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The Eberly College of Science

Forensic Science
Electives for Undergraduates

Forensic Science majors need to complete elective courses to earn their degree. Below is a list of approved elective options for our majors that should allow you to tailor your degree towards individual educational and career goals. If you are considering a course that is not on these approved lists, make an appointment to discuss it with our Academic Adviser first. They can let you know if the course you are considering is an acceptable substitution that will fulfill these degree requirements.

400-Level Life Sciences (List A)

Forensic Biology (FBIOL) Option - Select 6 Credits

(Prerequisites are in parentheses)

  • FRNSC 419 (3) Firearm and Toolmark Examination (FRNSC 210, FRNSC 411) FA Only

  • FRNSC 460 (3) Medicolegal Death Investigation (FRNSC 410; FRNSC 411 or FRNSC 413)

  • FRNSC 490 (3) Traceology and Event Reconstruction (FRNSC 411, FRNSC 413, FRNSC 415W)

  • BMB 402 (3) General Biochemistry II (BMB 401 or CHEM 476)

  • BMB 428 (3) Physical Chemistry with Biological Applications (CHEM 203 or CHEM 212; PHYS 203 or PHYS 251; 3 credits cell biology) FA Only

  • BMB/BIOL 430 (3) Developmental Biology (BMB252 or MICRB 252 or BIOL 230W) FA Only

  • BMB 433/VB SC (3) Molecular and Cellular Toxicology (BMB 401) SP Only

  • BMB 474 (3) Analytical Biochemistry (Pre-req or concurrent: B M B 428 or CHEM 450) SP Only

  • BMB 484 (3) Functional Genomics (BMB 251 or BIOL 230W, BIOL 222 or BIOL 322) SP Only

  • BIOL 405 (3) Molecular Evolution (BIOL 222 or 230W) SP Only

  • BIOL 422 (3) Advanced Genetics (One genetics or genetic based course including BIOL 133, BIOL 222, BIOL 322 or BIOL 230W) FA Only

  • BIOL 428 (3) Population Genetics (BIOL 220W, STAT 250; MATH 111 or MATH 141) Not Offered Every Year

  • BIOL 432 (3) Developmental Genetics (BIOL 230W; or BMB 251, BMB 252) FA Only

  • BIOL/ANTH 460 (3) Human Genetics (ANTH 021 or BIOL 110 or BIOL 133 or permission of program for a different course that covers introductory genetics topics for at least part of the semester) Not Offered Every Year

  • MICRB 410 (3) Principles of Immunology (BMB 251, MICRB 201, or MICRB 251)

Forensic Chemistry (FCHEM) Option - Select 9 Credits

(Prerequisites are in parentheses)

  • FRNSC 419 (3) Firearm and Toolmark Examination (FRNSC 210, FRNSC 411) FA Only

  • FRNSC 460 (3) Medicolegal Death Investigation (FRNSC 410; FRNSC 411 or FRNSC 413)

  • FRNSC 490 (3) Traceology and Event Reconstruction (FRNSC 411, FRNSC 413, FRNSC 415W)

  • BMB 401 (3) General Biochemistry I (CHEM 212; BMB 251 or BIOL 230W)

  • BMB 402 (3) General Biochemistry II (BMB 401 or CHEM 476)

  • BMB 428 (3) Physical Chemistry with Biological Applications (CHEM 203 or CHEM 212; PHYS 203 or PHYS 251; 3 credits cell biology) FA

  • BMB 433/VB SC (3) Molecular and Cellular Toxicology (BMB 401) SP Only

  • CHEM 310 (3) Introductory Inorganic Chemistry (CHEM 112 and CHEM 202 or CHEM 210; Prerequisite or concurrent: CHEM 450 or CHEM 452)

  • CHEM 412 (3) Transition Metal Chemistry (CHEM 202 or CHEM 210 and CHEM 310; Prerequisite or concurrent: CHEM 450 or CHEM 452) FA Only

  • CHEM 423 (4) Chemical Spectroscopy (CHEM 227 or CHEM 221, CHEM 450 or prerequisite or concurrent: CHEM 452) SP Only

  • CHEM 430 (3) Structural Analysis of Organic Compounds (CHEM 210 and CHEM 213; Concurrent: CHEM 213) FA Only

