The Forensic Studies minor is intended for students with a passion for solving problems, a love of science, and a commitment to justice. The key principle is that forensics means applying science to law. Any scientific or technical discipline can become forensic when applied in legal or investigative contexts. This minor gives students the tools to bridge that gap. For students majoring in Criminal Justice, it offers specialized training and experience to pursue careers as criminalists, or as they’re more commonly known, crime scene investigators. For students in other majors, the program introduces the procedural and evidentiary concepts needed to apply their expertise - in fields such as chemistry, biology, physics, psychology, or computer science - to forensic or investigative careers. The Forensic Studies minor aims to provide students with foundational knowledge and practical skills commonly applied in crime scene investigations such as scene security, photography, evidence collection and documentation, and blood spatter analysis.
Credit hours: 21
School: Science, Health, and Criminal Justice
Department: Criminal Justice
Courses for the Forensic Studies minor
A minor must include a minimum of 12 hours unduplicated by your major(s) and minor(s).
- CJA 226 Criminal Investigations (3)
- CJA 227 Forensic Crime Scene Investigations (3)
- CJA 327 Applied Forensic Crime Scene Investigation (3)
- CJA 351 Criminal Procedure (3)
Select one of the following courses:
- CJA 380 Cybercrime (3)
- CJA 404 Drugs, Alcohol, and Crime (3)
- CJA 405 Family Violence (3)
- CJA 451 Violent Crime and Victimology (3)
- CJA 460 Emergency Management (3)
Plus 6 hours of the following:
- ART 363 Digital Photography (3)
- *CJA 105 Introduction to Criminal Justice (3)
- GEO 435 Computer Mapping (3)
- ITE 214 Residential Drawing (3)
- PED 105 Anatomy and Physiology I (3)
- PHI 105 Ethics and Values (3)
- PHY 201 General Physics I (3)
- PHY 321 Physics Laboratory (3)
- PSY 406 Death and Dying (3)
- PSY 408 Forensic Psychology (3)
*If you are majoring in Criminal Justice, you may not take CJA 105 as an elective.
Note: This program is also available as a dual bachelor's degree. View the Forensic Science program (Chemistry/Chemical Sciences + Criminal Justice).
