Forensic Science Program

A dual-degree Forensic Science career pathway

Discover the exciting world of forensic science when you pair the disciplines of criminal justice and chemistry at Wayne State.

Forensic science is the application of science to the law, using scientific methodology to collect and analyze evidence in an investigation. It requires an extensive background in the natural sciences, coupled with practical laboratory experience, all which students can gain at Wayne State College’s Criminal Justice Crime Scene Investigation Facility.

Through the study of forensic science, you’ll combine different aspects of science – natural, lab, and social – to prepare for a career related to crime scenes and investigation. You'll graduate with Criminal Justice and Chemistry degrees from Wayne State, and you’ll be ready to dive into the world of scientific analysis.

View program courses Download program fact sheet (PDF)

Fast facts

Degree options: B.A. or B.S. in Chemistry/Chemical Sciences + B.A. or B.S. in Criminal Justice

Delivery format: On campus (Wayne)

Program credit hours: 91

Chemistry degree courses (55 credit hours)
Criminal justice degree courses (36 credit hours)

Note: Students must also take 30 credit hours of General Studies courses. A total of 120 credit hours are needed to graduate from WSC. Additional majors or minors can be added to help meet graduation requirements.

School: Science, Health, and Criminal Justice

Department: Criminal Justice

Prepare for your future

Opportunities and outcomes

Chemistry topics covered

Fundamental aspects of organic chemistry
Scientific writing, research, data collection, and analysis
Use of modern lab equipment and instruments in chemistry
Principles and theories of inorganic chemistry
Laboratory management, techniques, and safety
Behavior and properties of matter at the molecular and atomic level
Physics for scientists and health professions

Criminal justice topics covered

Institutions and processes of law enforcement and corrections
Criminal law and procedures
Nature, role, and function of police in society
Nature, causes, and processing of juvenile delinquency
Prisons and correctional institutions
Parole and probationary concepts
Nature and causes of crime
Efforts of the criminal justice system to predict, prevent, modify, and correct criminal behavior

Nebraska S-STEM Scholars Program

Incoming first-year students studying Forensic Science are eligible for the Nebraska S-STEM Program. Students in the program are awarded up to $10,000 per year based on their unmet financial needs. If selected for the program, you’ll be guided by faculty mentors through independent research projects beginning your first year and supported by a team of advisors, supplemental instructors, and peer tutors. A research and travel stipend is also provided to help you attend regional conferences and network with fellow mathematicians, and present your research. Additionally, you’ll live in the residence halls for your first two years alongside other S-STEM scholars, where you’ll support each other while developing leadership and professional skills.

Nebraska S-STEM Program

Criminal justice internships

Our outstanding Career Services Office is available to help you find criminal justice internships and career opportunities. Students recently completed internships at the following locations:

Haven House Family Services
Lincoln Police Department
Lincoln Regional Center
Madison County Attorney’s Office
Madison County Sheriff’s Department
Masonic Eastern Star Home for Children
Miller Law Office
Minnesota Department of Corrections
Norfolk Police Department
Woodbury County Juvenile Detention Center

Career services and internships

Graduates of Wayne State work in their chosen field using the skills they learned while at Wayne State College. Each year, eager employers welcome WSC graduates into their organizations.

Jobs of recent graduates:

Criminal Investigator - Stanton County Sheriff's Office (Stanton, Neb.)
Investigator - Nebraska State Patrol (Omaha, Neb.)

job or grad school placement rate
within six months of graduation
Data based on most recent
employment outcomes survey

Cost of attendance

Most Affordable College in Nebraska

- College Affordability Guide, 2024

Wayne State is considered the most affordable four-year college or university in Nebraska. With same rates for in- and out-of-state students, our tuition guarantee, and our generous scholarship packages, it is clear to see how WSC earned the title. In fact, the average remaining annual cost of attendance for 2024-25 is $2,268 for undergraduate students after financial aid and scholarships.

Chemistry courses (55 credits)