  • CHEM 431W (3) Organic and Inorganic Preparations (CHEM 213) FA Only

  • CHEM 432 (3) Organic Reaction Mechanisms (CHEM 212 or CHEM 212H) SP only

  • CHEM 450 (3) Physical Chemistry - Thermodynamics (CHEM 112 and MATH 141 and PHYS 211 or PHYS 212)

  • CHEM 452 (3) Physical Chemistry – Quantum Chemistry (CHEM 112 and MATH 141 and PHYS 211 or PHYS 212)

  • CHEM 474 (3) Organic Synthesis (CHEM 212)

  • VBSC 331 (3) Pharmacology I: Drug Actions and Reactions (BIOL 230W or BIOL 230M) 

  • VBSC 430 (3) Principles of Toxicology (BIOL 110, BIOL 240W; BMB 211 or BMB 401) FA Only

  • VBSC 431 (3) Environmental Toxicology (BIOL 110, CHEM 112, CHEM 112) FA only

Supporting Courses and Related Areas (List B)

Both Forensic Biology (FBIOL) and Forensic Chemistry (FCHEM) - Select 6 Credits

(Prerequisites are in parentheses)

  • Anything listed in the 400-Level Life Sciences (List A) lists for both option

  • ANTH 410 (3) Osteology (3 credits in ANTH, 3 credits in BIOL, or concurrent enrollment in ANTH 401 or 501. FA Only

  • ANTH 411 (3) Skeletal Forensic Anthropology (Prerequisite of ANTH 021, waived by department) FA Only

  • ANTH 413 (3) Molecular Forensic Anthropology (ANTH 021 or Forensic Science major) SP Only

  • ANTH 466 (3) The Skull (ANTH 021) SP Only

  • BBH/HPA 440 (3) Principles of Epidemiology (BB H 101 or BIOL 110 or H P A 310; STAT 200 or STAT 250)

  • BIOL 222* (3) Genetics (3 credits in biological sciences) FA Only

  • -or- BIOL 322* (3) Genetic Analysis (at least two of the following courses: BIOL 220W, BIOL 230W, BIOL 240W or MICRB 201) SP Only

  • BIOL 414 (3) Taxonomy of Seed Plants (BIOL 240W) Maymester/Odd scheduling

  • BIOL 437 (3) Histology (BIOL 230W) SP Only

  • BIOL 472 (3) Mammalian Physiology (Prerequisite of BIOL 240W)

  • CHEM 227* (4) Analytical Chemistry (CHEM 113 and MATH 140)

  • CHEM 402 (3) Chemistry in the Environment (CHEM 212. Prerequisite or concurrent: CHEM 450 or CH E 320) SP Only

  • CRIM/WMNST 423à (3) Sexual and Domestic Violence (CRIM 100 or WMNST 001)

  • CRIM/CRIMJ 424à (3) Drugs and Crime (CRIM 100 or WMNST 100)

  • CRIM 425à (3) Organized Crime (Prerequisite of CLJ 250W) Harrisburg—FA Only

  • CRIM 432à (3) Crime and the American Court System (CRIM 100)

  • CRIM/WMNST 453à (3) Women and the Criminal Justice System (CRIM 100 or WMNST 001)

  • CRIM 467à (3) Law and Society (CRIM 100 or CRIM 113

  • CRIM 469à (3) Seminar in the Law (CRIM 113) Evening

  • CRIM 482à (3) Seminar, Criminal Justice Agency Administration (CRIM 100) Evening

  • ENT 313 (2) Introduction to Entomology

  • ENT 410 (3) Insect Structure and Function (Prerequisite of BIOL 220W and 240W) SP Only

  • ENT 450 (3) Medical Entomology (ENT 313 or BIOL 011 and BIOL 012 or BIOL 110 or BIOL 220W)

  • FRNSC 427W* (4) Forensic Chemistry (Prerequisite of CHEM 227)

  • FRNSC 496 (3-4) Independent Research

  • PSYCH 445à (3) Forensic Psychology (PSYCH 100; PSYCH 239, PSYCH 243, or PSYCH 270) SP Only

  • PSYCH 462à (3) Physiological Psychology (PSYCH 100; PSYCH 260 or 3 credits of BIOL)

  • PSYCH 470à (3) Abnormal Psychology (PSYCH 100; PSYCH 238, PSYCH 243 or PSYCH 270)

*Cannot double count if required in option. 

 

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