Forensic (Criminal Justice), B.S.

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Degree Plan (FORCJBS)

General Education Curriculum

GEC 01. Written Communication (6 hours)

ENG 101 - Composition One 3 hrs.
ENG 102 - Composition Two 3 hrs.

GEC 02. Natural Science and Mathematics (11 minimum hours)

Science Requirement (8 hours)

Select 2 courses with labs:

AST 111 - General Astronomy I 3 hrs. AND
AST 111L - General Astronomy I Laboratory 1 hr.
AST 112 - General Astronomy II 3 hrs. AND
AST 112L - General Astronomy II Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 103 - Biology and Society 3 hrs. ◊AND
BSC 103L - Biology and Society Laboratory 1 hr ◊
BSC 110 - Principles of Biological Science I 3 hrs. ◊* AND
BSC 110L - Principles of Biological Science I Laboratory 1 hr. ◊*
BSC 111 - Principles of Biological Science II 3 hrs. ◊* AND
BSC 111L - Principles of Biological Science II Laboratory 1 hr. ◊*
BSC 250 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I 3 hrs. AND
BSC 250L - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Laboratory 1 hr.
BSC 251 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II 3 hrs. AND
BSC 251L - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 104 - Chemistry and Our Environment 3 hrs. AND
CHE 104L - Chemistry and Our Environment Laboratory 1 hr.
CHE 106 - General Chemistry I 3 hrs. * AND
CHE 106L - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hr. *
CHE 107 - General Chemistry II 3 hrs. * AND
CHE 107L - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr. *
GHY 104 - Weather and Climate 3 hrs. AND
GHY 104L - Weather and Climate Laboratory 1 hr.
GHY 105 - Landforms, Hydrology and Biogeography 3 hrs. AND
GHY 105L - Landforms, Hydrology and Biogeography Laboratory 1 hr.
GLY 101 - Physical Geology 3 hrs. AND
GLY 101L - Physical Geology Laboratory 1 hr.
GLY 103 - Historical Geology 3 hrs. AND
GLY 103L - Historical Geology Laboratory 1 hr.
MAR 151 - Introduction to Ocean Science 3 hrs. AND
MAR 151L - Introduction to Ocean Science Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 103 - Introductory Physics 3 hrs. AND
PHY 103L - Introductory Physics Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 111 - General Physics I 3 hrs. * AND
PHY 111L - General Physics I Laboratory 1 hr. *
PHY 112 - General Physics II 3 hrs. * AND
PHY 112L - General Physics II Laboratory 1 hr. *
PHY 201 - General Physics I with Calculus 4 hrs. AND
PHY 201L - General Physics I with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr.
PHY 202 - General Physics II with Calculus 4 hrs. AND
PHY 202L - General Physics II with Calculus Laboratory 1 hr.
PSC 190 - Living in a Material World 3 hrs. AND
PSC 190L - Lab for Living in a Material World 1 hr.

GEC 04. Aesthetic Values (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

GEC 05. Social and Behavioral Sciences (6 hours)

Select 2 courses:

ANT 101 - The Human Experience: A Global Perspective on Human Diversity 3 hrs.
COH 100 - Concepts of Wellness 3 hrs.
ECO 101 - Basic Economics 3 hrs.
GHY 101 - World Geography: Dynamics of a Changing Earth 3 hrs.
PS 101 - American Government 3 hrs.
PSY 110 - General Psychology 3 hrs.
SOC 101 - Understanding Society: Principles of Sociology 3 hrs.

GEC 06. Computer Competency Requirement (Major Area)

FSC 445 - Crime Scene Documentation 3 hrs. (WI) AND
FSC 445L - Crime Scene Documentation Laboratory 1 hr. (WI)

GEC 07. Writing-Intensive Requirement (Major Area)

FSC 445 - Crime Scene Documentation 3 hrs. (WI) AND
FSC 445L - Crime Scene Documentation Laboratory 1 hr. (WI)
ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

GEC 08. Speaking Intensive Requirement (3 hours)

Select 1 course:

CMS 111 - Oral Communication 3 hrs. (SI)
CMS 305 - Interpersonal Communication 3 hrs. (SI)
CMS 320 - Business and Professional Speaking 3 hrs. (SI)
CMS 330 - Small-Group Communication 3 hrs. (SI)

GEC 09. Capstone Requirement (Major Area)

FSC 435 - Forensic Laboratory Policies and Procedures 3 hrs. (Capstone)
Must be taken Senior Year; ENG 101 & ENG 102 prerequisites

Note:

*This course satisfies both the GEC requirement and a program requirement for this major.

