The B.S. in Forensic Chemistry combines elements of criminal justice and biology with a strong chemistry program. The forensic chemist analyzes and interprets materials collected at crime scenes, accidents, and at sites of terrorist activities.

The degree is offered in response to strong student, state and local government demand for an undergraduate academic program to prepare students for careers in forensic chemistry. According to the U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics 2010 Occupational Outlook Handbook, forensic science technicians will grow much faster than average.

Graduates with a bachelor of science in forensic chemistry work in forensic laboratories for federal, state, or local government agencies or in some cases, work for private investigative laboratories. Some graduates may also go on to pursue a graduate degree.

The Chemistry Program at Lake Superior State University is now accredited by the American Chemical Society (ACS).  According to the 2011 National Occupational Employment and Wage Estimator, more people are employed as chemists and chemical technicians than in any other job classification in the life and physical science occupations.  With many free electives and a common general education core, a chemistry degree can also be used in combination with other majors or minors such as pre-professional (medicine, pharmacy, veterinary, law, etc.), engineering, business, biology, and many more to match student interest and career plans.

Graduates with a bachelor of science in chemistry work in many disciplines and industries, and many proceed on to graduate school in natural sciences, medicine, law, or engineering.  Internships in chemistry are encouraged where students can gain valuable real-world work experience while gaining college credit.  In addition, students pursuing the ACS certified degree will participate in an applied research project in close collaboration with faculty members to address meaningful chemical-based problems.  These projects, through the excellent preparation they provide our students, are often cited as important factors in successful job searches and entry into graduate programs.

The LSSU chemistry program has been approved by the American Chemical Society, and may provide a certified degree in Chemistry, Environmental Chemistry, Forensic Chemistry, and Pre-Professional Chemistry degrees if a student chooses this track.  Graduates completing the prescribed requirements are awarded an ACS certificate signifying their completion of the approved degree and can qualify for membership in the Society upon graduation. The core modules are:

• General Chemistry
• Organic Chemistry
• Introductory Toxicology
• Junior Seminar
• Forensic Science
• Biochemistry
• Applied Spectroscopy
• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Criminalistics
• Procedural Law
• Introduction to Psychology
• Abnormal Psychology

All LSSU bachelor’s degree candidates must complete the LSSU General Education Core Requirements, or have earned the MACRAO Stamp (Michigan Community College transfer students), or have completed the general education certification (Sault College transfer students), or have already earned a bachelor’s degree (honors bachelor degree from a Canadian university). A minimum of 124 credits (at the 100 level or higher) must be earned for graduation with a cumulative gpa of 2.50 or higher.  A gpa of 2.50 or higher is required in your Major, and a gpa of 2.00 or higher is required in your General Education Core Requirements.

This major is designed to prepare students for a career in the field of forensic science. It provides the science background required for working as a forensic investigator in a crime lab. In addition, it prepares students for entry into a graduate program in forensic science. The forensic biochemistry curriculum includes courses from multiple departments and is the credit-hour equivalent of a major plus a minor, therefore no additional minor is required. Students who are interested in pursuing this degree should have a strong background in science, including two years of high school algebra and one year of high school chemistry. The capstone course for this major, CH 440, is offered every other year, therefore students should consult with their adviser early in their program to ensure that they are prepared to take CH 440 when it is offered. The core modules are:

• General Chemistry
• Quantitative Analysis
• Organic Chemistry
• Gas and Liquid Chromatography
• Forensic Chemistry
• Introduction to Biology
• General Microbiology
• Genetics
• Molecular Biology
• Drugs, Crime and the Justice System
• Criminal Procedure

Northern Michigan University, located in Marquette, Michigan, is a dynamic four-year, public, comprehensive university that has grown its reputation based on its award-winning leadership programs, cutting-edge technology initiatives and nationally recognized academic programs.

Northern Michigan has a population of about 9,000 undergraduate and graduate students.  It offers 147 degree programs, including 25 graduate programs.  The university has two semesters per year, a fall and winter semester, and two summer sessions.  NMU  is one of three Michigan public universities to also serve a community college role for its region, which means the breadth of NMU’s academic programs range from one-year diplomas through master’s degrees. NMU will begin offering its first doctoral program – the Doctor of Nursing Practice –  in fall 2014. NMU’s most popular bachelor’s degrees are art and design, nursing, criminal justice, elementary education and biology.  The university’s fastest growing academic areas are clinical science, biology, and the geographical and environmental sciences.

The Forensic Science program provides students with knowledge and laboratory skills in the biological and physical sciences required to engage in forensic analyses. Graduates are qualified to seek employment as forensic technicians who investigate crimes by analyzing physical evidence. The program was designed with the assistance of regional crime lab supervisors to meet the qualifications needed for practitioners in this field. Also, a dual-track plan is available for students who wish to double major in forensic science and criminal justice.

