Forensic Science, B.S.

Dr. Frank Bailey, director
SCI 2026
615-898-5483
Frank.Bailey@mtsu.edu
www.mtsu.edu/programs/forensic-science/

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 found below or 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

True Blue Core (TBC)	41 hours
Major Requirements	75 hours*
Supporting Courses	15 hours*
TOTAL	120-131 hours

*This program requires courses that can also fulfill requirements of the True Blue Core curriculum. If courses for this program are also used to fulfill True Blue Core requirements, the program of study may be completed in 120 hours.

True Blue Core (41 hours)

True Blue Core (TBC) requirements (shown in curricular listings below) include courses in the Foundational Skills areas of Written Communication (WC), Information Literacy (Info Lit), Non-Written Communication (NWC), and Quantitative Literacy (Quant Lit). Knowledge Domains include Human Society and Social Relationships (HSSR), Scientific Literacy (Sci Lit), Creativity and Cultural Expression (CCE), and History and Civic Learning (HCL), which include Discovery and Explorations categories. Students must choose at least one course from each Discovery category.

The following courses required by the major meet True Blue Core requirements:

MATH 1910 (Quant Lit)
BIOL 1110 /BIOL 1111 (Sci Lit)
CHEM 1110 /CHEM 1111 (Sci Lit)

Major Requirements (75 hours)

ANTH 3650 - Forensic Anthropology 3 credit hours OR
ANTH 3660 - Forensic Sciences 3 credit hours OR
FSCJ 4360 - Crime Scene Photography and Documentation 3 credit hours
BIOL 1110 - General Biology I 4 credit hours (may be counted in the True Blue Core)
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 4375 - Forensic Taphonomy 3 credit hours
BIOL 4570 - Principles of Toxicology 3 credit hours
BIOL 4571 - Principles of Toxicology Lab 0 credit hours
CHEM 1110 - General Chemistry I 4 credit hours (may be counted in the True Blue Core)
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 3 credit hours
CHEM 2231 - Quantitative Analysis Lab 2 credit hours
CHEM 3010 - Organic Chemistry I 3 credit hours
CHEM 3011 - Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 credit hour
CHEM 3020 - Organic Chemistry II 3 credit hours
CHEM 3021 - Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 credit hour
CHEM 4125 - Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours
CHEM 4126 - Forensic Chemistry Laboratory 0 credit hours
FRSC 1010 - Introduction to the Forensic Science Major 2 credit hours
FRSC 4010 - Forensics Senior Seminar 2 credit hours
FRSC 4020 - Forensics Internship 4 credit hours
FSBI 4550 - Biotechnology 3 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

Supporting Courses (15 hours)

MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (3 credit hours may be counted in the True Blue Core)
MATH 2050 - Probability and Statistics 3 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

Curriculum: Forensic Science

Freshman

FRSC 1010 - Introduction to the Forensic Science Major 2 credit hours
MATH 1910 - Calculus I 4 credit hours (Quant Lit)
Written Communication 3 credit hours
Information Literacy 3 credit hours
Creativity and Cultural Expression 3 credit hours
BIOL 1110 - General Biology I 4 credit hours (Sci Lit) AND
BIOL 1111 - General Biology I Lab 0 credit hours (Sci Lit)
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 (Sci Lit) AND
CHEM 1111 - General Chemistry I Lab 0 credit hours (Sci Lit)
CHEM 1120 - General Chemistry II 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 1121 - General Chemistry II Lab 0 credit hours

Subtotal: 31 Hours

Sophomore

Creativity and Cultural Expression Literature 3 credit hours
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 3 credit hours AND
CHEM 2231 - Quantitative Analysis Lab 2 credit hours
CHEM 3010 - Organic Chemistry I 3 credit hours AND
CHEM 3011 - Organic Chemistry I Lab 1 credit hour
PHYS 2010 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics I 0 credit hours (Sci Lit) AND
PHYS 2011 - Physics Problems Laboratory I 4 credit hours (Sci Lit)

Subtotal: 30 Hours

Junior

ANTH 3650 - Forensic Anthropology 3 credit hours OR
ANTH 3660 - Forensic Sciences 3 credit hours OR
FSCJ 4360 - Crime Scene Photography and Documentation 3 credit hours
Non-Written Communication 3 credit hours
Human Society and Social Relationships 3 credit hours
CHEM 3020 - Organic Chemistry II 3 credit hours AND
CHEM 3021 - Organic Chemistry II Lab 1 credit hour
PHYS 2020 - Non-Calculus-Based Physics II 0 credit hours AND
PHYS 2021 - Physics Problems Laboratory II 4 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
BIOL 4570 - Principles of Toxicology 3 credit hours AND
BIOL 4571 - Principles of Toxicology Lab 0 credit hours

Subtotal: 28 Hours

Senior

BIOL 4375 - Forensic Taphonomy 3 credit hours
FRSC 4010 - Forensics Senior Seminar 2 credit hours
FRSC 4020 - Forensics Internship 4 credit hours
FSBI 4550 - Biotechnology 3 credit hours
MATH 2050 - Probability and Statistics 3 credit hours
Creativity and Cultural Expression 3 credit hours
Human Society and Social Relationships 3 credit hours
History and Civic Learning 6 credit hours
CHEM 4125 - Forensic Chemistry 4 credit hours AND
CHEM 4126 - Forensic Chemistry Laboratory 0 credit hours