Department of Chemistry
                                                         at Oregon State University

B.S. Degree in Chemistry with a Forensic Science Option (Track Two)
Gilbert Hall 153
(541) 737-2081

The Forensic Science Option is appropriate for students interested in working in a crime lab or pursing a graduate degree in chemistry or forensic science.  Students can earn a B.S. chemistry degree in four years and also take a combination of courses that enhance a chemistry major's background in biology, biochemistry, and related areas that can be important in forensic science.

CHEMISTRY CORE (81 cr)  
CH 221/224, CH 222/225, CH 223/226 General Chemistry (15)
CH 334, CH 335, CH 336 Organic Chemistry (9)
CH 361, CH 362 Experimental Chemistry I (6)
CH 421, CH 422 Analytical Chemistry (6)
CH 461 Experimental Chemistry II (3)
Select one of the following three lab courses:  
  CH 462 (WIC) or CH 463 (WIC) or CH 464 (WIC) Experimental Chemistry II (3)
CH 411 Inorganic Chemistry (3)
CH 440, CH 441, CH 442 Physical Chemistry (9)
MTH 251, MTH 252, MTH 254 Calculus (12)

PH 201, PH 202, PH 203  or
PH 211 and PH 221, PH 212 and PH 222, PH 213 and PH 223

General Physics (15)


FORENSIC SCIENCE OPTION (31-38 cr)
(BI 211) b Principles of Biology (4)
BI 212 Principles of Biology (4)
BI 213 Principles of Biology (4)
BI 314 b Cell and Molecular Biology (4)
Select one of the two following options:

BB 450 & BB 451 General Biochemistry (7) or BB 490 & BB 491 Biochemistry (6)
Select one of the two following lab courses:

BB 494 Biochemistry Laboratory (3) or BI 315 Molecular Biology Laboratory (3)
TOX 411 Fundamentals of Toxicology (3)
ELECTIVES--Select three courses from below:
     

BB 452 (3) or BB 492 (3), BI 311 (4), CH 401(3), CH 410 (2-3), CH 424 (3), CH 467 (3), CH 661 (3), CH 676 (4), CH 697 (3), DHE 250 (4)a, MB 302 (3), MB 303 (2),ST 201 (3) and ST 211 (1) or ST 351 (4), TOX 490, Z 331 (3), Z 341 (2)


a see note 4 in Additional Information
Baccalaureate Core Requirements
b BI 211 is not a requirement for the Forensic Science option but it is an enforced pre-requisite for BI 314 (beginning S07). BI 211, 212, & 213 can be taken in any order. Links about Forensic Science
Sample curriculum by year
last updated 05/20/2008
Additional Information about the forensic science option