Forensic Chemistry (B.S.)

Admission Requirements

Prospective majors must complete CHE 111, CHE 112CHE 113 and CHE 114 (or the equivalents) with minimum grades of C before applying to the program. Students who have not yet met these requirements will be accepted into the pre-forensic chemistry program (FRCW) and will be formally admitted to the major upon completion of the previously stated requirements.

Admission Recommendations

Transfer students from two-year colleges should also have earned credit for courses equivalent to

CHE 201ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I3
CHE 202ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II3
CHE 203ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I1
CHE 204ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II1
MAT 161CALCULUS I4
MAT 162CALCULUS II4
MAT 163USING TECHNOLOGY TO EXPLORE CALCULUS I1
MAT 164USING TECHNOLOGY TO EXPLORE CALCULUS II1
PHY 111UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I5
PHY 112UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II5
BIO 211INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS4

to avoid possible delays in the completion of the degree program. Transfer students must complete a minimum of 10 credit hours in chemistry at Buffalo State. Chemistry courses taken elsewhere may be substituted for similar courses at Buffalo State only if they have equivalent prerequisites. Chemistry courses not meeting this criterion may be transferred as elective credit.

Important Note: Individuals seeking an internship or employment in a forensic science laboratory may be required to undergo an extensive background check including a lie detector test, fingerprinting, and drug testing.

Program Requirements

General Education 23 Requirements
33 credit hours33
Required Courses in Chemistry (33 credit hours)
CHE 111FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I3
CHE 112FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY II3
CHE 113LABORATORY FOR FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY I1
CHE 114LABORATORY FOR FUNDAMENTALS OF CHEMISTRY II1
CHE 201ORGANIC CHEMISTRY I3
CHE 202ORGANIC CHEMISTRY II3
CHE 203ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY I1
CHE 204ORGANIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY II1
CHE 301ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY4
CHE 331PRINCIPLES OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY3
CHE 403INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS3
CHE 404INSTRUMENTAL ANALYSIS LAB2
CHE 470BIOCHEMISTRY I3
CHE 471BIOCHEMICAL TECHNIQUES2
Required Courses in Forensic Science (19 credit hours)
Forensic Science
FOR 122SCIENTIFIC CRIMINAL EVIDENCE ANALYSIS3
FOR 312CHEMISTRY AND CRIMINALISTICS4
FOR 410PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES IN FORENSIC SCIENCE3
Advanced Forensic Science
FOR 414FORENSIC CHEMISTRY LABORATORY3
FOR 416CHEMICAL MICROSCOPY3
or CHE 406 ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY
Choose one from the following (Capstone):
FOR 412INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINALISTICS3
FOR 475CAPSTONE RESEARCH IN FORENSIC CHEMISTRY3
Required Courses in Biology (8 credit hours)
BIO 211INTRODUCTION TO CELL BIOLOGY AND GENETICS4
BIO 303GENETICS4
or BIO 350 GENES IN POPULATIONS
Upper Division Elective Courses (3-4 credit hours)
Select at least 3 credit hours from the following:3-4
THE HUMAN SKELETON
FORENSIC ANTHROPOLOGY
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
SURVEY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
LABORATORY SURVEY OF HUMAN ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY
ADVANCED CELL BIOLOGY
GENERAL MICROBIOLOGY
RECOMBINANT DNA TECHNOLOGY
LITERATURE OF CHEMISTRY
INTRODUCTION TO INORGANIC CHEMISTRY
ANALYTICAL TOXICOLOGY (*)
BIOCHEMISTRY II
INTERNSHIP IN CRIMINALISTICS (**)
CHEMICAL MICROSCOPY (*) (2)
SPECIAL PROJECT (**) (1-3)
FORENSIC GEOSCIENCE
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
Required Credit Hours Outside the Major (23 credit hours)
MAT 161CALCULUS I4
MAT 162CALCULUS II4
MAT 163USING TECHNOLOGY TO EXPLORE CALCULUS I1
MAT 164USING TECHNOLOGY TO EXPLORE CALCULUS II1
MAT 311INTRODUCTORY PROBABILITY AND STATISTICS3
PHY 111UNIVERSITY PHYSICS I5
PHY 112UNIVERSITY PHYSICS II5
All College Electives
0-2 credit hours0-2
Total Credit Hours120-126

* May not be used as both an Advanced Forensic Science elective and as an elective course in this category.
**May not be used as both a capstone course and as an elective course in this category.

Students will:

  1. demonstrate mastery of core knowledge in the area of Analytical Chemistry
  2. demonstrate mastery of core knowledge in the area of Organic Chemistry
  3. demonstrate mastery of basic concepts in the area of Physical Chemistry
  4. demonstrate a mastery of basic concepts in the area of Biochemistry
  5. use and understand the theory behind modern laboratory instrumentation
  6. demonstrate ability to analyze and evaluate experimental data
  7. be knowledgeable concerning safe laboratory practices
  8. keep a legible and complete experimental record
  9. be able to synthesize and characterize molecules
  10. demonstrate adequate technical report writing skills
  11. use a personal computer to analyze and collect scientific data
  12. demonstrate adequate oral presentation skills
  13. be prepared for a career in forensic chemistry or for advanced studies in Forensic Chemistry