Physical Sciences, BS, Concentration: Forensic Science

About the Program

Students are taught how to analyze crime scenes, perform ballistic and fingerprint comparisons, and learn how to maintain a proper chain of evidence and testify in a courtroom, in order to support modern criminal investigations.

Degree Requirements

• 120 Credit Hours
• Minimum grade of C- required for all College of Engineering and Sciences courses
• Minimum GPA of 2.0 required for graduation
• Certain courses may only be available at one campus location

PNW General Education Core (31 or 32 Credits)

• English Composition (6 Credits): Select two courses from the English Composition Core list  
• Speech Communication (3 Credits): Select from the Speech Communication Core list  
• Quantitative Reasoning (3 Credits): MA 16031 - Calculus I For Life Sciences  or MA 16300 - Integrated Calculus Analysis Geometry I *
• Natural Sciences (4 Credits): CHM 11500 - General Chemistry  
• Technology (3 Credits): Select from the Technology Core list  
• Humanities (3 Credits): PHIL 11100 - Ethics  
• Social Sciences (3 Credits): PSY 12000 - Elementary Psychology   
• First-Year Experience (FYE) (1 Credit): CHM 19400 - Freshman Chemistry Orientation  or PHYS 19400 - Freshman Physics Orientation  
• Additional Credits (3 or 6): STAT 30100 Elementary Statistical Methods  and one Gen Ed elective if necessary (See Note 2)

Major Core (35 or 38 Credits)

• BIOL 10100 - Introductory Biology
• BIOL 10200 - Introductory Biology
• CHM 11600 - General Chemistry
• CHM 26505 - Organic Chemistry I
• CHM 26300 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory I
• CHM 26605 - Organic Chemistry II
• CHM 26400 - Organic Chemistry Laboratory II
• CHM 29400 - Sophomore Chemistry Seminar or PHYS 29400 - Sophomore Physics Seminar  
• CHM 49400 - Junior-Senior Chemistry Seminar or PHYS 49400 - Junior-Senior Physics Seminar  
• CHM 49800 - Research In Chemistry or PHYS 46900  (2)
• MA 16032 - Calculus II For Life Sciences or MA 16400 - Integrated Calculus Analysis Geometry II *
• PHYS 22000 - General Physics or PHYS 15200 - Mechanics *
• PHYS 22100 - General Physics or PHYS 25100 - Heat, Electricity And Optics *

Forensic Concentration Core (44 Credits)

• BIOL 24400 - Genetics
• CHM 32100 - Analytical Chemistry I
• CHM 33300 - Principles Of Biochemistry
• CHM 42400 - Instrumental Analysis
• CRJU 15000 - Introduction To The Criminal Justice System
• FIS 14000 - Introduction To Forensic Science: Criminalistics
• FIS 14005 - Introduction To Forensic Science: Evidence Handling
• FIS 24500 - Laboratory Quality System Theory
• FIS 35000 - Courtroom Demeanor
• FIS 41000 - Professional Practice In Forensic Science
• PSY 35000 - Abnormal Psychology
• SCI 22000 - Health And Safety
• SOC 10000 - Introductory Sociology
• SOC 32400 - Criminology

Other Required Courses (7 or 9 Credits)

Restricted Elective (3 Credits):  Choose from CHM (any course excluding CHM 19400 ), PHYS (any course 20000 or higher), or forensics oriented SCI course. See program advisor for a list of available courses.

Free Electives (4 or 6 Credits): Student may choose any two (2) courses to fulfil this requirement. At least 3 credits of free electives must be 30000 level or higher.

Civics Literacy Proficiency

The Civics Literacy Proficiency activities are designed to develop civic knowledge of Purdue Northwest students in an effort to graduate a more informed citizenry.

Students will complete the Proficiency by passing a test of civic knowledge, and completing one of three paths:

• Attending six approved civics-related events and completing an assessment for each; or
• Completing 12 podcasts created by the Purdue Center for C-SPAN Scholarship and Engagement that use C-SPAN material and completing an assessment for each; or
• Earning a passing grade for one of the approved courses (or transferring in approved AP or departmental credit in lieu of taking a course)

For more information visit the Civics Literacy Proficiency website.

Total 120 Credits Required

* Note: Students who choose to take MA 16300, MA 16400, PHYS 15200, and PHYS 25100 can reduce their free electives by five (5) credits to meet the 120 credit hour requirement.

Requirements

Minimum Grade and Grade Point Average (GPA):  Minimum grade of C- required for all College of Engineering and Sciences courses; 2.0 GPA

Experiential Learning (EL):  One EL course required, select from the Experiential Learning course list  

General Education Core:  General Education notations can be found within the course description.  Please click on a course to see if it meets a Gen Ed requirement.

Milestone Courses noted by (m) next to the course title have been identified as being critical to your success in this field of study. 

Please see the Additional Information and Guidelines section below for more information.

Degree Map

Resources

The 8 semester plan of study is a recommended sequence of classes designed to show how this program can be completed within four years.

Visit the 15 to Finish website for information and resources.

For career information, click here to visit the Careers and Employment Trends page.

For Financial Aid eligibility, click here.   See Important Dates and Deadlines for annual FAFSA filing deadlines and Indiana state aid deadlines. State Financial Aid recipients are required to complete 30 credits per calendar year to maintain eligibility for the 21st Century Scholars award and the On-time Frank O’Bannon grant.

Financial Guarantee: If you follow the degree map and find a course unavailable, you may be able to take the course for free in a future semester.  Certain exclusions apply. 

College Scorecard

The U.S. Department of Education has created a scorecard for each university and its programs.  The scorecard shows data for the university such as graduation rate, average annual cost, and median earnings.  Then, when certain minimum standards have been met, data are available for a specific program.  That data could include median earnings, median total debt, and number of graduates. The link below will help you learn more:

https://collegescorecard.ed.gov/school/?490805-Purdue-University-Northwest&fos_code=4001&fos_credential=3