Forensic Degrees Online

FORENSIC SCIENCE CERTIFICATE

A certificate in forensics is designed to provide a focus for those students who are interested in pursuing a career in the forensic sciences. This program is specially designed for students majoring in chemistry, biochemistry or biology or for those who have already graduated but would like to pursue a career in forensic science by taking additional courses.

The field of forensic science is very interdisciplinary, requiring good basic training in the physical and natural sciences as well as an understanding of the criminal justice system. Upon completion of the following courses a student may apply for a Certificate in Forensic Science. The certificate will be awarded at the time of awarding the bachelor’s degree. Students with a prior degree can also get the certificate by completing required courses at Stockton College.

After the completion of this program, a student will be knowledgeable about:
Criminal Justice System
A systematic search at the crime scene
Proper procedure for the collection, packaging, preservation and transportation of physical evidence
Methods of analysis of physical evidence using the knowledge of science
Significance of expert witness testimony

EKU Forensic Science Program Admission

Obtaining a degree in the EKU Forensic Science Program is actually a two-step process. The first step is when students are accepted by EKU’s Admissions Office and want to declare a major in forensic science. Those students will be admitted to the University as Pre-Forensic Science majors. Students would need to complete the requirements of the Pre-Forensic Science curriculum and the application process to continue to the next step of becoming a Forensic Science Major and begin taking forensic science (FOR) courses. Admission to EKU does not guarantee acceptance into the forensic science major. More information is available about the admission and application process of the EKU Forensic Science Program

If a student is successful with the admission and application process, the Forensic Science Program currently offers two degree options: a Chemistry option and a Biology option. Depending on your interests and professional goals, you should choose the one that is right for you.
Chemistry Option
Pre-Forensic Science Curriculum
CHE 111/115: General Chem I
CHE 112/116: General Chem II
CHE 361/366: Organic Chem I
CHE 362/367: Organic Chem II
CHE 325: Analytical Chem
BIO 121: Principles of Biology
PHY 131 or 201: College or University Physics I
PHY 132 or 202: College or University Physics II
MAT 124: Calculus I

Forensic Science Curriculum
FOR 301: Intro to Forensic Science
FOR 411: Analytical Techniques I
FOR 412: Analytical Techniques II
FOR 430: Drugs and Toxicology
FOR 451 Forensic Microscopy
FOR 465 Expert Witness Testimony
Upper Level FOR Electives (9 hours)
CHE 470: Physical Chemistry
Upper Level CHE Elective (3 hours)

Supporting Courses
LAS 210 or PLS 220 or PLS 316
STA 270

Biology Option
Pre-Forensic Science Curriculum
CHE 111/115: General Chem I
CHE 112/116: General Chem II
CHE 361/366: Organic Chem I
CHE 362/367: Organic Chem II
CHE 325: Analytical Chem
BIO 121: Principles of Biology
PHY 131 or 201: College or University Physics I
PHY 132 or 202: College or University Physics II
MAT 124: Calculus I

Forensic Science Curriculum
FOR 301: Intro to Forensic Science
FOR 411: Analytical Techniques I
FOR 465 Expert Witness Testimony
Upper Level FOR Electives (6 hours)
BIO 315: Genetics
BIO 511: Experimental Approaches in Molecular Biology
BIO 531: Molecular Biology
CHE 470: Physical Chemistry
CHE 530 or 531: Biochemistry of Macromolecules or Metabolic Biochemistry

Course Descriptions

FORSC 201: Forensic Science I
This course provides an introduction to forensic science. Specialized areas of forensics such as forensic pathology, odontology, anthropology and entomology are introduced and some basic forensic science techniques are discussed. Following completion of the course, participants will be able to discuss basic forensic science techniques and the contribution of the pathologist, the odontologist, the anthropologist and the entomologist to the field of forensic science. Topics include: overview of the forensic science program, history of forensic science, overview of the medicological system, cause of death v. manner of death v. mechanism of death, victim identification (fingerprints, odontology, mass disaster victim identification), time of death (forensic entomology, forensic anthropology, lividity, rigor mortis, algor mortis), decomposition (skin slippage, mottling, mummification, adipocere), sharp force trauma (knife wounds, chop wounds, defense wounds, diversionary wounds).
Prerequisite: permission from Dr. Meerdink or Ms. Myers

FORSC 202: Psychological, Sociological, and Legal Aspects of Forensic Science
This course introduces the student to the psychological, sociological, and legal dimensions of forensic science. Discussion of expert witness testimony and psychological profiling of perpetrators is included. Following completion of this course, students will be conversant with expert witness testimony and psychological and social aspects of forensic science. Topics include: nomenclature of mental disorders (personality disorders, antisocial personality), child abuse/neglect, sexual abuse/incest, elder abuse, battered women, Munchausen by Proxy, psychological testing, psychological profiling of suspect (organized v. disorganized serial murderer), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, serial homicide, expert witness testimony (voir dire), direct examination and cross examination, admissibility of evidence (Federal Rule of Evidence (FRE) 703—Frye Test and Merrill Dow; Daubert), court system (adjudication of felony convictions), sanity v. competence.