Credits: 4
Description: Emphasis on nomenclature, atomic structure, bonding, gaseous and liquid states, equilibrium, and stoichiometry. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: High school chemistry or CHE 102 Chemistry for General Studies
Credits: 4
Description: A continuation of CHE 106 General Chemistry I with emphasis on kinetics, redox reactions, molecular geometry, hydrolysis, electrochemistry, and solubility products. Qualitative analysis included. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 106 or by consent of instructor
Credits: 4
Description: Emphasis on theories and application of quantitative analysis including gravimetric and volumetric procedures. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107 General Chemistry II
Credits: 4
Description: This course is designed to allow students to learn the fundamental aspects of organic chemistry. Among the topics covered will be structure determination, bonding, stereochemistry, and spectroscopy. Also included are the structure and reactivity of alkenes, alkynes, alkyl halides, and alcohols. The laboratory work will introduce the equipment and techniques of chemistry, which relate to the material discussed in the lecture. The experiments will develop organic laboratory techniques for product formation, isolation, purification, and identification. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107
Credits: 4
Description: This is a continuation of CHE 314. Among the topics covered will be electrophilic substitution, alcohols, aromatic chemistry, ethers, epoxides, and carbonyl chemistry, including nucleophilic substitution, carboxylic acids, alpha-substitution, and condensation reactions. The laboratory work introduces the equipment and techniques of organic chemistry, which relate to the material discussed in the lecture. The experiments will develop synthetic methods for product formation, isolation, purification, and identification. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107
Credits: 1
Description: This course is designed for Chemistry majors as an introduction to scientific writing, library research, data collection, and data analysis. The student will be expected to use the skills learned in this course to establish a proposal for a research project for CHE 470. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: 8 hours of chemistry
Credits: 4
Description: Instrumental analysis in qualitative and quantitative procedures employing IR, UV, visible and atomic absorption spectrometers as well as other modern instruments such as gas chromatographs and electroanalytical system. 3 hours of lecture and 3 hours of laboratory. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 305 Analytical Chemistry
Credits: 3
Description: Principles and theories of inorganic chemistry.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107 General Chemistry II
Credits: 1
Description: Introduction to the direction of students in freshman or sophomore laboratories. Preparation of solutions, supervision of laboratory activities, evaluation of laboratory reports and instruction in the principles of laboratory safety. 3-6 hours per week. Cannot be repeated.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 107 General Chemistry II
Credits: 3
Description: Investigations into the properties of ideal and real gases, the first, second, and third laws of thermodynamics, the thermodynamics of pure substances, simple mixtures, chemical equilibrium, and equilibrium electrochemistry with special applications for the life sciences.
Prerequisite: PHY 301 University Physics I
Credits: 3
Description: Investigations into quantum theory, atomic structure, atomic spectra, molecular structure, and molecular spectroscopy: including rotational, vibrational, electronic, and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 456 or by permission of instructor
Credits: 1
Description: This course is a continuation of CHE 370. Students will take this course as a means of completing their individual research project under the direction of a chosen instructor. A presentation of this research in both oral and written form is required at the conclusion of the course. This course may be repeated up to a total of 3 hours. Class fee of $20 required.
Prerequisite: CHE 370 Introduction to Research
Credits: 1-2
Description: Management of advanced laboratories. Preparation of reagents, maintenance of equipment, laboratory supervision, evaluation of student performance, grading of laboratory notebooks, instructions in experimental design. 6-12 hours a week.
Prerequisite: C- or better in CHE 393 Laboratory Techniques
Credits: 4
Description: A calculus-based general physics course intended primarily for scientists, pre-engineers, computer and math majors and advanced health professional students. Topics include vectors, kinematics and dynamics, equilibrium, rotational motion, energy, momentum, oscillations, fluids, and thermodynamics. Concurrent enrollment in PHY 321 Physics Laboratory I required.
Prerequisite: High school physics and MAT 140 Calculus I or equivalent calculus class
Credits: 4
Description: A second semester calculus-based general physics course intended primarily for scientists, pre-engineers, computer and math majors, and advanced health professional students. Topics include electricity, magnetism, optics, and modern physics. PHY 322 Physics Laboratory II concurrent enrollment by advisement.
Prerequisite: PHY 301 University Physics I
Credits: 1
Description: Concurrent enrollment in PHY 201/301 recommended but not required. This laboratory is a required course for both PHY 201 and PHY 301. Experiments, appropriate to the level of lecture, include topics in mechanics, momentum, work and energy, and fluids. 3 hours lab. Physics lab fee of $20 required.
Credits: 1
Description: This laboratory is a required course for PHY 202 General Physics II but may be taken in a subsequent semester. It is optional for PHY 302 University Physics II, depending on the student’s program. Experiments, appropriate to the level of the lecture, include topics in electricity, magnetism, and basic optics. 3 hours lab. Physics lab fee of $20 required.
Choose one of the following:
- CHE 458 Physical Chemistry Lab (1 credit) – Laboratory investigations of physical chemistry concepts including: the properties of gases, thermochemistry, chemical equilibrium, quantum chemistry, and spectroscopy. 3 hours lab. Prerequisite: CHE 456 Physical Chemistry I.
- CHE 480 Advanced Laboratory Methods(1 credit) – This is an advanced laboratory course featuring integrative, project-based activities. Projects will incorporate instrumental and chemical techniques used in cross-disciplinary studies at both the advanced undergraduate and post-baccalaureate level. Prerequisite: 15 hours of upper-level chemistry courses.
Chemistry electives numbered 300 or above (7 credits) – For a complete listing of courses and their descriptions, view the course catalog. Up to 4 hours of CHE 490 Chemistry Seminar may be counted toward CHE electives.

