Forensic Science Program

Paris F. Favorite, Ph.D., Director/Assistant Professor

Office: Natural Science Building, Room 461

Phone: (504) 286-5112

Email: pfavorite@suno.edu

Assistant Professor: Meiko Thompson, Ph.D.; Assistant Professor: Vacant

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science degree requires the completion of 125 credit hours of core and forensic science coursework. The program has been developed in order to provide students with the types of skills and information that are necessary for success in forensic science. The program includes sequences in chemistry, physics, mathematics, and biology. SUNO also offers a number of specialized courses specifically related to forensic science. The forensic science courses are designed for students to receive both classroom instruction and hands-on experience in the laboratory. Students will take courses in forensic biology, forensic DNA, forensic microscopy, evidence collection and processing, witness testimony, and more. Students are required to enroll in a forensic internship in their junior or senior year. A senior comprehensive exam is also required for the degree.

Requirements

All Forensic Science majors must earn a “C” or better in all Natural Science courses as listed in the Forensic Science curriculum. Continuous repetition of classes and repeated withdrawal (W) from classes are strongly discouraged. It is strongly recommended that the students follow the outlined curriculum in Forensic Science in sequence as they matriculate in the program by following timely advisement by an assigned advisor.

The minor in Forensic Science is designed for students who wish to learn the basic concepts of forensic science and how to apply them to other fields of knowledge. A minor in Forensic Science is earned by completing eighteen (18) credit hours: FRSC-201N, FRSC-210N, FRSC-220N, FRSC-305N, FRSC-430N/LN, and a 4-hour FRSC elective. No grade below C is acceptable in the minor subject. A minimum grade point average of 2.0 is required to complete the minor.

Forensic Science Curriculum

Freshman Year

Required

ENGL-111N

3

BIOL-124NGeneral Biology I

3

-
And

BIOL-124LNGeneral Biology I Lab

1

MATH-161NPre-Calculus

3

FIAR-101NIntroduction to Art

3

-
Or

MUSC-101NSurvey of Music

3

FRSC-201NForensic Science Seminar

1

JRDV-111NCollege Survival Skills

1

JRDV-111ANFreshman Assembly

0

Total Credit Hours:15

Required

ENGL-112NEnglish Composition II

3

BIOL-125NGeneral Biology II

3

-
And

BIOL-125LNGeneral Biology II Lab

1

MATH-162NTrigonometry

3

CISP-164NComputer Productivity Appl

3

SOCL-210NIntroduction to Sociology

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Sophomore Year

Required

FRSC-210NIntro to Forensic Science

3

CHEM-111NGeneral Chemistry I

3

-
And

CHEM-111LNGeneral Chemistry I Lab

1

SUBA-215NIntro to Drug Alcohol Abuse

3

MATH-250NElementary Statistics

3

FRSC-220NIntroduction to Law

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Required

ENGL-203NIntroduction to Literature

3

CHEM-112NGeneral Chemistry II

3

-
And

CHEM-112LNGeneral Chemistry II Lab

1

MATH-290NCalculus I

3

-
And

MATH-290LNCalculus I Laboratory

1

FRSC-230NForensic Biology

3

-
And

FRSC-230LNForensic Biology Lab

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Junior Year

Required

MATH-291NCalculus II

3

-
And

MATH-291LNCalculus II Laboratory

1

CHEM-241NOrganic Chemistry

3

-
And

CHEM-241LNOrganic Chemistry Lab

1

PHYS-211NGeneral Physics I

3

-
And

PHYS-211LNGeneral Physics I Laboratory

1

FRSC-240NDNA Analysis

3

-
And

FRSC-240LNDNA Analysis Laboratory

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Required

CHEM-242NOrganic Chemistry II

3

-
And

CHEM-242LNOrganic Chemistry II Lab

1

PHYS-222NGeneral Physics II

3

-
And

PHYS-222LNGeneral Physics II Laboratory

1

FRSC-305NExpert Witness Testimony

3

FRSC-320NEvidence Coll/Process

3

BIOL-324LNCell Biology Lab.

1

Total Credit Hours:15

Senior Year

Required

HIST-210NThe United States to 1865

3

-
Or

HIST-220NThe US History Since 1865

3

FRSC-410NDrugs and Toxicology

3

-
And

FRSC-410LNForensic Drugs & Toxicolog Lab

1

FRSC-420NForensic Science Internships

3

FRSC-430NForensic Microscopy

3

-
And

FRSC-430LNForensic Microscopy Lab

1

FRSC-460NSenior Comprehensive

0

Total Credit Hours:14

Required

-
Elective

4

FRSC-440NProf Practice/FS

3

CHEM-450NSpecial Problems and Seminar

4

PHIL-222NIntro to Ethics

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Electives – Choose any 2 of the following:

• Biochemistry (BIOL-306N/306LN); • Molecular biology (BIOL-325N/325LN); • Genetics (BIOL-302N/302LN); • Inorganic chemistry (CHEM-251N); • Analytical/quantitative chemistry (CHEM-351N/351LN); •Instrumental analysis (CHEM-362N/362LN); • Cell biology (BIOL-324N/324LN); • Pharmacology (BIOL-304N/304LN); • Microbiology (BIOL-217N/217LN)

Total Credit Hours: 125

All majors are required to pass a comprehensive examination.

Students must register for the course IN THE SEMESTER PRIOR TO THE ONE IN WHICH THEY PLAN TO GRADUATE.