B.S. Major Requirements:
Forensic Chemistry Emphasis

Students in the Forensic Chemistry emphasis require a strong foundation in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology. The focus of forensic chemistry involves the identification and quantitative analysis of scientific evidence, both in the environment and in urban settings, sometimes available only in very trace amounts. The value of such evidence is determined using statistical analysis of the strengths of similarities or differences in the results from known and questioned samples. Additoinal coursework in the fields of statistics, environmental toxicology, and environmental science and policy are necessarily included as required and elective courses in the emphasis.

The sample schedule has required courses generally taken as early in the program as possible in order to permit the greatest flexibility in choosing electives and to allow qualified students to elect a full year of undergraduate research, CHE 194H or 199, in their senior year. Elective courses are shown in italics.

The preparatory subject matter for the emphasis includes one year of general chemistry with lab, one year of physics with lab, one year of calculus, one quarter of biology, one quarter of environmental toxicology, and one quarter of statistics. This material should normally be completed before embarking on the depth subject matter.

The minimum depth subject matter includes one year of organic chemistry with lab, two quarters of physical chemistry, two quarters of analytical and physical chemistry lab, one quarter of forensic chemistry and three quarters of environmental toxicology, plus several restricted elective courses chosen from chemistry, environmental toxicology, statistics, and environmental science and policy.