Forensic Chemistry

Major Requirements: The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry requires 69 hours of major courses, which include a combination of introductory coursework, developmental chemistry, labs and research methods.

General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.

View and download the full degree plan for our Forensic Chemistry major (PDF).

A few examples of courses students in this major take:

• Crime Scene Investigation – Examine, learn, understand and employ the techniques of crime scene investigation. The objective is to teach the fundamentals of crime scene investigation.
  Students should be able to assess any crime scene and determine proper procedures
• Instrumental Analysis – A study of some of the modern instrumental methods including
  atomic and molecular spectroscopy, analytical separations, mass spectrometry, magnetic resonance spectrometry and other salient techniques.
• Forensic Chemistry – Major facets of forensic analytical chemistry will be covered, including drug analysis, forensic toxicology, trace analysis, and arson and DNA typing. The use of Bayesian probability in the evaluation of guilt and innocence will also be covered. Real-world case studies will be used to illustrate the application of these principles.

The Department of Chemistry also offers BS degrees in Chemistry, Biochemistry and Environmental Chemistry.

What You Will Learn

Forensic Chemistry courses include a combination of introductory coursework, developmental chemistry, labs and research methods, and support courses in criminal justice. 

• Through classroom studies, lab work, field experiences and research, you’ll develop an understanding of how to collect, organize and interpret chemical data.
• Learn the fundamentals of crime scene investigation, and analyze blood and tissue samples to identify DNA or run toxicology screens. 
• Understand how to verify the chemical composition of drugs taken as evidence and how to detect chemicals associated with explosives, firearms or toxic substances. 

Skills You Will Gain

As a Forensic Chemistry major, you’ll cultivate a range of skills that prepare you to excel in the workplace. You’ll be able to …

• Search, access, contextualize and effectively summarize readings of discipline-specific literature. 
• Apply basic principles of experimental design to the development of an experimental procedure in the appropriate subdiscipline of chemistry. 
• Use quantitative tools for data collection and analysis.
• Explain the purpose of general laboratory safety guidelines and their implementation in various lab settings. 
• Clarify the principles governing the function and mechanisms behind key experimental and instrumental techniques in chemistry. 
• Use appropriate experimental techniques and instruments to design and execute an experiment. 
• Communicate the findings of independent research in a manner appropriate to the audience, including oral presentations and the writing of experiments, research manuscripts, poster presentations and research proposals.
• Demonstrate an ability to collaboratively arrive at a common goal within a team. 

Research

You’ll perform research with cutting-edge equipment — St. Edward’s is proud to be considered one of the best-equipped and best-funded small college chemistry departments in the country. We’ve been highly successful in securing external funding in support of an advanced curriculum, modern laboratory instrumentation and undergraduate research. 

Departmental and Research Funding
In addition to an ongoing research grant from the Welch Foundation, the Chemistry Department has secured curricular and equipment grants from the National Science Foundation, the Keck Foundation and the Educational Advancement Foundation. 

We are funded through the U.S. Dept. of Education under the Title V provision and through a five-year, $2.75 million grant from the National Institute of General Medical Sciences as part of a consortium that includes St. Edward’s University, Southwestern University and The University of Texas at Austin. 

Scholarships

• In addition to performing research over the academic year in one of the faculty-led research groups, students may apply for participation in the Chemistry Department’s full-time summer research program. The summer program is fully funded and successful applicants receive competitive student stipends. 
• Students in chemistry-related majors at St. Edward’s may apply for Welch Foundation undergraduate research scholarships — including a summer scholarship that provides a six-week stipend to conduct research.
• Win competitive summer research apprenticeships at universities across the country — funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) — where you can get experience studying different subfields of chemistry and focus in on your career direction. 

NSF summer Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) include:

• University of North Carolina
• Michigan State University
• University of San Diego
• University of Nebraska
• University of Michigan
• University of Mississippi
• North Carolina State University
• Boston University

Conferences and Presentations

• Students are encouraged to present their results at professional meetings, such as regional and national meetings of the American Chemical Society and the Texas Academy of Science. 
• Students also have the opportunity to present at the annual SOURCE Symposium of undergraduate research on the St. Edward's campus.