General Description
The Forensic Science Minor is an interdisciplinary, minor program of study that integrates courses, research practica, and internships related to the theory and practice of Forensic Science. The minor includes courses and experiences relevant to careers related to the area of forensic science. While the minor is most useful for those students majoring in science or engineering, there are a number of other degrees for which the minor will lead to forensics-related careers. The minor is designed to enhance the likelihood of acceptance to graduate programs or to employment in a wide range of forensics related fields. For specific questions write
Dr. Oxley at fsminor@chm.uri.edu or 401-874-2103.
The Program
Students receiving a minor in Forensic Science will have earned at least 18 credits including two units of CHM 391 (recommended sophomore year), three credits of CHM 392 Introduction to Criminalistics (Junior year), and three credits of research or a practicum related to Forensic Science. The practicum can be in the form of participating in a Forensic Science research project or internship on or off campus. Remaining credits should be selected as follows:
Chemistry Majors must take 2 classes of list A & 1 class list B as long as these classes are not required for the major nor listed below as expected courses toward the major.
It is expected Chemistry majors will take the following toward their major degree:
| CHM 101, 102L, 112, 114L or 191, 192 General Chemistry |
| CHM 227& 229L; 228& 230L or 291; 292 Organic Chemistry |
| CHM 431 & 432 Physical Chemistry |
| CHM 412 (3) Instrumental Methods of Analysis & 414L (2) |
| CHM 441 (3) Chemistry of Biological Systems |
Biology, Clinical Lab, Microbiology, Chemical Engineering majors must take
| CHM 412 (3) Instrumental Methods of Analysis |
| CHM 414 (2) Instrumental Methods of Analysis Lab |
| and any 2 classes from list A or B as long as they are not required for the major nor listed below as expected courses toward their major |
It is expected Biology, Clinical Lab, & Microbiology majors will take the following toward the major:
| CHM 227&226L (4) Organic Chem I and CHM 228 (3) Organic Chemistry II |
| MIC 211 (4) Intro Microbiology (preq 2 sem bio & Organic Chem) |
| BCH 311 (3) & 312L (2) Introduction to Biochemistry |
| STA 308 (3) (pre-req MTH 107 or 108) or STA 409 (pre-req MTH 131 or 141 ) |
| BIO or BCH 352 (3) Genetics |
| BIO or BCH 437 Fundamentals Molecular Biology (3) (prereq MIC 211, BIO 352, BCH 311) |
| BIO 454 or BCH 454 Genetics Lab (3) (pre-req 352) |
It is expected Chem. Engineering majors will take the following toward their major:
| CHM 101, 102L, 112, 114L or 191, 192 General Chemistry |
| CHM 227 & 229L; 228 & 230L Organic Chemistry |
Nursing majors will take
| BCH 311 & 312L (4) Introduction to Biochemistry |
| BCH 342 Human Genetics & Affairs (3) |
| CHM 105L (with CHM 103 req) and CHM 126L (with CHM 124 req) General & Organic Chem labs (2) |
| and one class from list A, B, or C. |
Psychology majors* will take
| BIO 121 Human Anatomy (4) |
| CHM 103 & 105L (4) General Chemistry |
| CHM 124 & 126L (4) Organic Chemistry |
| BIO 242 Introductory Human Physiology (3) (pre-req 104B, 113 or 101 or 121) |
| and one class from list A, B, or C. |
Textile majors* will take 3 classes (at least 1 from List A) and the rest from list A, B, or C.
It is expected Textile majors will also take the following toward their major:
| CHM 103 & 105L (4) General Chemistry |
| CHM 124 & 126L (4) Organic Chemistry |
| *CHM 393 Intro Analytical Chemistry (3) when offered will be required of Textile & Psychology majors |
Computer Science majors will take the following courses
| STA 220 (3) or STA 308 (3) |
| CSC 320 (4) Social Issues in Computing (may count toward major/minor) |
| CSC 412 (4) Operating Systems (may count toward major/minor) |
| HPR 108 (3) Computer Forensics*** |
CSC 417/517 (4) Computer Networking***
OR
CSC 492 (4) Computer Security*** (may count toward major/minor) |
| Two courses from List B |
*** = if these courses are unavailable, approved Directed Study in Computer Science (CSC 491) credits may be substituted.
List A
| BIO 242 & 244L (4) Human Physiology (pre-req Bio 104B, 113 or 101 or 121) |
| BIO 341 (3) Principles of Cell Biology ( preq 1 sem Bio & 1 sem Org. Chem) |
| BIO or BCH 352 (3) Genetics |
| BIO 454 or BCH 454 Genetics Lab (3) (pre-req 352) |
| BIO or BCH 437 Fundamentals of Molecular Biology (3) (prereq MIC 211, BIO 352, BCH 311) |
| BCH 481 Principles of Biochemistry I (4) (pre-req Organic Chem) |
| BCH 482 Principles of Biochemistry II (4) (pre-req Organic Chem) |
| BMS 530 (3) Drug Metabolism |
BCH 403 & 405L (4)
or
MIC 403 & 405L (4) Intro to Electron Microscopy (permission of chair)
or
CHE 539 (3) Electron & Light Microscopy of Solids (no prereq) |
| CHM 691 h (3) Introduction to Chem. & Physics of Explosives (with permission of instructor) |
| STA 308 (3) Intro to Statistics (pre-req MTH 107 or 108) |
| STA 409 (3) Statistical Methods in Research (prereq MTH 131 or 141) |
| MIC 333 Immunology & Serology (3) (preq MIC 201 or 211) (req for AS, MB, CL) |
| MIC 432 Pathogenic Bacteriology (3) (preq MIC 201 or 211) (req for AS, MB, CL) |
| MTC 483 (3) Intro. Diagnostic Microbiology (req for Clinical Lab major) |
| BMS 322 (2) Medicinal Chemistry of Drugs on Central Nervous System |
| BMS 544 (3) Forensic Toxicology (not generally offered) |
List B
| ENT 385/BIO 381 Introductory Entomology |
| ENT 411 (3) Pesticides & the Environment (has instructor's permission) |
| APG 300 (4) Human Fossil Record (pre-req APG 202 The Prehistoric Ages) |
| TMD 303 (4) Textile Science with lab |
| SOC 216 (3) Deviant Behavior |
| SOC 230 (3) Crime and Delinquency |
| SOC 370 (3) Theories of Crime and Delinquency |
| SOC 420 (3) Family Violence (pre-req—Soc100) |
| PSY 254 (3) Behavior Problems and Personality Disorders (pre-req PSY 113) |
List C
| STA 220 Statistics in Modern Society (3) |
| MIC APS or NUR 440 Public Health Practicum in Infectious Disease Control (3) (preq Bio 101) |
| BIO 121 Human Anatomy (4) |
| BIO 242 & 244L Introductory Human Physiology (3) (pre-req 104B, 113 or 101 or 121) |
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