Bachelor of Science Chemistry with a Major in Chemical Forensic Science (BS)
Requirements
Lower-Division General Education
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Written Communication | 6 | |
| Oral Communication | 3 | |
| Mathematics | 3 | |
| Language and Culture | 0-6 | |
| Information Literacy and Research | 3 | |
| Human Behavior | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Literature | 3 | |
| Philosophy and Ethics | 3 | |
| The Nature of Science | 8 | |
| Impact of Technology | 3 | |
Written Communication: Grade of C or better required in both courses
Oral Communication: COMM 101R
Mathematics: STAT 130M required
Information Literacy and Research: satisfied in the major by CHEM 160G
Human Behavior: CRJS 215S required
Philosophy and Ethics: PHIL 345E recommended
The Nature of Science: PHYS 231N-PHYS 232N required
Impact of Technology: satisfied in the major by CHEM 320T
Upper-Division General Education
- Option A. Approved Disciplinary Minor (a minimum of 12 hours determined by the department), or second degree or second major.
- Option B: Interdisciplinary Minor (specifically 12 hours, 3 of which may be in the major)
- Option C. An approved Certification Program such as teaching licensure
- Option D. Two Upper-Division Courses from outside the College of Sciences and not required by the major (6 hours)
Requirements for Graduation
Requirements for graduation include the following:
- Minimum of 120 credit hours.
- Minimum of 30 credit hours overall and 12 credit hours of upper-level courses in the major program from Old Dominion University.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward the major.
- Minimum overall cumulative grade point average of C (2.00) in all courses taken toward a minor.
- Completion of ENGL 110C, ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C, and the writing intensive (W) course in the major with a grade of C or better. The W course must be taken at Old Dominion University.
- Completion of Senior Assessment.
Chemistry Core
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses | ||
| CHEM 121N | Foundations of Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 122N | Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 123N | Foundations of Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 124N | Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory | 1-2 |
| or CHEM 125 | Foundations of Chemistry II Lab with Introduction to Chemical Research | |
| CHEM 160G | Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry Research and Careers | 3 |
| CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 212 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 213 | Organic Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 214 | Organic Chemistry II Laboratory | 2 |
| or CHEM 216 | Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory | |
| CHEM 321 & CHEM 322 | Analytical Chemistry Lecture and Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 5 |
| CHEM 331 & CHEM 332W | Physical Chemistry Lecture I and Experimental Physical Chemistry I * | 5 |
| CHEM 421 & CHEM 422 | Instrumental Analysis Lecture and Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 6 |
| CHEM 441 | Biochemistry Lecture | 3 |
| Other Required Courses | ||
| BIOL 121N & BIOL 122N | General Biology I and General Biology I Lab | 4 |
| BIOL 123N & BIOL 124N | General Biology II and General Biology II Lab | 4 |
| MATH 211 | Calculus I | 4 |
| MATH 212 | Calculus II | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours | 56-57 | |
- *
Grade of C or better required in "W" courses if using to meet the University Writing Requirement (minimum of 3 credits total in "W" coursework required).
Chemical Forensic Science Major
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education | ||
| Complete lower-division requirements | 35-41 | |
| Complete upper-division requirements | 6 | |
| Chemistry Core | ||
| Complete chemistry core | 56-57 | |
| Chemical Forensic Science Major | ||
| CHEM 320T | Survey of Forensic Science | 3 |
| CHEM 325 | Forensic Biochemistry and Microscopy with Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 359 | Forensic Chemistry with Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 459 | Advanced Forensic Chemistry and Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| CHEM 461 | Forensic Professional Practice | 3 |
| CHEM 498 | Independent Study | 2-3 |
| or CHEM 369 | Chemistry Practicum | |
| CHEM 442W | Biochemistry Laboratory * | 2-4 |
| or CHEM 334W | Experimental Physical Chemistry II | |
| CRJS 222 | The Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| Total Credit Hours | 119-129 | |
- *
Grade of C or better required in "W" courses if using to meet the University Writing Requirement (minimum of 3 credits total in "W" coursework required).
Elective Credit
Elective credit may be needed to meet the minimum requirement of 120 credit hours.
