The Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences offers an undergraduate minor in Forensic Science, an interdisciplinary field of study that involves the application of scientific principles and methodology from numerous scientific disciplines to criminal investigations. The Forensic Science minor is available to undergraduates majoring in any field, but might be most appropriate for students majoring or planning to pursue advanced studies in the sciences or in science education. Students in the minor in Forensic Science take one required introduction to forensic science (3 credit hours), three required foundational courses (9 credit hours), and then they have the opportunity to further explore a variety of scientific disciplines as they relate to the legal system (minimum 6 credit hours). At least 9 credit hours of the minor must be completed at NC State.

Admissions and Certification of Minor

The minor in Forensic Science is administered within the Department of Biological Sciences in the College of Sciences. Students who plan to minor in Forensic Science can do so online through CODA (in MyPack). All requirements for the minor must be completed no later than the semester in which the student expects to graduate from his or her major degree program. Students apply to graduate in the minor through MyPack at the same time that they apply to graduate in their major program.

Contact

Biological Sciences Student Services
Bostian Hall 2727
919.515.3341
BioSciHelp@ncsu.edu

Coordinator

Dr. Ann Ross
David Clark Labs 140
919.515.3122
ahross@ncsu.edu

Plan Requirements

The Forensic Science minor consists of a minimum of 18 credit hours.

• A grade of C- or better is required for all Minor courses with a 2.0 GPA required in the minor for graduation.
• No course used in the minor can be taken for credit only (S/U).
• Courses taken for the minor can also be used toward major requirements, GEP Electives, or Free Electives.
• At least 9 credit hours of the minor must be completed at NC State.

Course List

Code	Title	Hours	Counts towards
Required Course
PCC 274	Introduction to Forensic Science	3
Foundational Requirements
Select one of the following:		3
ANT 371	Human Variation
BIO 240	Principles of Human Anatomy & Physiology (A): Nervous, Skeletal, Muscular, & Digestive Systems
BIO 405	Functional Histology
BIO 414	Cell Biology
ET 310	Environmental Monitoring and Analysis
GN 301	Genetics in Human Affairs
GN 311	Principles of Genetics
MB 351	General Microbiology
SSC 442	Soil and Environmental Biogeochemistry
TMS 211	Introduction to Fiber Science
TOX 401	Principles of Toxicology
Select one of the following:		3
ST 101	Statistics by Example
ST 305
ST 311	Introduction to Statistics
ST 370	Probability and Statistics for Engineers
ST 371	Introduction to Probability and Distribution Theory
Select one of the following:		3
PHI 221	Contemporary Moral Issues
PHI/STS 325	Bio-Medical Ethics
PHI 375	Ethics
Elective Courses		6
ANT 370	Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
ANT 421/521	Human Osteology
ANT 422
ANT 529	Advanced Methods in Forensic Anthropology
CH 441	Forensic Chemistry
ENT 305	Introduction to Forensic Entomology
GN 453	Personal Genomics
MSE 480	Materials Forensics and Degradation
PCC 474	Forensic Chemistry Laboratory
Total Hours		18