Forensic Science Program
offered by the College of Science
George Mason University
LINKS & RESOURCES
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Association of Firearm and Toolmark Examiners (AFTE)
RELATED PUBLICATIONS
The American Journal of Forensic Medicine and Pathology
(Association of Medical Examiners)
Journal of Forensic Sciences
(American Academy of Forensic Sciences)
Canadian Society of Forensic Science Journal
(Canadian Society of Forensic Science)
B.S. in Forensic Science
Students planning professional careers in the field of forensic science should choose this degree.
Students must fulfill all requirements for bachelor’s degrees including university general education requirements. In addition, students majoring in forensic science must complete the following courses with a minimum GPA of 2.30. No more than two courses with a grade of D (1.00) may be applied to the major. Through course work below, students satisfy the university-wide requirements in natural science and quantitative reasoning. Students who take FRSC 405 will satisfy this major’s writing-intensive requirement.
This program of study is offered by the Forensic Science Program in the College of Science.
Degree Requirements
Forensic science core courses (21 credits)
- FRSC 200 - Survey of Forensic Science Credits: 3
- FRSC 201 - Introduction to Criminalistics Credits: 3
- FRSC 302 - Forensic Bio-Trace Credits: 3
- FRSC 303 - Forensic Evidence and Ethics Credits: 3
- FRSC 304 - Forensic Chemistry and Microscopy Credits: 3
- FRSC 405 - Independent Studies / Research Credits: 3
- CRIM 100 - Introduction to Criminal Justice Credits: 3
Natural science core courses (45-46 credits)
- CHEM 211 - General Chemistry Credits: 4
- CHEM 212 - General Chemistry Credits: 4
- CHEM 313 - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
- CHEM 314 - Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
- CHEM 315 - Organic Chemistry Lab I Credits: 2
- CHEM 318 - Organic Chemistry Lab II Credits: 2
- MATH 113 - Analytic Geometry and Calculus I Credits: 4
- STAT 250 - Introductory Statistics I Credits: 3 or
- BIOL 214 - Biostatistics for Biology Majors Credits: 4
- PHYS 243 - College Physics I Credits: 3
- PHYS 244 - College Physics I Lab Credits: 1
- PHYS 245 - College Physics II Credits: 3
- PHYS 246 - College Physics II Lab Credits: 1
- BIOL 213 - Cell Structure and Function Credits: 4
- BIOL 430 - Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
- BIOL 431 - Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4
Additional courses (8 credits)
Select courses from:
- BIOL 305 - Biology of Microorganisms Credits: 3
- BIOL 306 - Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory Credits: 1
- BIOL 311 - General Genetics Credits: 4
- CHEM 321 - Elementary Quantitative Analysis Credits: 4
- CHEM 422 - Instrumental Analysis Credits: 3
- CHEM 423 - Instrumental Analysis Laboratory Credits: 2
- CHEM 463 - General Biochemistry I Credits: 4
General education (30 credits)
Electives (15-16 credits)
Total: 119-121 credits