Level I Program Form
I Summary of Proposed Changes
Department/program Anthropology
Creation of Minor in Forensic Studies
Summary
II Endorsements and Approvals
Please obtain the Program Chair/Director’s approval, the Dean and the Associate Provost.
Requestor: Randall R. Skelton Phone: 243-4245
Christopher Comer, CAS
_____________________________________
___________________________________
Signature
Date
Dean’s Signature
Date
Program Chair/Director: John Douglas
_____________________________________
___________________________________
Signature
Date
Initial Review in Provost’s Office
date
Other affected programs:
Charles Janson, DBS
____________________________________
_____________________________________
Faculty Senate Review
date
Signature
Date
Mark Cracolice, Chemistry
_____________________________________
___________________________________
Signature
Date
Provost
date
Are other departments/programs affected by this
Please obtain signature(s) from the
modification because of
Chair/Director of any such department/ program
(a) required courses incl. prerequisites or
(above) before submission
corequisites,
(b) perceived overlap in content areas
(c) cross-listing of coursework
III Type of Level I Proposal (please check the appropriate space)
(a) Re-titling existing majors, minors, or options
(b) Eliminating existing majors, minors, or options via a program termination checklist
(c) Adding new minors or certificates where there is a major
X
(d) Adding new minors or certificates where there is an option in a major
(e) Departmental mergers and name changes
(f) Program revisions –for minor modifications use the program modification form
(g) Distance delivery of previously authorized degree program.
(h) Adding option within an existing major or degree *
(i) Eliminating organizational units such as departments, divisions and colleges or
schools *
(j) Consolidating existing program and/or degree *
*Requires level II BOR documentation submitted to the Provost’s Office (refer to
http://www.umt.edu/provost/curriculum.htm)
IV Catalog Language
If you are proposing a change to an existing
Please provide the proposed copy as you wish it
program or major, please cut and paste the
to appear in the catalog. 
requirements as they appear in the current catalog
below. www.umt.edu/catalog 
See Exhibit 1 attached.
Please explain/justify the new proposal or change. 
See Exhibit 2 attached.
What other programs are affected by your
Chemistry and DBS
proposal? Obtain signatures as requested below.
V Department Summary Required if several proposals are submitted. In a separate document
list program title and proposed change for all proposals.
VI Copies and Electronic Submission After all signatures have been obtained submit the
original, a paper copy and electronic file to the Faculty Senate Office, UH 221.
Revised 11/09
Exhibit 1
Minor in Forensic Studies (25 cr minimum)
Core courses: The following classes are required (at least 18 cr)
•
FS 100N Introduction to Forensic Science 3cr.
•
FS 400 Forensic Science Beyond the Crime Lab 3cr.
•
One of the following Chemistry sequences:
•
Either
•
CHMY 121N Intro to General Chemistry 3 cr.
•
CHMY 123N Intro Organic and Biological Chemistry 3 cr.
•
CHMY 124N Intro Organic and Biological Chemistry Laboratory 2
cr.
•
OR
•
CHMY 141N College Chemistry I 5 cr.
•
CHMY 143N College Chemistry II 5 cr.
•
BIOB 160N Principles of Living Systems 4cr
Two upper division courses of at least 3cr (at least 6cr total) from one of the
following areas of relevance to the forensic sciences, chosen in consultation with
an advisor.
Area 1: Investigation of Violent and Drug/Alcohol Related Crimes
•
ANTY 314 Principles of Forensic Anthropology 3cr.
•
ANTY412 Osteology 4cr.
•
ANTY 413 Forensic and Mortuary Archaeology 3cr.
•
ANTY 466 Archaeological Survey
•
BCH 380 Biochemistry 4 cr.
•
BCH 480 Advanced Biochemistry I 3 cr.
•
BCH 482 Advanced Biochemistry II 3 cr.
•
BCH 486 Biochemistry Research Laboratory 3 cr.
•
BIOB 435 Advanced Cell and Molecular Biology 3 cr.
•
BIOH 462 Entomology 4 cr.
•
BIOL 312 Anatomy and Physiology I 4 cr.
•
BIOL 313 Anatomy and Physiology II 4 cr.