Criminal Justice courses (36 credit hours)

Credits: 3
Description: This is a survey course designed to acquaint the student with the total field of criminal justice emphasizing the institutions and processes of law enforcement and corrections.
Credits: 3
Description: Criminal Law focuses on substantive criminal law, including constitutional limitations on government power, elements of crimes, and criminal responsibility and defenses. Criminal laws explored include inchoate offenses, person crimes, property offenses, crimes against public morality, alcohol and drug offenses, offenses against public order and safety, and offenses against justice and public administration.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: Examines the role of the police in relationship to law enforcement and American Society. Topics include, but are not limited to, the role and function of police, the nature of police organizations and police work, and the patterns of police-community relations.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: The study of the nature and extent of juvenile delinquency in the U.S., theories of cause, and the special police processing and court systems which deal with delinquency, with focus on the role of schools, drugs, gangs, racial groups, and females as special topics in delinquency.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: This course focuses on writing effective investigatory reports which follow fundamental guidelines established to ensure accurate information for use by professionals working cases in law enforcement, social worker, security, corrections, parole/probation, and forensics. Ongoing topics covered include diligent notetaking, appropriate grammar, and proper organization of information for a clear, concise, correct, and complete report.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: The course focuses on the historical development of prisons, and a discussion of the current structure, philosophy, character, and issues of modern correctional institutions.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: The study of the correctional processes at the community level including the parole and probationary concepts. Emphasis is on applied techniques.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: This course focuses on the procedural criminal law, including search and seizure, arrest, interrogation and identification procedures, the pretrial process, the criminal trial, sentencing and punishment, and appeal and post-conviction relief.
Prerequisite: CJA 200 Criminal Law
Credits: 3
Description: This course reviews the nature and causes of crime and efforts of the criminal justice system to predict, prevent, modify, and correct criminal behavior. Criminological theories of crime and criminality from classical theories to modern theories will be examined. Students will also assess the benefits and weaknesses of major sources of crime statistics and their impact on criminal justice policy.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice
Credits: 3
Description: This course is a capstone course wherein students research the career field and job market, conduct original research, focus on issues in the profession, and dialogue on personal values and skills for the career field.
Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice and senior standing
Select two from the following (at least 3 credits must be 300-level or above):
- CJA 127 Introduction to Forensic Crime Scene Investigation (3 credits)– Introduction to scientific investigation and the use of the crime laboratory. Includes proper methods of collecting, handling, packaging, and mailing of evidence to be analyzed by the crime laboratory. Also covers such scientific techniques as neuroactivation and analysis, toxicology, and questioned document analysis. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 226 Criminal Investigation (3 credits) – Introduces criminal investigation procedures. Reviews the historical development and investigative processes related to law enforcement functions. Topics include, but are not limited to the proper collection, organization and preservation of evidence using basic investigative tools; examining the primary sources of information; analyzing the importance of writing skills; and reviewing the constitutional (legal) limitations of the investigation. Prerequisite:Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 235 Security and Loss Prevention (3 credits) – Provides insight into the complex problems of loss prevention in today’s society, including security staffing needs, fire protection and control, duties and responsibilities of security personnel, internal controls, emergency and disaster planning and internal theft. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 360 Homeland Security and Terrorism (3 credits) – This course examines the nature and extent of the threat from internal and external political groups as well as how the federal law enforcement community was restructured in a post 9-11 period. Agency structure, funding, training jurisdiction, issues, and contemporary court cases are topics. Prerequisite: CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 370 Crime and the Media (3 credits) – This course will examine the representations of crime and the criminal justice system in the media. It will examine how the media presents, represents, distorts, and/or screens issues in our society related to crime and justice. This course will evaluate television, film, newspaper, and electronic/internet media to examine how these entities are used as a mechanism to explore issues that are central to the study of crime.
- CJA 372 Environmental, White Collar, and Corporate Crime (3 credits) – This course focuses on individual and group criminal behavior tied to economic, political, and privileged positions that facilitate the commission of crimes and deviance at the national and international level. The course will examine and define environmental crime and environmental justice with special emphasis on types of crimes, types of criminals, related legislation and politics, and enforcement issues.
