Forensic Science Dual Admission Program with Bronx Community College (CUNY Justice Academy)
As part of the CUNY Justice Academy, the Forensic Science AS/BS Dual Enrollment Program allows students to complete an AS in Science for Forensics at Bronx Community College and continue in the BS degree program in Forensic Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. The major in Forensic Science is designed to provide academic and professional training for students seeking to work in forensic science laboratories, or who are planning to pursue careers as research scientists, teachers or medical professionals. The major draws primarily from chemistry (organic, analytical and physical) with courses in biology, physics and law. Students may specialize in one of three tracks: Criminalistics, Molecular Biology, or Toxicology.
Learning outcomes. Students will:
- Draw appropriate scientific conclusions from evidence and experimental data.
- Understand the role of creativity in problem solving.
- Apply scientific principles in gathering and interpreting scientific data.
- Acquire broad fundamental concepts, theories, and principles in physical and biological sciences.
- Use the primary scientific literature effectively in their own research.
- Describe the scientific progress that has led to their research project.
- Accrue hands-on laboratory and practical research skills, including emphasizing the role of quality assurance and objectivity in scientific data collection and how these relate to the system of professional ethics in science.
- Develop competence in oral and written forms of scientific communication.
Admission Requirements. To be admitted to the Forensic Science major, students must have earned a Mathematics/Science GPA of 2.5 or higher in science major courses. CUNY Justice Academy students who possess an A.S. in Science for Forensics but do not meet this standard may select a Chemistry minor and enroll in CHE 220 (if not taken at the community college) and/or CHE 302. Upon completing these courses with a grade of C or higher, the student may petition the department chair for admission to the major.
Credits Required.
| Science for Forensics A.S. from Bronx Community College |
60 |
| General Education at John Jay (college option, plus any Flexible Core courses not completed at BCC) |
6-12 |
| Major Courses at John Jay |
35-39 |
| Electives |
9-19
|
| Total Credits Required for B.S. Degree |
120
|
Coordinator. Professor Nicholas Petraco, Department of Sciences (212.484.1315, npetraco@jjay.cuny.edu).
Advisor. Professor Sandra Swenson, Department of Sciences (212.237.8820, sswenson@jjay.cuny.edu)
Science Internship Directors. Professor Linda Rourke for forensic science laboratory internships (646.557.4501, lrourke@jjay.cuny.edu), Edgardo Sanabria-Valentin for research internships (212.393.6489, esanabriavalentin@jjay.cuny.edu)
Advising resources.
Two-year Plan of Study (coming soon)
Additional information. An internship is required for the forensic science degree. This can be fulfilled by either FOS 401 or FOS 402. The internship requirement is to be completed after the junior year in the Forensic Science major progression. Consult the course descriptions in this bulletin or the designated coordinator for proper program planning. Please note that certain courses have specific prerequisites that must be taken for timely progression through the major. The chemistry or biology taken in the freshman year of the Forensic Science major fulfills the science component of the general education requirements.
Students who enrolled for the first time at the College or changed to this major in September 2017 or thereafter must complete the major in the form presented here. Students who enrolled prior to that date may choose either the form shown here or the earlier version of the major. A copy of the earlier version may be obtained in the 2016-2017 Undergraduate Bulletin.
Honors in the Major: Students must have completed FOS 401 Forensic Science Laboratory Internship or FOS 402 Undergraduate Research Internship with a grade of B+ or higher, completed all requirements for the major and have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative GPA in courses above the 100-level in the major. Credit for courses required as prerequisites for major courses and transfer credits applied to the major will not be calculated into the major cumulative GPA. Students must also have earned at least a 3.2 overall cumulative GPA. This honor will be noted on the student’s transcript.
Please note: The majority of courses required for the degree in Forensic Science are not available in the evening.
Foundational Courses
| MTH 30 (at BCC) | Pre-Calculus Mathematics | 4 |
Depending on mathematics placement, students may need to complete pre-calculus.
Total Credit Hours: 0-3
Part One. Science Requirements
Taken at Bronx Community College
Required
| BIO 11 (at BCC) | General Biology I | 4 |
| BIO 12 (at BCC) | General Biology II | 4 |
| CHM 11 (at BCC) | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHM 12 (at BCC) | General Chemistry I | 4 |
| CHM 31 (at BCC) | Organic Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHM 32 (at BCC) | Organic Chemistry II | 5 |
| CHM 33 (at BCC) | Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| MTH 31 (at BCC) | Analytical Geometry & Calculus I | |
| MTH 32 (at BCC) | Analytical Geometry & Calculus II | 5 |
| PHY 31 (at BCC) | Physics I | 4 |
| | | |
| PHY 32 (at BCC) | Physics II | 4 |
| | OR | |
| PHY 204 | General Physics II | 4 |
Students who do not complete PHY 32 Physics II at Bronx Community College must take PHY 204 at John Jay. Students must take Physics II before beginning Fall semester of their junior year to be on track to complete the A.S./B.S. degree in four years.
Taken at John Jay
Required
| CHE 302 | Physical Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHE 315 | Biochemistry | 4 |
| CHE 320 | Instrumental Analysis I | 4 |
| CHE 321 | Instrumental Analysis II | 4 |
| MAT 301 | Probability & Mathematical Statistics I | 3 |
| LAW 202 | Law and Evidence | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 21 |
In addition to required science courses, students must complete any flexible core general education requirements not completed at the community college.
Part Two. Specializations
Criminalistics Track
Junior year
| FOS 313 | An Introduction to Criminalistics for Forensic Science Majors | 3 |
Senior year
| FOS 401 | Forensic Science Laboratory Internship | 3 |
| | or | |
| FOS 402 | Undergraduate Research Internship | 3 |
| FOS 415 | Forensic Science Laboratory I | 4 |
| FOS 416 | Forensic Science Laboratory II | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Toxicology Track
Junior year
| TOX 313 | Toxicology of Environmental and Industrial Agents | 3 |
Senior year
| FOS 401 | Forensic Science Laboratory Internship | 3 |
| | or | |
| FOS 402 | Undergraduate Research Internship | 3 |
| TOX 415 | Forensic Pharmacology | 4 |
| TOX 416 | Analytical Toxicology | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Molecular Biology Track
Junior year
Senior year
| BIO 412 | Molecular Biology | 4 |
| BIO 413 | Forensic DNA Analysis and Interpretation | 4 |
| FOS 401 | Forensic Science Laboratory Internship | 3 |
| | or | |
| FOS 402 | Undergraduate Research Internship | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Total Credit Hours: 70-76