorganisms and tissues in normal and pathologic states.
  • collect and understand information from a variety of sources such as, computer information systems (including email, databases, literature searches and data retrieval), written documents (including graphs/figures, tables, journal articles), films, slides, videos, and other electronic media.
  • work in a manner that is safe for themselves and others, and respond appropriately to emergencies and urgent situations.
  • follow universal precautions against contamination and cross-contamination with infectious agents, toxins, chemicals, and/or other physical or biological hazards.

Behavioral and Social Attributes

Students must demonstrate maturity, respect, and tolerance required for collaborative teamwork and other professional and socio-cultural interactions.

Students must be able to:

  • develop mature, sensitive, non-judgmental, non-prejudiced and effective relationships with faculty, supervisors, peers, patients/clients, and other professionals in the academic community.
  • take corrective action based on instructor and peer feedback and guidance.
  • maintain and exhibit professional behavior at all times. That includes honesty, integrity, responsibility, accountability, compassion and respect for others.
  • understand and comply with ethical standards for the conduct of research.
  • demonstrate emotional stability to function effectively under stress and to adapt to changing environments.

BS in Forensic Science Degree Audit

B.S. in Forensic Science

University Core Requirements

Academic Foundations (8 credits)

[Dept]

1105

Broad, Enduring Interest

4CR

 

BIO

1205

Nature of Work

2CR

 

LAS

1305

Wellness

2CR

 

 

Communications (12 credits)

WRI

1001 or

1002

Comp & Rhet. I or Comp. & Rhet. II

4CR

 

WRI

2200

Intensive Research Writing I

2CR

 

WRI

2210

Intensive Research Writing II

2CR

 

COM

2001

Public Speaking

4CR

 

 

 

 

 

 

STEM Engagement (8 credits)

*MTH

1501

Statistics I

4CR

 

*BIO

1301

General Biology I

3CR

 

*BIO

1101

General Biology I Lab

1CR

 

 

Culture & Society (12 credits)

BIO

4300

Bioethics (Social & Comm. Resp.)

4CR

 

 

 

Global Culture

4CR

 

 

 

Creative Expression & Self

4CR

 

 

Forensic Science Major (44 CR)

BIO

1301

General Biology I*

X

Core

BIO

1101

General Biology I Lab*

X

Core

BIO

1302

General Biology II

3CR

 

BIO

1102

General Biology II Lab

1CR

 

BIO

2302

Anatomy & Physiology I*

3CR

 

BIO

2102

Anatomy & Physiology I-Lab*

1CR

 

BIO

3301

Genetics

3CR

 

BIO

3101

Genetics Lab

1CR

 

BIO

3304

Microbiology

3CR

 

BIO

3104

Microbiology Lab

1CR

 

BIO

4100

Biology Seminar

4CR

 

BIO

4300

Bioethics

X

Core

CHM

1302

General Chemistry I*

3CR

 

CHM

1102

General Chemistry I-Lab*

1CR

 

CHM

1303

General Chemistry II*

3CR

 

CHM

1103

General Chemistry II-Lab*

1CR

 

CHM

2300

Organic Chemistry I*

3CR

 

CHM

2100

Organic Chemistry I-Lab*

1CR

 

CHM

2301

Organic Chemistry II*

3CR

 

CHM

2101

Organic Chemistry II-Lab*

1CR

 

CHM

3302/3102

Analytical Chemistry & Lab

4CR

 

CHM

4200

Toxicology

4CR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Related Major Requirements (20 CR)

MTH

1501

Statistics I

X

Core

MTH

1502

Statistics II

4CR

 

MTH

2151

Calculus I

4CR

 

PHY

2300

Physics I*

3CR

 

PHY

2100

Physics I-Lab*

1CR

 

PHY

2301

Physics II

3CR

 

PHY

2101

Physics II-Lab

1CR

 

ENV

4200

Toxicology

4CR

 

 

 

 

 

 

Criminal Justice Selections (20CR)

CJS

1001

Intro to Criminal Justice

4CR

 

CJS

2025

Criminal Investigation

4CR

 