**This particular GEC course is recommended by this major.

***This course does not satisfy prerequisites for any other math course.

◊ GEC restrictions apply; see here .

GEC 06 - GEC 09 courses are specific to this major.

For full description of the GEC, see here .

Program Curriculum

DEG 01. Major Area of Study Requirements (70 hours)

FSC 140 - The Science of Forensic Science 3 hrs. AND
FSC 140L - The Science of Forensic Science Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 141 - Introduction to Forensic Science II 3 hrs.
FSC 435 - Forensic Laboratory Policies and Procedures 3 hrs. (Capstone)
FSC 445 - Crime Scene Documentation 3 hrs. AND
FSC 445L - Crime Scene Documentation Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 497 - Field Study in Forensic Science 3, 6, or 9 hrs. (3 hours)

Select 23 courses:

FSC 301 - Forensic Biology I 3 hrs.
FSC 321 - Forensic Biology II 3 hrs.
FSC 320 - Forensic Analysis 3 hrs. AND
FSC 320L - Forensic Analysis Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 340 - Fingerprint Analysis and Techniques 3 hrs. AND
FSC 340L - Fingerprinting Techniques Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 430 - Survey of Forensic Toxicology 3 hrs. AND
FSC 430L - Survey of Forensic Toxicology Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 440 - Drug Identification 3 hrs. AND
FSC 440L - Drug Identification Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 442 - Arson and Explosives 3 hrs. AND
FSC 442L - Arson and Explosives Laboratory 1 hr.
FSC 480 - Seminar in Forensic Science 3 hrs.
FSC 491 - Special Projects in Forensic Science 1 hr. AND
FSC 491L - Laboratory for Forensic Science 3 hrs.

Emphasis Area of Study

CJ 200 - Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 hrs.
CJ 325 - Criminal Justice Theory 3 hrs.
CJ 330 - Criminal Law 3 hrs.
CJ 341 - Police Methods and Organization 3 hrs.
CJ 342 - Criminal Investigation 3 hrs.
CJ 430 - Criminal Procedure 3 hrs.
CJ 433 - Evidence, Search and Seizure 3 hrs.
CJ 445 - Drugs and Society 3 hrs.
CJ 482 - Criminal Justice Ethics 3 hrs.

Select 1 course:

CJ 352 - Introduction to Modern Corrections 3 hrs.
CJ 360 - Introduction to Juvenile Justice 3 hrs.

DEG 02. Additional Requirements (16-27 hours)

Select 4 courses with labs different from those used to satisfy GEC 02:

BSC 110 - Principles of Biological Science I 3 hrs. *AND
BSC 110L - Principles of Biological Science I Laboratory 1 hr. *
BSC 111 - Principles of Biological Science II 3 hrs. *AND
BSC 111L - Principles of Biological Science II Laboratory 1 hr. *
CHE 106 - General Chemistry I 3 hrs. *AND
CHE 106L - General Chemistry I Laboratory 1 hr. *
CHE 107 - General Chemistry II 3 hrs. *AND
CHE 107L - General Chemistry II Laboratory 1 hr. *
PHY 111 - General Physics I 3 hrs. *AND
PHY 111L - General Physics I Laboratory 1 hr. *
PHY 112 - General Physics II 3 hrs. *AND
PHY 112L - General Physics II Laboratory 1 hr. *
MAT 103 - Plane Trigonometry 3 hrs. ♦*

Note:

♦ Trigonometry is required for this major. Students may enter MAT 103 directly if Math ACT sub score is 24 or higher. If Math ACT sub score if less than 24, MAT 101 and MAT 103 must be completed.

Hours to Degree

122 hours are needed to graduate with a BS in Forensics with an emphasis in Criminal Justice. At least 50 percent of the hours applied to a degree at The University of Southern Mississippi must be earned from a senior college, and 45 of these hours must be in courses numbered 300 or above. The last 25 percent of course work must be earned from Southern Miss. The student must earn at least 12 hours in the major area of study from Southern Miss.