Forensic Science, Bachelor of Science
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. Ideally, candidates for John Jay College science majors will meet the following criteria:
1. At least an 81 CAA (High School Academic Average); AND
2. 3 years of High School Math; AND
3. 3 years of High School Science; AND
4. Have taken High School Chemistry Regents OR High School Chemistry course.
Students who wish to transfer into the Forensic Science major must have earned at least 30 credits, have an overall GPA of at least 2.5, and a Math/Science GPA of 2.5 or higher in science major courses to be admitted. In addition, students must have taken Chemistry and Biology courses appropriate to their class standing upon transferring. Students who transfer with less than 30 credits must meet the admissions standards listed above.
Credits Required.
| Forensic Science Major |
81-84
|
| General Education |
42 |
| Electives |
3-6
|
| Total Credits Required for B.S. Degree |
120 |
Note: 9 credits overlap between Forensic Science major requirements and General Education requirements, leaving room for 3-6 credits of general electives before reaching the required 120 credits for the bachelors degree.
Coordinator. Professor Jennifer Rosati, Department of Sciences (212.393.6868, jrosati@jjay.cuny.edu)
Advisor. Professors Sandra Swenson (212.237.8820, sswenson@jjay.cuny.edu) and Shu-Yuan (Demi) Cheng (212-237-8423, scheng@jjay.cuny.edu), Department of Sciences.
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 information. Major Advising resources (including Sample Four Year Degree Map).
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.
Depending on mathematics placement, students may need to take MAT 105 College Algebra and MAT 141 Pre-Calculus as prerequisites for the required calculus course, MAT 151 ( formerly MAT 241). Either prerequisite course can satisfy the Required Core: Math and Quantitative Reasoning category of the Gen Ed program.
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.
Course information. Placement into beginning Biology and Chemistry courses is determined by students' math preparation AND majoring in Forensic Science.
Academic Standards/GPA Requirement. Students must maintain a GPA of 2.0 or better in the science and mathematics courses of the major to qualify for progression to the sophomore- and junior-level courses in the major. Students not maintaining the necessary GPA will be dropped from the major. Students may appeal this decision to the department chairperson.
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.
Experiential learning opportunities. During their senior year students in the Forensic Science program can participate in a variety of experiential learning opportunities. Students may enroll in the undergraduate research course, FOS 402, and participate in a faculty-sponsored laboratory research project. Students present their original research at a poster session open to the public and may have the opportunity to present at meetings and conferences. Students who do not choose the research option, enroll in FOS 401 and do an internship in a crime laboratory as their senior experience to complete the major.
Foundational Courses
May be required depending on math placement
Advisors recommendation:
MAT 141 fulfills the Required Core: Math and Quantitative Reasoning area of the Gen Ed Program depending on individual student’s placement.
Total Credit Hours: 0-3
Part One. Science and Math Requirements
Freshman year
Required
BIO 101 + BIO 102 may be taken in place of BIO 103
CHE 101 + CHE 102 may be taken in place of CHE 103
General education info: Students are required to take
BIO 103 for the Required Core: Life and Physical Science Gen Ed requirement. Three credits count toward general education; the two additional credits for the STEM variant are counted toward the major. Students are required to take
BIO 104 OR
CHE 103 for the Flexible Core: Scientific World Gen Ed requirement. Three credits count toward general education; the additional credits are counted toward the major.
MAT 241 is required for the major if not taken for the Required Core: Math and Quantitative Reasoning Gen Ed requirement.
Note: This program has received a waiver to specify particular courses students must take in some areas of the Common Core. If students take different courses in these areas, they will be certified as having completed the Common Core areas, but it may not be possible for them to finish their degree program within the regular number of credits.
Sophomore year
Required
Junior year
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 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 18 |
Total Credit Hours: 67
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 |
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 |
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: 81-84