Our program offers Bachelor of Science degrees in biology, chemistry, or biochemistry with a Concentration in Forensic Science. These degrees are accredited by the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).
Forensic Science Concentration Coursework
The 26 advanced credit hours in the Forensic Science Concentration are the same for each track. These courses are designed to fulfill the advanced elective requirements in biology and chemistry for each of our degree options. Many of them are only available to students who have been accepted to the forensic science program.
- Forensic Science Analysis and Principles of Forensic Science (CHEM 3330 and CHEM 4360 syllabus)
- Two-course lecture/lab sequence that surveys many aspects of criminalistics including evidence collection, presumptive testing, ethics, expert witness testimony, and careers/career requirements related to the covered topics
- CHEM 3330 prerequisite: permission of program advisor
- CHEM 4360 prerequisite: C or better in CHEM 3330
- Biomedical Criminalistics (BIOL 3331 syllabus)
- Lecture that focuses on examination of human remains and biological evidence in anthropology, odontology, and pathology
- Prerequisite: must be eligible to take 3000 level BIOL courses (completion of Biology Foundation Requirements)
- Forensic Microscopy (BIOL 4240 syllabus)
- Lecture/lab course that covers fundamentals necessary for identification and characterization of trace evidence materials such as glass, hair, fibers, explosives, soil, paint, and biological samples
- Prerequisite: permission of forensic advisor
- Forensic Molecular Biology (BIOL 4590 and Lab syllabus)
- Laboratory course designed to give students experience and expertise in the basic molecular techniques currently utilized by the majority of forensic laboratories performing forensic DNA analysis
- Prerequisite (Biology and Biochemistry tracks): C or better in BIOL 4570 (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Gene)
- Prerequisite (Chemistry track): C or better in BIOC 4540 (Biochemistry I)
- Instrumental Analysis (CHEM 4631 and CHEM 4632 syllabus)
- Lecture/lab course that covers principles and theory of chemical analysis of compounds through spectroscopy in ultraviolet, visible and infrared regions, nuclear and electron spin resonance, mass spectrometry, chromatography, electrochemistry and other advanced instrumental techniques.
- This is the only course that is not a forensic science topics course.
- Prerequisite: C or better in CHEM 3451/3452 (Quantitative Analysis)
- Forensic Chemistry (CHEM 4351 syllabus)
- Laboratory course that applies analytical chemistry, statistics, and sampling principles to physicial evidence by using advanced instrumentation most commonly found in forensic laboratories to analyze drugs, explosives, toxicological samples, ignitable liquid residues
- Prerequisite: C or better in CHEM 2380/3220 and CHEM 3451/3452
- Forensic Science Capstone Course (CHEM/BIOL4900 syllabus)
- Students fulfill a capstone requirement by conducting an internship at an offsite laboratory, participating in undergraduate research with a faculty member at UNT or other university, or writing a capstone thesis paper under direction of the instructor or another faculty writing mentor
- While completing this capstone requirement, students are enrolled in a mandatory course that covers topics necessary for future success in the forensic field such as professional development, job hunting, ethics, QA/QC, Documentation, and Document Control.
- Click here for more details
- Forensic Scinece Assessment Test (FSAT)
- FSAT is a forensic general knowledge exam administered by the American Board of Criminalistics (ABC).
- It is developed for students in their last semester of an academic Forensic Science undergraduate program and is required to recieve the Forensic Science Certification at UNT.
- The test consists of 200 multiple-choice questions of which all will be scored. Questions cover all disciplines in a crime laboratory plus the areas of ethics, law, and, safety. This IS NOT a pass/fail test. A numerical score out of a possible 200 points will be provided to the student.
- The results of this test can be used by students to show prospective employers their level of forensic knowledge.
- Visit the website of ABC for more details.
Other Expected Coursework
- Crime and Justice in the United States (CJUS 2100)
-
This course discusses the history, development, organization and philosophy of the justice process; and analyzes the complex inter-relationships between the major components of the criminal justice system (i.e., police, courts, and corrections). Course covers foundations of crime and justice; the criminal justice system including the police, courts, and corrections; criminal justice institutions and processes across a range of historical periods, social structures and cultures; and methods, technologies, and data that social scientists use to investigate criminals and the criminal justice system.
-
- Quantitative Analysis (CHEM 3451)
- Lecture/lab course that covers quantitative aspects of basic analytical chemistry. The topics of the course include statistical treatment of data, QA quality assurance, solution preparation, sampling and transfer techniques, equilibrium calculations, gravimetric and volumetric methods, titration analysis, and introductory instrumental analysis.
- This course is a prerequisite for Forensic Chemistry (CHEM 4351) and Instrumental Analysis (CHEM 4631/4632).
Major and Minor Coursework at a Glance
The requirements for the B.S. degree and required minor will be the bulk of the student's coursework. Therefore, it's important to consider interests and specific career path options when choosing a degree track. The minors listed for each degree are achieved through the normal course of completing the degree requirements.
These hour totals do not include the Forensic Science Concentration coursework to help emphasize the main differences in each degree track.
B.S. in Chemistry with a Concentration in Forensic Science, Biology Minor
Chemistry Requirements
- 8 hours of general chemistry
- 8 hours of organic chemistry
- 8 hours of analytical chemistry
- 8 hours of physical chemistry
- 4 hours of inorganic chemistry
- 3 hours of biochemistry
Math Requirements
- 10 hours of calculus
- 3 hours of statistics
Physics Requirements
- 8 hours of calculus-based physics
Biology Requirements
- 5 hours introductory biology
- 4 hours microbiology
- 4 hours genetics
Download a PDF of the full degree requirements here
To see course Pre-reqs for all the courses please see catalog.
B.S. in Biology with a Concentration in Forensic Science, Chemistry Minor
Biology Requirements
- 8 hours introductory biology
- 4 hours microbiology
- 4 hours genetics
- 4 hours cellular biology
- 4 hours introductory biochemistry
- 3 hours molecular biology
- 4 hours animal physiology
Chemistry Requirements
- 8 hours of general chemistry
- 8 hours of organic chemistry
- 4 hours of analytical chemistry
Math Requirements
- 4 hours of calculus
- 3 hours of statistics
Physics Requirements
- 8 hours of algebra-based physics
Download a PDF of the full degree requirements here
To see course Pre-reqs for all the courses please see catalog.
B.S. in Biochemistry with a Concentration in Forensic Science, Biology Minor
Biochemistry Requirements
- 8 hours biochemistry
- 3 hours molecular biology
Chemistry Requirements
- 8 hours of general chemistry
- 8 hours of organic chemistry
- 4 hours of analytical chemistry
- 6 hours of physical chemistry
Math Requirements
- 7 hours of calculus
- 3 hours of statistics
Physics Requirements
- 8 hours of calculus-based physics
Biology Requirements
- 5 hours introductory biology
- 4 hours microbiology
- 4 hours genetics
- 4 hours cellular biology
Download a PDF of the full degree requirements here
To see course Pre-reqs for all the courses please see catalog.
To find previous course syllabi please see Faculty Information search page.