Honors in Chemistry
The honors program provides qualified students the opportunity for supervised individual study in their areas of interest. Admission to the program requires a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in the major. Students must take two upper-division courses designated by the department to be honors courses. These are termed "Contract Honors Courses." A description of the procedures for these contract courses is found in the Honors College section of this Catalog.
Degree Program Guide
The Degree Program Guide is a suggested curriculum to complete this degree program in four years. It is just one of several plans that will work and is presented only as broad guidance to students. Each student is strongly encouraged to develop a customized plan in consultation with their academic advisor. Additional information can also be found in Degree Works.
| Freshman | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| ENGL 110C | English Composition (Grade of C or better required) | 3 |
| CHEM 121N | Foundations of Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 122N | Foundations of Chemistry I Laboratory | 1 |
| Literature | 3 | |
| CHEM 160G | Introduction to Chemistry and Biochemistry Research and Careers | 3 |
| CRJS 215S or CRJS 226S |
Introduction to Criminology or Honors: Introduction to Criminology |
3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 123N | Foundations of Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 124N or CHEM 125 |
Foundations of Chemistry II Laboratory or Foundations of Chemistry II Lab with Introduction to Chemical Research |
1-2 |
| MATH 211 | Calculus I | 4 |
| COMM 101R | Public Speaking | 3 |
| ENGL 211C or ENGL 231C |
Writing, Rhetoric, and Research (Grade of C or better required) or Writing, Rhetoric, and Research: Special Topics |
3 |
| CRJS 222 | The Criminal Justice System | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 17-18 | |
| Sophomore | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 211 | Organic Chemistry I Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 212 | Organic Chemistry I Laboratory | 2 |
| MATH 212 | Calculus II | 4 |
| BIOL 121N | General Biology I | 3 |
| BIOL 122N | General Biology I Lab | 1 |
| CHEM 320T | Survey of Forensic Science | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 213 | Organic Chemistry II Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 214 or CHEM 216 |
Organic Chemistry II Laboratory or Advanced Organic Chemistry Laboratory |
2 |
| STAT 130M | Elementary Statistics | 3 |
| BIOL 123N | General Biology II | 3 |
| BIOL 124N | General Biology II Lab | 1 |
| Upper Division General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Junior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 441 | Biochemistry Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 321 | Analytical Chemistry Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 322 | Analytical Chemistry Laboratory | 2 |
| CHEM 325 | Forensic Biochemistry and Microscopy with Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 231N | University Physics I | 4 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 359 | Forensic Chemistry with Laboratory | 3 |
| CHEM 421 | Instrumental Analysis Lecture | 3 |
| CHEM 422 | Instrumental Analysis Laboratory | 3 |
| PHYS 232N | University Physics II | 4 |
| Philosophy and Ethics (PHIL 345E recommended) | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Senior | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 331 | Physical Chemistry Lecture I | 3 |
| CHEM 332W | Experimental Physical Chemistry I * | 2 |
| CHEM 334W or CHEM 442W |
Experimental Physical Chemistry II * or Biochemistry Laboratory |
2-4 |
| CHEM 498 or CHEM 369 |
Independent Study or Chemistry Practicum |
2-3 |
| Upper Division General Education Requirement | 3 | |
| Elective (only if needed) | 1 | |
| Credit Hours | 13-16 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 459 | Advanced Forensic Chemistry and Crime Scene Investigation | 3 |
| Interpreting the Past | 3 | |
| Human Creativity | 3 | |
| CHEM 461 | Forensic Professional Practice | 3 |
| Language and Culture (May be waived; See requirement details) | 0-6 | |
| Credit Hours | 12-18 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 120-130 | |
- *
Grade of C or better required in "W" courses if using to meet the University Writing Requirement (minimum of 3 credits total in "W" coursework required).
Linked Bachelor's/Master's Degree Programs
The linked BS in chemistry and the MS in chemistry allows exceptional students to count up to 12 hours of graduate courses toward both a BS degree in chemistry and an MS degree in chemistry. Students in the combined program must complete Senior Thesis I and II (CHEM 490 and CHEM 499), be accepted into the chemistry master’s program, and earn a minimum of 150 credit hours (120 discrete credit hours for the undergraduate degree and 30 discrete credit hours for the graduate degree). Additional requirements apply; please contact the Chief Departmental Advisor.