FORSC 203: Forensic Science Techniques
This course introduces the student to crime scene preservation and investigation, including collection, preservation and processing of evidence. Following completion of this course, participants will be knowledgeable about crime scene preservation and investigation techniques. Topics include: terminology (corpus delicty, mens rea, modus operandi), crime scene preservation, preservation of evidence (shoe/tire prints), crime scene investigation, chain of custody, criminalistics, overview of articulable suspicion and probable cause, Fourth Amendment Rights (search and seizure, search warrant), firearms evidence, toxicology/drug studies, DNA testing. Clinical study includes: tour of Nebraska State Patrol Criminalistics Laboratory and a four hour police ride along or an eight hour observation in an Emergency Department.

FORSC 204 Forensic Science II
This course provides an exploration of the concepts and principles related to the medicological investigation of injury and death, including post-mortem examination procedures. Following completion of this course, students will be conversant with various mechanisms of death. Participants will also be able to discuss the importance of the forensic autopsy. Topics include: sexual assault,, medicological post-mortem examination, blood spatters, motor vehicle accident investigation, head injury, chemical injury—alcohol/drug abuse, blunt force trauma (abrasion, contusion, laceration), patterned injuries, types of death (asphyxia, strangulation v. hanging, choke hold v. carotid sleeper hold, sexual (autoerotic) asphyxia, carbon monoxide overdose, drowning, electrocution, fire related death, exposure (hyperthermia/hypothermia), Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), Shaken Baby Syndrome, lightening strike, suicide (hesitation marks), homicide, sexual homicide). Clinical study includes: observing a post-mortem exam. Please note: schedule of speaker varies.

FORSC 297 Internship
The internship consists of 90 contact hours and is arranged with a forensic pathologist to expand clinical application of theory. Participants will write up six cases. Several internship sites are available in and out of state, including Lincoln, Miami, Kansas City and Pittsburgh. Be aware that internship costs are at each student’s expense, so plan accordingly. Before participating in the internship, all inoculations required for the Hepatitis B vaccine must be completed. We also recommend a current tetanus shot and some sites require a recent TB test. Participants are expected to follow practicum guidelines and complete required writing assignments.
Pass/Fail only.
Prerequisites: Forensic Science 201, 202, 203, and 204 and permission from Dr. Meerdink or Ms. Myers.

Special Requirements

The program includes four courses that generally meet every other Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., beginning in August and ending in May. Students also complete an internship practicum, which is normally conducted during the summer. Each course includes lectures given by a variety of different professionals. Classes are discussion- and presentation-based, and they also involve assigned readings, written work and exams.

Clinical experiences will include expert witness testimony observation and a tour of the crime lab. Three semester credit hours will be awarded for satisfactory completion of each course, including the internship.

Finally, because of the sensitive nature of the course material, a criminal background check will be conducted on all participants prior to registration for the program.

Master of Forensic Science Degree RequirementsCore Courses (required)
505 Fundamentals of Crime Scene Investigation 3 credits
506 Fundamentals of Evidence Processing 3 credits
507 Criminal Law and the Law of Evidence 3 credits
508 Medicolegal Death Investigation 3 credits
509 Cold Case Practicum 2 credits
597 Internship 2 credits

Forensic Science Specialty Area Courses
Behavioral Science Courses
(23 credits required)
515 Advanced Crime Scene Investigation 4 credits
516 Crime Scene House Practical 2 credits

530 Forensic Psychology 3 credits
531 Violence, Mental Illness and Risk Assessment 3 credits
532 Serial Offenders and Personality 3 credits
533 Criminal Investigative Analysis 3 credits
599 Internship/Research 6 credits
Forensic Biology/Chemistry Courses
(24 credits required)
516 Crime Scene House Practical 2 credits
540 Analytical Sciences as a Basis for Forensic Investigation 4 credits
541 Introduction to Forensic Biology 4 credits
542 DNA Testing, Quality Control and Lab Safety 6 credits
547 Forensic Chemistry 4 credits
599 Research Project 5 credits
Investigative Sciences
(23 credits required)
515 Advanced Crime Scene Investigation 4 credits
516 Crime Scene House Practical 2 credit
521 Forensic Archaeology 3 credits
522 Violence in Society 3 credits
523 Document Analysis 3 credits
599 Internship/Research 6 credits

Elective Seminars
(2 credits required for Behavioral Science & Investigative Science tracks; 1 credit required for Forensic Biology/Chemistry track)
572 Blood Spatter Analysis 1 credit
573 Advanced Blood Spatter Analysis 1 credit
576 Forensic Anthropology 1 credit
577 Expert Witness Testimony 1 credit
578 Forensic Linguistics 1 credit
579 Interviewing 1 credit

There are 42 Total Credits Required for a Master of Forensic Science Degree.