Applied Forensic Studies Undergraduate Minor

The minor comprises four tracks that provide students with unique skillsets.

Forensic Psychology and Anthropology track:
Students in the forensic psychology and anthropology track learn specific psychological and anthropological skills used in forensic labs and for forensic evaluations and discuss social factors and biases behind their methods and theories. This track is open to all majors.

 

Biotechnology track:
Students in the biotechnology track learn underlying skills necessary for forensic analyses such as DNA and latent print analyses. This track is only available to the following majors:

· Biology: Biomedical, Cell and Molecular concentration

· Biotechnology: Microscopy or Molecular Biology concentrations

· Biochemistry

· Neuroscience: Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience concentration.

 

Cybersecurity track:
Students in the cybersecurity track learn skillsets associated with conducting electronic and digital forensic analyses. This track is only available to the following majors:

· Computer Science

· Cybersecurity

 

Investigative and Forensic Journalism track.
Students in the investigative and forensic journalism track learn skillsets associated with communicating and investigating issues related to forensic outcomes.This track is open to all majors.

Program Requirements

Required Courses I (9 hours)

ANT 341QR	Forensic Sciences	3(3-0)
COM 257QR	Presenting with Numbers and Graphs	3(3-0)
PSY 339	Law and Forensic Psychology	3(3-0)

Required Courses II (1-3 hours)

Experiential Component

Selection of an appropriate internship or self-study course should be made in collaboration with your academic advisor or faculty mentor.

Required Courses III (3-4 hours)

Students should consult with an academic adviser to select elective courses from the tracks they are not pursuing. Please note that some elective courses may have additional prerequisite requirements to consider.

Elective Tracks (9-12 hours)

Select one of the following Elective Tracks:

Electives Track I: Forensic Psychology and Anthropology (9 hours)

Select from the following:

ANT 171	Human Origins: Introduction to Biological Anthropology	3(3-0)
ANT 173	Laboratory in Biological Anthropology	1(0-2)
ANT 342	Principles of Forensic Anthropology	3(3-0)
HSC 211	Human Anatomy and Physiology	3(3-0)
PHL 141QR	Introduction to Logical Problem Solving	3(3-0)
PHL 145QR	Chances, Choices, and Everyday Reasoning	3(3-0)
PHL 218	Ethical Theories	3(3-0)
PSY 100	Introduction to Psychology	3(3-0)
PSY 382	Perception	3(3-0)

Electives Track II: Biotechnology (9-12 hours)

Select from the following:

BIO 208	Microbiology	4(3-3)
BIO 320	Biology of Microorganisms	4(3-3)
BIO 325	Biotechnology	3(1-5)
BIO 330	Foundations in Microscopy	2(1-1)
BIO 337	Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy	4(3-3)
BIO 392	Mammalian Physiology	4(3-3)
BIO 435	Environmental Toxicology	3(3-0)
BIO 524	Molecular Biology	3(1-5)
BIO 545	Molecular Genetics	3(3-0)
BIO 552	Scanning Electron Microscopy	4(3-3)
BIO 575	Applied Bioinformatics	4(3-3)

Electives Track III: Cybersecurity (9 hours)

Select from the following:

CPS 333	Introduction to Computer Security and Cryptography	3(3-0)
CPS 373	Network Security	3(3-0)
CPS 375	Social Engineering, Cybersecurity Law, Policy and Ethics	3(3-0)
CPS 463	Hardware Security	3(3-0)
CPS 475	Software, Database, and Operating System Security	3(3-0)
CPS 477	Security Informatics: AI and Visualization	3(3-0)

Electives Track IV: Investigative and Forensic Journalism (9 hours)

Select from the following:

JRN 202WI	News & Informative Writing	3(3-0)
JRN 203QR	Information Gathering for the Mass Media	3(3-0)
JRN 220	Basic Media Photography	3(3-0)
JRN 312WI	Reporting	3(3-0)
JRN 340	Introduction to Multimedia Journalism	3(3-0)
JRN 423	Online Visual Storytelling	3(3-0)
JRN 430WI	Magazine, Feature, and Freelance Writing	3(3-0)

Total: 22-28 semester hours