Forensic Biology, Emphasis
The Forensic Biology area of emphasis offers students a unique opportunity to explore intersections between biology, forensics, and criminal justice. This emphasis focuses on equipping students with a strong skills and knowledge toolkit that will prepare them for graduate programs in forensic science, or related fields involving biology and the law such as environmental or medical law. This emphasis also is a good option for students who wish to pursue medical professional degrees with some background in criminal justice and forensic analysis.
The Core Curriculum is designed to foster critical thinking skills and introduce students to basic domains of thinking that transcend disciplines. The Core applies to all majors. Information on specific classes in the Core can be found at https://www.marshall.edu/gened/.
Course Requirements
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Core Curriculum | ||
| Core 1: Critical Thinking | ||
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Critical Thinking Course (PSY 201 recommended for pre-professional) | 3 | |
| Critical Thinking Course | 3 | |
| Core 2 | ||
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| Core II Math: Select one of the following math requirements | 3-5 | |
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | ||
| BSC 120 & BSC 120L | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Lab (Core II Physical/Natural Science) | 4 |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Core II Social Science (PSY 201 or SOC 200 recommended) | 3 | |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Additional University Requirements | ||
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Multicultural or International | 3 | |
| BSC 491 | Capstone Experience (C) 1 | 2 |
| Major-Specific | ||
| BSC 120 & BSC 120L | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Lab | 4 |
| BSC 121 & BSC 121L | Principles of Biology II and Prin of Biology II Lab | 4 |
| CHM 211 & CHM 217 | Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chem Lab I | 5 |
| CHM 212 & CHM 218 | Principles Chemistry II and Principles of Chem Lab II | 5 |
| Select one of the following mathematics courses: | 3-5 | |
| Applied Calculus | ||
| Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | ||
| Statistics Requirement: Select one of the following statistics courses: | 3-4 | |
| Introductory Statistics (CT) (strongly recommended) | ||
| Foundations of Statistics and Foundations of Statistics Lab | ||
| Foundations of Stats-Expanded and Foundations of Statistics Lab | ||
| PHY 201 & PHY 202 | College Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | 4 |
| Select four of the following 300-level BSC core courses: | 15-16 | |
| Principles of Microbiology | ||
| Principles Cell Biology | ||
| Principles of Genetics | ||
| Principles of Human Anatomy and Prin of Human Anatomy Lab | ||
| Principles of Human Physiology and Prin of Human Physiology Lab | ||
| BSC 491 | Capstone Experience | 2 |
| Forensic Biology Emphasis | ||
| FSC 224 | Intro to Forensic Science | 4 |
| CHM 355 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| CHM 356 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 361 | Intro Organic Chm Lab | 3 |
| CHM 365 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3 |
| PHY 203 & PHY 204 | College Physics II and General Physics 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Intro to Criminal Justice | ||
| Intro to Law Enforcement | ||
| Select one of the following CJ Electives: | 3 | |
| Crime Scene & Investigations | ||
| Criminal Law & Procedure | ||
| Race, Ethnicity, Class & Crime | ||
| Law of Evidence | ||
| Area of Emphasis Elective | ||
| Select ten hours of the following (3-4 courses): | 10-12 | |
| Microbiology Lab | ||
| Cellular Physiology | ||
| Histology and Microtech | ||
| Vertebrate Embryology | ||
| Biostatistics | ||
| Animal Physiology | ||
| Comp Vertebrate Anatomy | ||
| Animal Parasitology | ||
| Medical Entomology | ||
| Neuroscience | ||
| Data Analysis in Bio Sciences | ||
| Microbial Genetics | ||
| Introductory Immunology | ||
| Molecular Biology | ||
| Molecular Medicine | ||
| Princ Adv Techn Mol Biol | ||
| Genes and Development | ||
| Bioethics | ||
| Free Elective | 3 | |
- 1
Capstone Experience: It is the responsibility of each student to consult his/her advisor regarding details of meeting the capstone requirement. The capstone may be a traditional independent study research project under the supervision of a faculty member selected by the student, participation in a classroom-based capstone course, or the development and implementation of an internship, co-op, or community-based project. Students must have completed a minimum of 16 hours of BSC coursework before they will be permitted to register for Capstone.
Major Information
- Students must pass BSC 120 Principles of Biology I and BSC 120L Principles of Biology I Lab and earn a grade of C or better in BSC 121 Principles of Biology II and BSC 121L Prin of Biology II Lab, CHM 211 Principles of Chemistry I and CHM 212 Principles Chemistry II before they can enroll in any upper-level BSC course except BSC 227 Human Anatomy, BSC 227L Human Anatomy Lab, BSC 228 Human Physiology , BSC 228L Human Physiology Lab and BSC 250 Microbiol & Human Disease, BSC 250L Microbio and Human Disease Lab.