Beyond the Classroom:
Students with high science grades have the opportunity to join the Sigma Zeta Honor Society, the Math and Science Honor Society for Madonna University. All Forensic Science majors have the opportunity to join the Madonna University Forensic Science Society (MUFSS). Internship opportunities are available for qualified students. In addition, students have the opportunity to do research with forensic science faculty funded by the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and present their research at Madonna University and at professional meetings. The core modules are:

• General Biology
•  Genetics with Lab
• Molecular Biology
•  Introductory Principles of Forensic Science
•  Impression and Trace Evidence Analysis
• Firearm and Tool Mark Analysis
•  Forensic Biology
•  Forensic Chemistry
• Ethics and Expert Testimony

Madonna University receives its institutional accreditation through the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). The HLC accredits degree-granting post-secondary educational institutions in the North Central region of the United States, and thereby grants membership in the Commission. The mission of Madonna University, a Catholic and Franciscan institution of higher learning, is to instill in its students Christian humanistic values, intellectual inquiry, a respect for diversity, and a commitment to serving others through a liberal arts education, integrated with career preparation and based on the truths and principles recognized within a Catholic tradition.

Forensic science is an interdisciplinary major and does not require an additional minor to be completed. The requirements for a Bachelor of Science degree with forensic major are a minimum of 59 credit hours in forensic science and related courses. The core modules are:

• Introduction to Forensic Science
• Crime Scene Investigation and Evidence Collection
• Forensic Biology or 440 Forensic Chemistry
• Special Topics in Forensic Science
• Senior Seminar: Library Research
• Introduction to Criminal Justice
• Criminal Behavior
• Criminal Law

Marygrove College, an independent Catholic liberal arts college sponsored by the Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, is committed to fostering Christian values, to educating students from diverse backgrounds, and to serving the people of Metropolitan Detroit and beyond.

The fundamental purpose of Marygrove College is to educate each student toward intellectual and professional competence; toward career flexibility through grounding in the liberal arts; and toward active compassion and commitment. To this end, Marygrove provides a personalized learning environment which, through excellent teaching in its undergraduate, graduate, and continuing education programs, sets for its students these goals: competence, compassion and commitment.

Michigan State University has long been recognized as a premier institution for research and education in forensic science. The School of Criminal Justice first offered a major in forensic science in 1946, and administers the oldest continually functioning educational degree program in forensic science in the United States. Michigan State University is home to a number of excellent resources for the study of forensic science. The School of Criminal Justice maintains modern laboratory facilities containing equipment and instrumentation for the analysis of virtually any type of physical evidence, from chromatography equipment for drugs, explosives, and arson evidence to microscopy techniques for trace evidence analysis, to genetic analyzers for the analysis of DNA.

The Forensic Science Masters program at Michigan State University is designed to give students a broad theoretical and practical background in the scientific, legal, and investigative aspects of forensic science while providing the opportunity to study one of the major disciplines in depth. There are three concentrations offered: Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, and Forensic Anthropology. The core modules are:

• Advanced Analytical Chemistry
• Law and Forensic Science
• Forensic Analysis of Drugs and Alcohol
• Forensic Chemistry and Microscopic Evidence
• Molecular Biology
• Forensic Chemistry and Microscopic Evidence
• Conservation and Genetics
• Osteology and Forensic Anthropology

Michigan State University’s School of Criminal Justice has some of the most modern research and teaching forensic science laboratories in the country. Housed in the Chemistry Building, the forensic chemistry laboratory contains state-of-the-art equipment including gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, FTIR, capillary electrophoresis, HPLC, fluorescence spectrophotometer, and polarized light microscopy. Additional laboratory instrumentation is available in the chemistry department. The DNA laboratories, located in Giltner Hall, include PCR and genetic analysis equipment (ABI 310 and Beckman CEQ 8000 genetic analyzers), electrophoresis equipment, digital photography equipment, and multiple thermocyclers. The forensic anthropology labs, located in Fee Hall, are equipped with bench space for osteological exams, a stereozoom microscope, an image superimposition center, and a GE portable X-ray unit.

The laboratory headquarters of the Michigan State Police Forensic Science Division is conveniently located near the MSU campus. This full-service laboratory is available as a source of research resources and internship placements. Faculty in the Forensic Science Program and elsewhere on the campus regularly consult with the state police and conduct joint research projects with the help of forensic science students.

Through its career development and internship offices, the School of Criminal Justice provides internship opportunities for forensic science students, giving them a chance to learn firsthand how a crime lab works. Many interns carry out research projects under the auspices of laboratory personnel. Academic credit is awarded for successful completion of internship placement.

Although the Master of Science degree in Forensic Science is administered by the School of Criminal Justice (College of Social Science), several colleges and departments cooperate in offering this interdepartmental degree. These include the colleges of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Human Medicine, and Natural Science, as well as the departments of Anthropology, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Radiology, Resource Development, Statistics and Probability, and Zoology. Also participating are the Center for Advanced Microscopy, the Genetics Program, and the Medical Technology Program.