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Edward Waters University

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Natural Sciences

Bachelor of Science in FORENSIC SCIENCE

A highly scientific and technical STEM program for future criminalists and DNA analysts.

Forensic Science

Academic Program

Program Philosophy

Edward Waters University’s forensic science degree program is a highly scientific and technical STEM program for students who wish to enter the workforce as criminalist and forensic DNA analysts in crime laboratories on the federal, state, and local levels.

Program Details

EWU’s program will provide the students with a foundation in major sciences like chemistry, biology, and physics. Mathematical skills will be developed involving trigonometry, calculus, and statistics. With this foundation in physical science and math, our students will learn the scientific fundamentals on how to recognize, document, collect, package, and analyze physical evidence recovered from different types of crime scenes.
EWU’s program offers classes in criminalistics and forensic biology / DNA to provide our students with two major specializations in demand in crime laboratories around the country. The Criminalistics courses will develop a student’s ability to analyze unknown substances based on chemical and optical properties. Students would qualify for criminalist positions such as forensic drug chemists, arson and explosion, trace/material evidence, ballistics, questioned documents, and crime scene technicians.
The forensic biology /DNA courses will develop a student’s ability to locate and recognize physiological /biological evidence on a piece of evidence, extract the physiological/biological evidence, quantify, and replicate the DNA material from the extraction using PCR techniques, and develop a DNA profile using STR techniques and genetic mapping. Forensic biology/DNA students would qualify for positions as forensic DNA analysts and genetic analysts in crime and genetic laboratories across the country.

Program Goals

After completing the forensic science degree program at Edward Waters University, students will be able to:

Scientific Approach

Develop a scientific approach to evidence recognition, classification, individualization, and evaluation of potential physical evidence recovered from crime scenes.

Fundamental Principles

Acquire broad fundamental principles in biological and physical sciences.

Data Interpreting

Interpret test results and scientific data from forensic evidence analysis and techniques utilized in forensic laboratories.

Reporting Skills

Demonstrate the oral and written report skills needed to present scientific findings in court and legal matters.

Faculty

Dr. Nakamuthu Sundaralingam

Department Chair/Professor

Phone: (904) 470-8222
Email: nsundar@ew.edu

Department Chair/Professor

Program Faculty

Dr. Medhat Khedr

Assistant Professor

 

Phone: (904) 470-8088
Email: m.khedr@ew.edu

Mr. Ricardo Yanis

Instructor/Director

 

Phone: (904) 470-8078
Email: r.yanis@ew.edu

Ms. Jocelyn Wells

Instructor

 

Phone: (904) 470-8397
Email: jocelyn.wells@ew.edu

Ms. Shernelle Smith

Forensic Lab Instructor

 

Email: s.smith2@ew.edu

Admission Requirements

Admission standards for Edward Waters University forensic science candidates will be:

High School Entrants

  • High school cumulative average of 2.5 or above
  • Three years of high school science with chemistry as a requirement
  • Three years of high school math

Transfer Criteria

Transfer students who wish to transfer into the forensic science major must have earned at least 30 credits, have an overall GPA of at least 2.5, and a math and science GPA of 2.5 or higher in science major courses to be admitted. In addition, students must have taken chemistry and biology courses appropriate to their class standing upon transferring. Students who transfer with less than 30 credits must meet the admission standards listed above.

Conditional Status

Students that do not meet admission standards can apply as a conditional student to the program. Conditional students need to maintain a 3.0 GPA in all first-year science courses and meet with an academic advisor two times during the semester.

Program Requirements

MAJOR REQUIREMENTS

Course Title Code Credits
Biology 2: Diversity of Life taken with BSC 2011L (Prerequisite: BSC 2010L) BSC 2011 3
Biology 2 Lab: Diversity of Life BSC 2011L 1
Molecular Cell Biology taken with PCB 3023L (Prerequisite: BSC 2011L & CHM 2046L) PCB 3023 3
Molecular Cell Biology Lab PCB 3023L 1
Genetics taken with PCB 3063L (Prerequisite: BSC 2011L) PCB 3063 3
Genetics Lab PCB 3063L 1
Biochemistry taken with BCH 3023L (Prerequisite: BSC 2011L & PCB 3023L) BCH 3023 3
Biochemistry Lab BCH 3023L 1
General Chemistry 1 taken with CHM 2045L (Prerequisite: MAC 1105 or higher) CHM 2045 3
General Chemistry 1 Lab CHM 2045L 1
General Chemistry 2 taken with CHM 2046L (Prerequisite: CHM 2045L) CHM 2046 3
General Chemistry 2 Lab CHM 2046L 1
Organic Chemistry 1 taken with CHM 2210L CHM 2210 3
Organic Chemistry 1 Lab CHM 2210L 1
Organic Chemistry 2 taken with CHM 2011L (Prerequisite: CHM 2210) CHM 2211 3
Organic Chemistry 2 Lab CHM 2211L 1
College Physics 2 taken with PSY 2049L (Prerequisite: PSY 2053L) PHY 2049 3
College Physics 2 Lab taken with PSY 2049 PHY 2049L 1
Quantitative Analysis QMB 3600 3
Calculus I w/ Analytic Geometry (Prerequisite: MAC 1145 & MAC 1114 or MAC 1147) MAC 2311 4
Calculus 2 (Prerequisite: MAC 2311) MAC 2312 4
Probability and Statistics STA 4320 3
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 51.00

Elective Requirements

Course Title Code Credits
Introduction to Forensic Science CJE 2601 3
Law and Evidence PLA 3263 3
Forensic Photography with Lab CJE 3619C 3
Chemical Instrumentation CHM 3120 4
Physical Methods with Lab CHM 4173C 4
Forensic Criminalistics Lab CHM 3511C 4
Crime Scene Processing and Investigation CJB 4715C 3
Forensic Biology with Lab BSC 4401C 4
Forensic Science Practicum CHS 4940L 6
TOTAL CREDIT HOURS 36.00

DEGREE TOTAL REQUIREMENTS

Requirement Category Credit Hours
General Education Requirements 38
Forensics Major Requirements 51
Forensics Concentration Requirements 36
TOTAL Program Completion 125