Forensic Science (BS)

The word “forensic” relates the application of scientific methods and techniques to the investigation of a crime. Plymouth State’s forensic program is geared to both science and non-science students who love investigation and problem-solving. Plymouth State Forensic is the first baccalaureate degree program from a public university in New Hampshire.

The collaborative and project-based emphasis of Plymouth State’s Cluster Learning model combined with core program studies in Criminal Justice and Chemistry along with specialized course work from Psychology, Computer Science, Biology, and Anthropology gives our students unmatched opportunity to excel in this field.  Professionals and distinguished faculty from each field will be involved in training our students. The BS in forensic science is a STEM-orientated program that emphasizes a solid theoretical foundation and laboratory skills while cultivating a critical, detail-oriented approach to investigations. The curriculum features modern laboratory setups and instrumentation.  An important consideration is given the huge surge in interest in careers that are experiencing exponential occupational growth, including forensic laboratory specialty, forensic psychology, and computer information security.

As a Forensic scientist, you can work in laboratories or at crime scenes. You may work as a private investigator, insurance officer, a cyber security analyst. You may choose to work for private and public offices or laboratories.

The curriculum is adaptable enough for students to obtain additional specialties and/or minors in Chemistry, Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Biology with few additional courses using their free electives.

Course Title Credits
Major Requirements
CJ 1020Criminal Justice in Action4
FS 1000Majoring and Working in Forensic Science.0.5
CJ 2045Criminal Procedure4
CJ 3005Criminal Investigation4
CJ 3025Forensic Science4
CH 1050Laboratory Safety1
CH 2010The Literature and Ethics of Chemistry0.5
CH 2250Techniques in Laboratory Chemistry2
CH 3400Instrumental Analysis (TECO)4
CH 4600Internship2
FS 4000Forensic Science Capstone Project2
Math and Technical Skills
MA 2300Statistics I (QRCO)3
MA 2130Precalculus (QRCO)4
or MA 2550 Calculus I (QRCO)
Take one of the following:3-4
Interdisciplinary Focus Areas
Take three lower-level (1000/2000) courses and take five upper-level (3000/4000) courses 1,224-32
===Forensic Lab Analysis Specialty===
CH 2335
General Chemistry I (QRCO)
CH 2340
General Chemistry II
BI 1110
Biological Science I (TECO)
BI 1120
Biological Science II
BI 2030
Invertebrate Zoology
CH 3370
Organic Chemistry I
CH 3380
Organic Chemistry II
CH 3410
Physical Chemistry: Thermodynamics and Kinetics (WRCO)
BI 3060
Genetics
ESP 3300
Soils and Environmental Change
===Digital Forensic Specialty===
CS 2010
Computing Fundamentals (TECO)
MA 2550
Calculus I (QRCO)
MA 2560
Calculus II (QRCO)
CS 3420
Introduction to Cybersecurity
CS 4500
Topics in Computer Science and Technology
CS 4420
Computer Security
CS 4520
CyberEthics (DICO,INCO,INCP,WRCO)
CJ 3015
Cybercrime
===Forensic Psychology Specialty===
PS 1120
Cognitive Psychology Laboratory
PS 2015
Introduction to General Psychology
PS 2055
Life-Span Developmental Psychology
PS 3035
Social Psychology
PS 3115
Research Methods and Statistics I (QRCO,TECO)
PS 3125
Research Methods and Statistics II (WRCO)
PS 3220
Cognitive Psychology
PS 3325
Abnormal Psychology
PS 3705
Psychology and Law
PS 4365
Internship in Psychology
PS 4945
Independent Research in Psychology
General Education Requirements
EN 1400Composition4
IS 1115Tackling a Wicked Problem4
CTDICreative Thought Direction3-4
PPDIPast and Present Direction3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 34-8
DICODiversity Connection3-4
WECOWellness Connection3-4
INCPIntegrated Capstone4
Electives24-14
Total Credits120
1

To enhance career opportunities students may choose one or two interdisciplinary specialties as long as they take two lower-level and five upper-level courses. One thing students must be aware of is the courses in some specialty may have lower-level prerequisites associated with the same specialty. Students may use their free electives to choose additional courses to get a minor or a second major.

2

The courses from the Interdisciplinary Specialty can be applied towards one or more minor requirements. Possible minors of interest: Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, Criminal Justice, Mathematics, Psychology. 

3

Directions should total 20 credits (unless the major has a waiver for a specific Direction).

Plan of Study Grid
Year OneCredits
IS 1115 Tackling a Wicked Problem 4
EN 1400 Composition 4
FS 1000 Majoring and Working in Forensic Science. 0.5
CH 2010 The Literature and Ethics of Chemistry 0.5
CH 1050 Laboratory Safety 1
CH 2250 Techniques in Laboratory Chemistry 2
CJ 1020 Criminal Justice in Action 4
MA 2300 Statistics I (QRCO) 3
PPDIPast and Present Direction 3-4
SIDIScientific Inquiry Direction 3-4
One 1000/2000 level specialty course 4
 Credits29-31
Year Two
CJ 2045 Criminal Procedure 4
MA 2130 Precalculus (QRCO) 4
Two 1000/2000 level specialty course 8
CTDICreative Thought Direction 3-4
SSDISelf and Society Direction 3-4
Directions (choose from CTDI, PPDI, SIDI, SSDI) 4-8
Electives 3-4
 Credits29-36
Year Three
CJ 3005 Criminal Investigation 4
CJ 3025 Forensic Science 4
GACOGlobal Awareness Connection 3-4
Three 3000/4000 level specialty course 12
Electives 6-8
 Credits29-32
Year Four
FS 4000 Forensic Science Capstone Project 2
CH 3400 Instrumental Analysis (TECO) 4
Two 3000/4000 level specialty courses
WECOWellness Connection 3-4
DICODiversity Connection 3-4
Electives 6-8
 Credits18-22
 Total Credits120