Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science
George Mason University
Key Information
Campus location
Fairfax, USA
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
4 years
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
USD 4,897 / per semester **
Application deadline
01 Jun 2024*
Earliest start date
Aug 2024
* for International student | Domestic student is 1st of February
** in-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 16,980 - out-of-state tuition full-time (12-15 credits); USD 1,803 - mandatory student fee
Introduction
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science is a general forensic science degree that covers various fields within forensic science including field and laboratory applications.
Topics include areas such as crime scene investigation, forensic DNA, forensic chemistry, trace evidence, firearms examination, questioned documents, fingerprints, arson, and drug analysis.
This degree is intended to provide students with a well-rounded, hands-on forensic science education in order to prepare students for entrance into a graduate-level educational program, and/or entry-level professional careers in public and private forensic laboratories, federal, state, or local government/law enforcement, defense, homeland security, and intelligence agencies.
Program Highlights
- This program includes an innovative curriculum that offers hands-on training with crime scene techniques and crime laboratory methodologies.
- We have an outdoor forensic excavation research and training facility.
- Courses are taught by professional and distinguished faculty from various forensic agencies and laboratories.
Program Outcome
- Demonstrate the application of skills and knowledge that they have acquired through their internship experience in a professional environment.
- Use the primary scientific literature effectively in their own research.
- Demonstrate competency in written forms of scientific communication.
- Apply the principles of writing a standard laboratory report.
- Exhibit proficiency in the operation of analytical instrumentation and the evaluation of experimental data.
- Formulate scientific explanations based on historical observations and experimental evidence, accounting for variability in experimental results.
Career Opportunities
Forensic Science students pursue a variety of careers, including:
- Crime Scene Investigators
- Forensic DNA Analysts
- Latent Print Examiners
Curriculum
Degree Requirements
Total credits: minimum 120
Students majoring in forensic science must complete the core courses and choose one concentration. Students cannot declare the concentration upon admission; it can be declared once the student has earned a minimum of 60 credits.
All major coursework must be completed with a minimum GPA of 2.30. No more than three courses with a grade of 'D' (1.00) may be applied to the major.
Students are advised to be aware of any prerequisites that may be required for each course in the curriculum.
Students are only permitted three attempts for all major courses; following a third unsuccessful attempt the student will no longer be able to pursue the major.
Forensic Science Core Courses
Students in each concentration should complete the following courses:
Forensic Science Courses
- FRSC 200 Survey of Forensic Science 3
- FRSC 201 Introduction to Criminalistics 3
- FRSC 302 Forensic Trace Analysis 3
- FRSC 303 Forensic Evidence and Ethics 3
- FRSC 304 & FRSC 305 Forensic Chemistry and Forensic Chemistry Laboratory 4
- FRSC 401 Crime Scene Investigations 3
- FRSC 405 Independent Research Methods 3 or FRSC 406 Forensic Internship
- FRSC 460 & FRSC 461 Forensic DNA Analysis and Forensic DNA Analysis Laboratory 4
- FRSC 499 Comprehensive Examination 0
- CRIM 100 Introduction to Criminal Justice (Mason Core) 3
Natural Science Core Courses
- BIOL 213 Cell Structure and Function 4
- BIOL 214 Biostatistics for Biology Majors 3-4 or STAT 250 Introductory Statistics I (Mason Core)
- BIOL 311 General Genetics 4
- CHEM 211 & CHEM 213 General Chemistry I (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory I (Mason Core) 4
- CHEM 212 & CHEM 214 General Chemistry II (Mason Core) and General Chemistry Laboratory II (Mason Core) 4
- CHEM 313 & CHEM 315 Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Lab I 5
- CHEM 314 & CHEM 318 Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Lab II 5
- MATH 113 Analytic Geometry and Calculus I (Mason Core) 4-6 or MATH 123 & MATH 124 Calculus with Algebra/Trigonometry, Part A and Calculus with Algebra/Trigonometry, Part B (Mason Core)
- PHYS 243 & PHYS 244 College Physics I (Mason Core) and College Physics I Lab (Mason Core) 4
- PHYS 245 & PHYS 246 College Physics II (Mason Core) and College Physics II Lab (Mason Core) 4
Total Credits 70-73
Degree without Concentration
Required Course
- BIOL 430 Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology I 4
Supporting Science Courses
Select a minimum of 8 credits from the following courses: 8
- FRSC 450 Practical Forensic Skeletal Biology
- BINF 401 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology I
- BINF 402 Bioinformatics and Computational Biology II
- BIOL 305 & BIOL 306 Biology of Microorganisms and Biology of Microorganisms Laboratory
- BIOL 404 Medical Microbiology
- BIOL 405 Microbial Genetics
- BIOL 412 Phage Genomics
- BIOL 417 Selected Topics in Molecular and Cellular Biology (When the topic is "Illumina Sequencing")
- BIOL 431 Advanced Human Anatomy and Physiology II
- BIOL 452 & BIOL 453 Immunology and Immunology Laboratory
- BIOL 482 Introduction to Molecular Genetics
- BIOL 484 Cell Signaling and Disease
- CHEM 331 & CHEM 336 Physical Chemistry I and Physical Chemistry Lab I
- CHEM 427 Aquatic Environmental Chemistry
- CHEM 446 Bioinorganic Chemistry
- CHEM 463 & CHEM 465 General Biochemistry I and Biochemistry Lab
- CHEM 464 General Biochemistry II
Total Credits 12
Mason Core and Electives
In order to meet a minimum of 120 credits, this degree requires additional credits (specific credit counts by concentration are shown below), which may be applied toward any remaining Mason Core requirements (outlined below), Requirements for Bachelor's Degrees, and electives. Students are strongly encouraged to consult with their advisors to ensure that they fulfill all requirements.
- Standard concentration: 35-38 credits
- Forensic Biology concentration: 32-35 credits
- Forensic Chemistry concentration: 28-31 credits
Mason Core
Some Mason Core requirements may already be fulfilled by the major requirements listed above. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their advisors to ensure they fulfill all remaining Mason Core requirements.
Foundation Requirements
- Written Communication (ENGH 101) 3
- Oral Communication 3
- Quantitative Reasoning 3
- Information Technology and Computing 3
Exploration Requirements
- Arts 3
- Global Understanding 3
- Literature 3
- Natural Science 7
- Social and Behavioral Sciences 3
- Western Civilization/World History 3
Integration Requirements
- Written Communications (ENGH 302) 3
- Writing-Intensive 3
- Synthesis/Capstone 3
Total Credits 40