Forensic Science, B.S.

Dr. Frank Bailey, director
SCI 2026
615-898-5483
Frank.Bailey@mtsu.edu
Suzanne Hicks, advisor
Suzanne.Hicks@mtsu.edu
www.mtsu.edu/forensicscience/

The interdisciplinary major in Forensic Science consists of a strong interdisciplinary curriculum within the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, and Criminal Justice. The goals of the Forensic Science major are to provide a strong academic foundation that offers preparation for advanced study in forensic science or employment in public crime laboratories, specialized private laboratories, and law enforcement agencies; to understand the role of the forensic scientist in the criminal justice system and offer preparation to present oral and written findings to the court; and to provide student interaction with current forensic practitioners through seminars and internships.

Forensic Science is the application of techniques and principles of the natural and physical sciences to the analysis of evidence collected during criminal investigations. Career options exist with the federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, forensic laboratories, medical examiner offices, hospitals, military, private firms, and universities.

No minor is required since this degree is highly interdisciplinary. The requirements for a major in Forensic Science can be obtained from an advisor of the program.

Academic Map

Following is a printable, suggested four-year schedule of courses:

Forensic Science, B.S., Academic Map

Degree Requirements

General Education (41 hours)

General Education requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences.

The following General Education courses are required for this major:

MATH 1910 (Math)
BIOL 1110/1111 (Nat Sci)
CHEM 1110/1111 (Nat Sci)

Major Requirements (73 hours)

BIOL 1110 - General Biology I 4 credit hours (4 credits may be counted in General Education)
BIOL 1111 - General Biology I Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 1120 - General Biology II 4 credit hours
BIOL 1121 - General Biology II Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 2230 - Microbiology 4 credit hours
BIOL 2231 - Microbiology Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 3250 - Genetics 4 credit hours
BIOL 3251 - Genetics Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 4110 - General Physiology 4 credit hours
BIOL 4111 - General Physiology Lab 0 credit hours
FSBI 4300 - Immunology 4 credit hours
FSBI 4301 - Immunology Lab 0 credit hours
FSBI 4550 - Biotechnology 3 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (4 credits may be counted in General Education)
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 2230 - Quantitative Analysis 5 credit hours
CHEM 2231 - Quantitative Analysis Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 3010 - Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours
CHEM 3011 - Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 3020 - Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours
CHEM 3021 - Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
FSCH 3530 - Principles of Biochemistry 4 credit hours
FSCH 3531 - Principles of Biochemistry Lab 0 credit hours
FSCH 4230 - Instrumental Analysis in Forensic Science 4 credit hours
FSCH 4231 - Instrumental Analysis in Forensic Science Lab 0 credit hours
FSCJ 4330 - Criminal Investigations 3 credit hours
FSCJ 4340 - Crime Scene Investigation 3 credit hours
FRSC 3010 - Forensics Junior Seminar 2 credit hours
FRSC 4010 - Forensics Senior Seminar 2 credit hours
FRSC 4020 - Forensics Internship 4 credit hours
FSCJ 4530 - Criminal Evidence and Procedures 3 credit hours OR
FSCJ 2400 - Judicial Process 3 credit hours

Supporting Courses (14 hours)

MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (3 credit hours counted in General Education, 1 credit hour remaining)
BIOL 4350 - Biometry 4 credit hours
BIOL 4351 - Biometry Lab 0 credit hours
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
Elective 1 credit hour

Total hours in program: 120

Curriculum: Forensic Science

Curricular listings include General Education requirements in Communication, History, Humanities and/or Fine Arts, Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Social/Behavioral Sciences categories.

Freshman

ENGL 1010 - Expository Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
ENGL 1020 - Research and Argumentative Writing 3 credit hours (Comm)
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (Math)
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
BIOL 1110 - General Biology I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology I Lab 0 credit hours (Nat Sci)
BIOL 1120 - General Biology II 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 1121 - General Biology II Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours

Subtotal: 29 Hours

Sophomore

ENGL 2020 - Themes in Literature and Culture 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
ENGL 2030 - The Experience of Literature 3 credit hours (Hum/FA) OR
HUM 2610 - Foreign Literature in Translation 3 credit hours (Hum/FA)
FSCJ 4330 - Criminal Investigations 3 credit hours
FSCJ 4340 - Crime Scene Investigation 3 credit hours
BIOL 2230 - Microbiology 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 2231 - Microbiology Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 3250 - Genetics 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 3251 - Genetics Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 2230 - Quantitative Analysis 5 credit hours AND
CHEM 2231 - Quantitative Analysis Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 3010 - Organic Chemistry I 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 3011 - Organic Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours (Nat Sci) AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours (Nat Sci)

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Junior

COMM 2200 - Fundamentals of Communication 3 credit hours (Comm)
FRSC 3010 - Forensics Junior Seminar 2 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
CHEM 3020 - Organic Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 3021 - Organic Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 credit hours
FSCJ 2400 - Judicial Process 3 credit hours OR
FSCJ 4530 - Criminal Evidence and Procedures 3 credit hours
FSCH 3530 - Principles of Biochemistry 4 credit hours AND
FSCH 3531 - Principles of Biochemistry Lab 0 credit hours
FSCH 4230 - Instrumental Analysis in Forensic Science 4 credit hours AND
FSCH 4231 - Instrumental Analysis in Forensic Science Lab 0 credit hours
FSBI 4300 - Immunology 4 credit hours AND
FSBI 4301 - Immunology Lab 0 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Senior

FRSC 4010 - Forensics Senior Seminar 2 credit hours
FRSC 4020 - Forensics Internship 4 credit hours
FSBI 4550 - Biotechnology 3 credit hours
Humanities and/or Fine Arts 3 credit hours
Social/Behavioral Sciences 3 credit hours
Elective 1 credit hour
BIOL 4350 - Biometry 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 4351 - Biometry Lab 0 credit hours
BIOL 4110 - General Physiology 4 credit hours AND
BIOL 4111 - General Physiology Lab 0 credit hours
Choose 6 hours from:
HIST 2010 - Survey of United States History I 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2020 - Survey of United States History II 3 credit hours OR
HIST 2030 - Tennessee History 3 credit hours