Mar 28, 2024  
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
2020-21 Undergraduate Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Forensic Investigations, Minor


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About the Minor


The minor in Forensic Investigations provides students who have a major interest in science, criminal justice, psychology, education, or sociology with the opportunity to explore the field of Forensic Investigation for their own satisfaction or application to a career goal.

Requirements


(24 credits as listed below)

Four core courses


  • FS101 Criminalistics I
  • FS102 Criminalistics II (pending approval)
  • FS2XX Criminal Law and Ethics (pending approval)
  • CJ226/FS226 Crime Scene Investigation

Two elective courses from the following


  • CJ205 Wrongful Convictions and Exonerations
  • CJ210 Cold Case Practicum
  • CJ225 Criminal Investigation
  • CJ289 Homicide
  • GFS309 CSI UK

 

These courses must be taken at Arcadia or an approved study abroad course may be substituted.

Forensic Science


FS101 Criminalistics I

This is a natural science course with a separate laboratory component. The course focusses on Criminalistics which is broadly defined as the science that develops a system of special procedures, methods, and means for collecting, studying, and evaluating legal evidence used in criminal proceedings for the purpose of preventing, exposing, or investigating crimes. Due to the nature of many of the topics that will be discussed, the social aspects of the science topics will also be discussed. As the semester progresses students learning will progress from crime scene investigation and legal aspects of evidence to laboratory considerations and finally to how forensic scientists analyze and interpret evidential data in order to present results within the court system. All of the major sciences (chemistry, biology, physics) play a pivotal role in Forensic Science so students will learn science fundamentals in an accessible applied format.

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