Forensic Science

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Jason D. Hofstein, Ph.D., Director

Forensic science has broad coverage on film, in the news, literature, and television series. The forensic science minor provides a fundamental background in the history and principles which support the scientific techniques used in forensic investigation. The minor requires a minimum of 19 credit hours and delivers a balance of science, criminal law, crime investigation, and a liberal arts education. The minor allows students from a wide range of disciplines to enhance their education with coursework that examines fundamental components of forensic detection, resolution, and prosecution.

The forensic science minor is designed compliment a broad variety of majors across campus  allowing both non-science and science majors to successfully complete the requirements. The minor requires a scientific foundation to compliment a major who will seek employment in fields like education, management, law, medicine, natural science, law enforcement, or criminology. Students who complete this minor will be exposed to the types of scientific instrumentation and techniques employed in forensic investigations and how the science interfaces with (1) other facets of a forensic investigation (such as crime scene investigation, courtroom expert witness testimony, etc.), and (2) the myriad of topics that forensic science encompasses. Further coursework would be required for a more in-depth treatment of these topics to enable, for example, the student to actually maintain the scientific instrumentation and interpret complex analyses.

Programs

• Forensic Science Minor

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