- BSC 104 Introduction to Biology, BSC 104L Introduction to Biology Lab, BSC 105 Human Biology, BSC 105L Human Biology Lab, BSC 227 Human Anatomy, BSC 227L Human Anatomy Lab, BSC 228 Human Physiology, BSC 228L Human Physiology Lab, and BSC 250 Microbiol & Human Disease , BSC 250L Microbio and Human Disease Lab do not count towards a BSC major and cannot substitute for any required or elective BSC courses.
- A minimum of 15 hours of 400-level credit is required.
- Students are required to know and track their degree requirements for graduation or for entrance to a professional school.
- In addition to the Core General Education requirements, the College of Science requires 3-5 hours of Calculus, and 40 hours of upper-level credit.
- Students who choose CHM 355, 356, and 361 will have the necessary coursework for a Chemical Sciences minor.
- Coursework listed as “elective” may vary for each student. Students are encouraged to use elective hours toward a 2nd minor or toward prerequisites.
- Students are strongly encouraged to select courses that meet two or more core or college requirements. For example, a writing intensive literature course could satisfy the Core II Humanities requirement as well as the university writing intensive requirement.
- Course offerings and attributes are subject to change. Please consult each semester's schedule of courses for availability and attributes.
- MTH 140 Applied Calculus requires an ACT Mathematics score of 24 or higher. Students with an ACT Mathematics score lower than 24 will be placed in the appropriate prerequisite mathematics courses.
- All biological science majors are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of credits in the the Department of Biological Sciences. Biochemistry courses count toward those 40 hours in this Area of Emphasis.
Semester Plan
The Department of Biological Sciences is committed to teaching students about the science of life from molecular to global scales. A degree in Biological Sciences prepares students for careers and graduate study in diverse fields such as human and veterinary medicine, dentistry, biomedical and pharmaceutical research, environmental consulting, wildlife ecology, and K12 or higher education. Alumni of the Department work as health professionals, teach at all educational levels, serve as environmental researchers and regulators, conduct biomedical and pharmaceutical research, and hold positions in state and federal agencies.
| First Year | ||
|---|---|---|
| First Semester | Credit Hours | |
| BSC 120 & BSC 120L | Principles of Biology I and Principles of Biology I Lab | 4 |
| MTH 140 | Applied Calculus or Calculus/Analytic Geom I (CT) | 3-5 |
| CHM 211 & CHM 217 | Principles of Chemistry I and Principles of Chem Lab I | 5 |
| ENG 101 | Beginning Composition | 3 |
| UNI 100 | Freshman First Class | 1 |
| Credit Hours | 16-18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BSC 121 & BSC 121L | Principles of Biology II and Prin of Biology II Lab | 4 |
| CHM 212 & CHM 218 | Principles Chemistry II and Principles of Chem Lab II | 5 |
| FYS 100 | First Yr Sem Critical Thinking | 3 |
| Core II Fine Arts | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Second Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Statistics Requirement (STA 225 strongly recommended) | 3-4 | |
| CHM 355 | Organic Chemistry I | 3 |
| ENG 201 | Advanced Composition | 3 |
| Core II Social Science (PSY 201 or SOC 200 Recommended) | 3 | |
| Free Elective (MTH 122 recommended for PHY Pre-req) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-16 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BSC Core Course (300 level) | 3-4 | |
| CHM 356 | Organic Chemistry II | 3 |
| CHM 361 | Intro Organic Chm Lab | 3 |
| FSC 224 | Intro to Forensic Science | 4 |
| Core I Crticial Thinking (PSY 201 recommended) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-17 | |
| Third Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| BSC Core Course (300 level) | 3-4 | |
| CHM 365 | Introductory Biochemistry | 3 |
| CMM 103 | Fund Speech-Communication | 3 |
| PHY 201 & PHY 202 | College Physics I and General Physics I Laboratory | 4 |
| Area of Emphasis Elective (BSC 417 recommended) | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 16-18 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BSC Core Course (300 level) | 3-4 | |
| CJ 200 | Intro to Criminal Justice or Intro to Law Enforcement | 3 |
| PHY 203 & PHY 204 | College Physics II and General Physics 2 Laboratory | 4 |
| Core II Humanities | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 13-14 | |
| Fourth Year | ||
| First Semester | ||
| Area of Emphasis Elective | 3-4 | |
| Area of Emphasis Elective | 3-4 | |
| Core I: Critical Thinking | 3 | |
| Multicultural or International | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15-17 | |
| Second Semester | ||
| BSC 491 | Capstone Experience (C) | 2 |
| BSC Core Course (300 level) | 3 | |
| CJ Elective | 3 | |
| Writing Intensive | 3 | |
| Area of Emphasis Elective | 3-4 | |
| Credit Hours | 14-15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-130 | |