Forensic Science Degree Requirements

Complete these requirements for a Forensic Science degree.

Required 120 credits (36 of which must be numbered 300 or above, and 30 of which must be from UND) including:

I. Essential Studies Requirements (see University ES listing)

II. Required curriculum

Required Curriculum

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
FS 120	Introduction to the Forensic Sciences	3
FS 345	Forensic Science Seminar	3
FS 346	Analysis of Forensic Evidence	3
FS 498	Courtroom Proceedings and Testimony for Forensic Scientists	3
FS 499	Forensic Entomology - From Crime Scene to Courtroom	3
PHIL 250	Ethics in Engineering and Science	3
CJ 201	Introduction to Criminal Justice	3
CJ 342	Criminal Procedure	3
CJ 352	Criminal Investigation	3
BIOL 150	General Biology I	3
BIOL 150L	General Biology I Laboratory	1
BIOL 151	General Biology II	3
BIOL 151L	General Biology II Laboratory	1
CHEM 121	General Chemistry I	3
CHEM 121L	General Chemistry I Laboratory	1
CHEM 122	General Chemistry II	3
CHEM 122L	General Chemistry II Laboratory	1
CHEM 341	Organic Chemistry I ^{CHEM 333 Analytical Chemistry + L can be used to fulfill this requirement with program approval, for the Criminal Investigation Concentration}	3
CHEM 341L	Organic Chemistry I Laboratory ^{CHEM 333 Analytical Chemistry + L can be used to fulfill this requirement with program approval, for the Criminal Investigation Concentration}	1
CHEM 342	Organic Chemistry II ^{CHEM 340 Survey of Organic Chemistry + L can be used to fulfill this requirement with program approval, for the Criminal Investigation Concentration}	3
CHEM 342L	Organic Chemistry II Laboratory ^{CHEM 340 Survey of Organic Chemistry + L can be used to fulfill this requirement with program approval, for the Criminal Investigation Concentration}	1
PHYS 161	Introductory College Physics I	4
or PHYS 211	College Physics I
PHYS 162	Introductory College Physics II	4
or PHYS 212	College Physics II
Select one of the following:
BIOL 470	Biostatistics	3-4
or MATH 321	Applied Statistical Methods
or SOC 326	Sociological Statistics
Select one of the following:
MATH 146	Applied Calculus I	3
or MATH 165	Calculus I
or MATH 166	Calculus II
Total Credits		65-66

Concentrations

Forensic Chemistry

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
FS 390	Forensic Chemistry	3
FS 394	Forensic Microscopy	3
CHEM 333	Analytical Chemistry	3
CHEM 333L	Analytical Chemistry Laboratory	1
CHEM 370	Drug Chemistry and Toxicology	3
CHEM 441	Instrumental Analysis I - Spectroscopy	2
CHEM 443	Instrumental Analysis III - Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry	2
BIOL 410	Molecular Biology Techniques	4

Total Credits		21

Criminal Investigation

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
CJ 320	Cybersecurity Law and Investigations	3
FS 347	Firearms and Ballistics	3
FS 348	Bloodstain Pattern Analysis	3
FS 349	Forensic Photography	3
FS 450	Crime Scene Investigation and Analysis of Pattern Evidence	3
FS 351	Trace Evidence Analysis	3
FS 352	Fingerprinting and Friction Ridge Processing and Examination	3
Total Credits		21

Forensic Biology

Course List
Code	Title	Credits
Required Courses
BIMD 301	Biochemistry	3
BIOL 315	Genetics	3
BIOL 320	Forensic Biology	3
BIOL 333	Population Biology	3
BIOL 410	Molecular Biology Techniques	4
BIOL 415	Genomics	4
FS 490	Forensic Microbiology	3
FS 353	Forensic Serology	3
Total Credits		26

Every student must fulfill all University, Essential Studies, and Departmental requirements.

Forensic Science Recommended Courses

FS 494 Forensic Science Research
FS 495 Forensic Science International Practical Experience
BIOL 363 Entomology
BIOL 341 Cell Biology and BIOL 341L Cell Biol Lab

Forensic Science Degree Requirements Disclaimer

The requirements on this page are pulled from UND’s academic catalog and may not reflect future terms. Updates are published annually in April.

General Education Courses

Essential Studies (ES) is UND’s program in general education. Along with your required major courses, it helps form the core of your UND undergraduate education. Your ES courses focus on essential skills employers require including communication, critical thinking and problem solving.