CJS

2300

Forensic Science

3CR

 

CJS

2100

Forensic Science Lab

1CR

 

CJS

2050

Laws of Criminal Evidence

4CR

 

Choose Any one of the Following

CJS

2015

Crime Scene Photography or

4CR

 

CJS

2030

Fire & Arson Investigation or

 

 

CJS

3010

Death Investigation

 

 

Total number of credits: 124

Notes:

  1. To earn a Bachelor degree, all graduates must successfully complete a minimum of 128 credit hours.
  2. Minimum of 30 credits must be taken at Centenary University.
  3. All graduates must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.0 or above.
  4. All graduates must have a minimum of 2.0 GPA in their major(s).
  5. Courses that are special topic listed in the title, typically ending with a 99, are repeatable. Courses are counted multiple times and do not replace grades of the previous special topic course.
  6. Credits can only be shared between the core and the major or core and minor requirements. Shared credits within the core requirements is not allowed
  7. *Must earn C- or better

BS-Forensic-Science-Recommended-Four-Year-Sequence

Centenary University
B.S. in Forensic Science
Recommended Four Year Sequence
2023-2024

YEAR 1 (Fall)

Course #

Title

Credits

Completed

BIO 1205

Nature of Work in the Sciences

2

 

BIO 1301/1101

General Biology I and Lab

3/1

 

MTH 2151

Calculus **

4

 

MTH 1501

Statistics I (CU Value III)

3/1

 

Core

Wellness (CU Value I)

2

 

YEAR 1 (Spring)

Course #

Title

Credits

Completed

BIO 1302/1102

General Biology II and Lab (BIO 1301 ≥C)

4

 

MTH 1502

Statistics II (MTH 1501)

4

 

WRI 1001/1002

Composition & Rhetoric I

4

 

Core

Broad, Enduring Interest (CU Value I)

4

 

YEAR 2 (FALL)

BIO 2302/2102

Anatomy & Physiology I and Lab (BIO 1301 ≥C)

3/1

 

CHM 1302/1102

General Chemistry I and Lab** (MTH 1600**-pre-req or co-req)

3/1

 

CJS 1001

Introduction to Criminal Justice

4

 

PHY 2300/2100

Physics I and Lab (MTH 2151 ≥C)

4

 

WRI 2200

Intensive Research Writing

2

 

YEAR 2 (Spring)

PHY 2301/2101

Physics II and Lab (BIO 2302 ≥C)

3/1

 

CHM 1303/1103

General Chemistry II and Lab (CHM1302 ≥C)

3/1

 

CJS 2300/2100

Forensic Science and Lab

3/1

 

CJS 2025

Criminal Investigation

4

 

WRI 2210

Intensive Research Writing II (WRI1001/2)

2

 

YEAR 3 (FALL)

CHM 2300/2100

Organic Chemistry I and Lab (CHM 1303 ≥C)

3/1

 

BIO 3301/3101 Genetics and Lab (BIO 1301 ≥C)    

CJS 2050

Laws of Criminal Evidence

4

 

COM 2001

Public Speaking (CU Value II)

4

 

YEAR 3 (Spring)

CHM 2301/2101

Organic Chemistry II and Lab (CHM 2300 ≥C)

3/1

 

BIO 3304/3104 Microbiology and Lab (BIO 1301 ≥C)

3/1

 

BIO 4300

Bioethics (CU Value IV)

4

 

Core

Global Culture (CU Value IV)

4

 

YEAR 4 (Fall)

CHM 4200

Biochemistry (CHM 2300 ≥C)

4

 

CJS

Select one from: CJS, 2015, CJS 2030 or CJS 3010

4

 

CHM 3302/3102

Analytical Chemistry and Lab (CHM 2301 ≥C)

3/1

 

 

 

 

 

YEAR 4 (Spring)

ENV 4200

Toxicology

4

 

BIO 4100

Biology Seminar

4

 

Core

Creative Expression and Self (CU Value IV)

4

 

** Chemistry/math placement test must be taken prior to entry in course