Minor
Forensic science is a growing field that continues to gain relevance in criminal and civil investigations. While an undergraduate minor in forensic science is not sufficient to practice in the field, it allows students to explore the field through an applied curriculum and to obtain the background to pursue professional or graduate training in this or related fields.
The forensic science minor program is interdisciplinary and involves the Departments of Biology, Chemistry and Biochemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Engineering, Forensic Science, Visual and Performing Arts, History, Information Systems, Law and Operations, Mathematics and Statistics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Theology, and Writing. Students are encouraged to take a range of courses from departments in the humanities, natural sciences and applied, social sciences, and School of Business.
Curriculum
Required Courses
Forensic Science Core
- FO 101 - Introduction to Forensic Science with Lab
- FO 102 - Scientific Basis of Forensic Investigations
Social Science Core (choose 1)
- PY 101 - Introductory Psychology
- SC 100 - Introduction to Sociology
Electives (choose 3)
Forensic Science
- FO 230 - Introduction to Criminalistics
- FO 284 - Forensic Chemistry
- FO 300 - Crime Scene Investigation
- FO 319 - Supporting Twenty-First Century Policing with Forensic Evidence
- FO 320 - Forensic Serology of Animal and Human Body Fluids
- FO 322 - Forensic Ecological Evidence
- FO 325 - DNA Analysis in Forensic Investigations
- FO 330 - Biological and Forensic Science Quality Assurance
- FO 336 - Forensic Toxicology
- FO 347 - Trace Evidence and Questioned Documents
- FO 350 - Foundations of Comparative Sciences
- FO 351 - Forensic Entomology with Lab
- FO 360 - Introduction to Investigative Genetic Genealogy
- FO 376 - Digital and Forensic Imaging
- FO 377 - Death Investigation
- FO 385 - Introduction to Firearms and Toolmarks Analysis
- FO 390 - Topics in Forensic Science
- FO 404 - Victimology and Applications to Violent Crimes
- FO 411 - Animal Law
- FO 415 - Forensic Anthropology
- FO 440 - Bloodstain Pattern Analysis and Crime Scene Reconstruction
- FO 450 - Forensic Cognitive Psychology
- FO 452 - Forensic Science Errors and Wrongful Convictions
Natural & Applied Sciences
- BL 281 General Genetics
- BL 321 Synthetic Biology
- BL 322 Synthetic Biology w/lab
- BL 341 Molecular Genetics w/lab
- BL 431 Biochemistry I and
- BL 433 Biochemistry I Lab
- BL 432 Biochemistry II and
- BL 434 Biochemistry Lab II
- CH 201 Quantitative Analysis
- CH 410 Instrumental Methods and
- CH 411 Instrumental Methods Lab
- CH 431 Biochemistry I and
- CH 433 Biochemistry Lab I
- CH 432 Biochemistry II and
- CH 434 Biochemistry Lab II
- CS 115 Cyber Security and Digital Forensics
- CS 151 Computer Science through Programming
- CS 212 Object-Oriented Data Structures
- CS 312 Object-Oriented Software Design
- EG 381 Probability & Statistics
- IS 358 - Applied Machine Learning
- MA 251 - Calculus I
- MA 252 - Calculus II
- PH 383 - Physics of Medicine and the Human Body
- PH 384 - Waves and the Physics of Medicine
Social Sciences
- EC 220 Business Statistics
- EC 420 Econometrics
- EC 460 Business and Government
- PS 322 - Mock Trial
- PS 337 - Analytical and Legal Reasoning
- PS 338 - Constitutional Law: Federalism and Separation of Powers
- PS 339 - Constitutional Law: Individual Liberties
- PY 202 - Psychopathology
- PY 253 - Multicultural Issues in Psychology
- PY 265 - Forensic Psychology
- SC 201 - Self and Society
- SC 207 - Social Problems
- SC 260 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
- SC 331 - Deviance and Social Control
- SC 332 - The Sociology of Crime and Criminals
- SC 233 - Juvenile Delinquency
- SC 347 - Special Topics in Criminology
- SC 360 - Critical Analysis of Criminal Justice Outcomes
- SC 371 - Sociology of Serial and Mass Murder
- SC 430 - Seminar: Gender and Justice
- SC 435 - Seminar: Forensic Sociology
Humanities
- CL 258 Volcanoes, Fire and Flood: Disasters of Ancient Rome
- HN 323 - Photographic Vision: Tools, Techniques, and Theories or
- PT 301 - Photographic Vision: Tools, Techniques, and Theories
- HS 232 - Law, Lawyers, and Litigants in European History
- HS 258 - Volcanoes, Fire, and Flood: Disasters of Ancient Rome
- HS 382 - Crime and Punishment in Latin America
- HS 386 - History of the Police
- PL 235 - Philosophical Perspectives: Philosophy and Science
- PL 311 - Bioethics
- PL 315 - Ethics after Auschwitz
- PL 333 - Philosophy of Law
- PL 335 - Political Philosophy: Justice and Mass Incarceration
- PT 270 - Basic Digital Photography
- PT 361 - Digital Image
- TH 318 - Bioethics and Social Justice
- WR 301 - Writing about Science
- WR 325 - Professional Writing or
- WR 326 - Technical Writing
Business
- AC 420 - Forensic Accounting
- LW 109 - Business, Law, and Society: Special Topics
Advising Considerations
- No more than two courses from the same department may be taken as electives for the minor.
Contact Us
Undergraduate Admissionadmission@loyola.edu
410-617-5012
Catherine Newberry
Program Assistant
Department of Forensic Science
cnewberry@loyola.edu
410-617-2314