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Forensic Studies Degree Requirements

  • These requirements apply to students entering this program in fall 2013 and thereafter. Students who enrolled earlier should consult the catalog in effect at the time they enrolled.
  • You can also reference the graduation requirements for the year in which you enrolled on the portal; view graduation requirements by year (PDF) in the right-hand column of your MyResources page.
  • Read the course descriptions.

General-Education Requirements
(43 credits)

Complete these courses with a grade of C- or better:

  • English Composition
  • Mathematics
  • Oral Communication
  • Literature
  • History or Philosophy
  • Fine Arts
  • Computer Literacy
  • Social and Behavioral Science 1
  • Social and Behavioral Science 2
  • Biological and Physical Science
    • Laboratory course, 4 credits
    • Non-laboratory course

Complete three courses with a grade of C or better:

  • Advanced Expository Writing (WRIT 300)
    completing WRIT 101 and either passing the writing placement test or successfully completing WRIT 200 required
  • Ethical Issues in Business and Society (IDIS 302)

and one of the following:

  • World Cultures (IDIS 301)
  • Arts and Ideas (IDIS 304)
    required if no lower-level general-education course in fine arts

Forensic Studies Program Requirements (42-43 credits)

Core Courses (15 credits)

  • The Contemporary Criminal Justice System (CRJU 301)
  • Forensic Science (FSCS 301)
  • Crime Scene Investigation (FSCS 307)
  • Forensic Documentation (FSCS 480)
  • Moot Court and Trial Advocacy for Forensics (FSCS 482)

Concentrations

Choose one of two concentrations.

FORENSIC SCIENCE CONCENTRATION (28 credits)

  • Laboratory Safety and Quality Assurance (FSCS 400)
  • Instrumental Analysis, 4 credits (FSCS 407)
  • Field Internship in Forensic Science (FSCS 487)

Trace Evidence Required Courses

  • Trace Evidence I, 4 credits (FSCS 401)
  • Trace Evidence II, 4 credits (FSCS 403)
  • Microscopy, 4 credits (FSCS 405)

Major Electives

Complete two approved forensic studies or criminal justice electives.

POLICE SCIENCE CONCENTRATION (27 credits)

  • Criminal Law (CRJU 330)
  • Mathematical Applications in Police Science (FSCS 418)
  • Field Internship in Police Science (FSCS 496)

Courts and Investigation Required Courses

  • Fourth Amendment: Interpretation and Application (FSCS 424)
  • Innovative Investigative Techniques (FSCS 426)
  • Specialty Warrants, Wiretaps and Historical Conspiracies (FSCS 430)

Major Electives

Complete three approved forensic studies or criminal justice electives.

General Electives

Complete as many courses as necessary from any discipline to fulfill your 120-credit requirement to graduate.

Information Literacy Requirement

Meet the UB Information Literacy graduation requirement by successfully completing:

  • Introduction to Information Literacy (IDIS 110)
as of fall 2013