- CJA 377 Gangs and Organized Crime (3 credits) – This course provides insight on gangs and organized crime by examining the history, structure, activities, identification of criminal and organized groups, and government efforts to control them both nationally and internationally. Topics include illegal trafficking, money laundering and cybercrime. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 380 Cybercrime (3 credits) – This course focuses on the latest trends and best practices associated with cybercrime and investigation contexts, processes, and procedures. Topics include identity theft, hacking, cyberterrorism, child sexual abuse, cyberbullying, the Deep Web, and the Dark Web.
- CJA 382 Capital Punishment in America (3 credits) – This course considers the legal, political, and social implications of the practice of capital punishment in the United States. Students will examine the historical, moral, philosophical, legal, and socio-cultural perspectives that frame arguments for and against capital punishment.
- CJA 404 Drugs, Alcohol, and Crime (3 credits) – This course examines drug use and abuse, the impact of drugs on the human body, and how drugs are correlated with crime. The course will explore theoretical explanations for drug use and abuse, current treatment, and prevention strategies, along with the criminal justice system’s response in prevention and public policy. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 405 Family Violence (3 credits) – The course examines child abuse, dating violence, domestic violence, sexual assault, and elder abuse. Particular topics include theories of abuse, societal responses to abuse, and assistance to victims. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 444 Topics in Criminal Justice (3 credits) – Current or special issues in criminal justice will be examined. The course offers students the opportunity to discuss relevant issues facing society. This course may be repeated, by advisement, with different topics. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 451 Violent Crime and Victimology (3 credits) – This course focuses on definitions, patterns, and society reactions to violent crimes and victims, theoretical explanations of violence, and how the criminal justice system attempts to control crimes and respond to victims. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 460 Emergency Management (3 credits) – Current topics of concern regarding strategies of disaster assessment, mitigation, response, recovery, and preparedness will be discussed. This course will focus on types of natural and man-made disasters, federal, state, and local reactions to disasters, disaster communications, and the management of responses to terrorist attacks. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice or CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice.
- CJA 497 Internship (3 credits) – Placement in a professional capacity in an agency for a supervised period of at least 50 hours per credit. Prerequisite: Major in Criminal Justice, instructor permission, 2.5 GPA, and junior level or above.
- SOC 220 Social Problems (3 credits) – Study and discussion of selected social issues including racism, ageism, sexism, poverty, welfare, and environment.
- SOC 305 Sociology of Deviance (3 credits) – Theory-guided study and discussion of selected topics regarding areas of deviance including alcoholism, drug abuse, mental illness, crime, and domestic violence. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology, SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SOC 320 Social Welfare (3 credits) – Designed for those interested in understanding social welfare systems, public assistance processes and policies, social services programs, client/patron relations, current issues associated with welfare programming, and the influences of politics of social welfare. Prerequisite: SOC 101 Introduction to Sociology, SOC 220 Social Problems, or instructor permission.
- SSC 300 Social Science Research Methods (3 credits) – This course introduces students to basic quantitative and qualitative research methods. The course covers methodological concepts, the steps in the research process, measurement, research design, elementary data analysis, and report writing. Students are introduced to analysis of research reported in professional literature. This class includes computer applications in research methods. Prerequisite: 9 hours of coursework in the social sciences.
- SSC 319 Statistics for the Social Sciences (3 credits) – Introduction to the statistical measures commonly used in Social Sciences research and their application to research problems in the various Social Sciences disciplines. Includes use of computer statistical packages for Social Sciences. Prerequisite: 3 hours of math.

Popular pairings

Many students at Wayne State will add a minor to complement their program of study or to focus their studies on a specific topic. Students who recently pursued the Forensic Science pathway at Wayne State also paired this major with one or more of the following minors:

Biology (minor)
Psychology (minor)
Sociology (minor)
Spanish (minor)

View all majors and minors

Related programs

Students interested in the Forensic Science program may also be interested in:

Criminal Justice (B.A. or B.S.)
Health Sciences (B.A. or B.S.)
Mortuary Science (B.A. or B.S.)

The professors in the Criminal Justice program are so involved in your well-being as a student and are very interested in your education. Our professors have experience in the field and know what they are talking about. Our CSI house is led by an instructor with experience in crime scene investigation and forensic science, and we get to use the actual materials that are used in the field. As a Criminal Justice major, you can also join the Criminal Justice Association, which allows you to listen to speakers from the field and learn from them and go on excursions to different places such as prisons, etc. It also helps you to connect with people in the field for future opportunities.

Shay-Ony Obispa

Curacao

Major: Criminal Justice