•
BIOL 460 Medical Physiology 3 cr.
•
CHMY 311 Analytical Chem-Quant Analysis 4 cr.
•
CHMY 421 Advanced Instrumental Analysis 4 cr.
•
CHMY 488 Forensic Research 3 cr.
•
FOR 332 Forest Entomology 3 cr.
•
FOR 335 Environmental Entomology 3 cr.
•
FOR 342 Wood Anatomy, Properties and Identification 3 cr.
•
FOR 410 Soil Morphology, Genesis and Classification 3 cr.
•
GEO 327 Geochemistry 4 cr.
•
GEO 436 Subsurface Imaging in Archaeology 3 cr.
•
GEO 442 Architecture of Sedimentary Deposits 4 cr.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
GEO 460 Process Geomorphology 4 cr.
GPHY 317 Geomorphology 3 cr.
GPHY 413 Soil Geomorphology 3 cr.
M 485 Graph Theory 3 cr.
PHYS 375 Classical Mechanics 3 cr.
PHYS 444 Advanced Physics Laboratory 3 cr.
PSCI 334 International Security 3 cr.
Area 2: Investigation of Financial and Computer-Related Crimes
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
ACTG 305 Corporate Reporting I 3 cr.
ACTG 306 Corporate Reporting II 3 cr.
ACTG 411 Auditing I 3 cr.
CSCI 361 Computer Architecture 3cr.
CSCI 460 Operating Systems 3 cr.
CSCI 466 Networks 3 cr.
FIN 301 Analysis of Financial Statements 3 cr.
MIS 471 Fundamentals of Network Management 3 cr.
MIS 472 Advanced Network Management 3 cr.
Area 3: Criminal Investigation and Testimony Support
•
ART 315 Photography II 3 cr.
•
ART 317 Digital Photography I 3cr.
•
ART 414 Photography III 3 cr.
•
COMM 350 Persuasive Speaking and Criticism 3 cr.
•
GPHY 482 Spatial Analysis and GIS 3 cr.
•
STAT 341 Introduction to Probability and Statistics 3 cr.
•
STAT 422 Mathematical Statistics 3 cr.
•
STAT 451 Statistical Methods I 3 cr.
•
STAT 452 Statistical Methods II 3 cr.
Area 4: Jurisprudence, Criminology, and Corrections
•
PSYX 340S Abnormal Psychology 3 cr.
•
PSYX 348 Psychology of Family Violence 3 cr.
•
PSYX 360S Social Psychology 3 cr.
•
PSYX 378S Intro to Clinical Psychology 3 cr.
•
PSYX 441 Addiction Studies 3 cr.
•
SOCI 312 Criminal Adjudication 3 cr.
•
SOCI 362 Sociology of Law Enforcement 3 cr.
•
SOCI 423 Sociology of Corrections 3 cr.
•
SOCI 435 Law and Society 3 cr.
•
SOCI 438 Seminar in Crime and Deviance 3 cr.
It is strongly recommended that students in this minor take one of the scientific or
technical writing courses for their writing requirement and a course in introductory
statistics.
All of the upper division courses have prerequisites. Students are responsible for
taking the prerequisites before enrolling in these courses. The prerequisites
might not apply toward the minor in Forensic Studies.
Cross-listed courses that are the same as a course on the list above but offered
through another department are acceptable for the minor in Forensic Studies.
For example PSYX 441 Addiction Studies is often cross-listed with SW 423 and
SOCI 433, both of which would be treated the same as PSYX 441 under the
requirements of this minor.
Exhibit 2
Justification of Minor in Forensic Studies
The Minor in Forensic Studies is primarily designed as a way to
guide students interested in a career in the forensic sciences or a
related field toward appropriate coursework offered at The University
of Montana – Missoula. It is designed as a “value-added” feature for
students in a wide variety of majors, who by earning the minor will
demonstrate that they have taken coursework that is widely regarded
as essential for a forensic scientist plus appropriate courses in their
major or a related field. It may also fill needs for personal enrichment
and the satisfaction of intellectual curiosity among those with a nonvocational interest in forensic science. It may be useful to students
who contemplate a career in law enforcement.
The name “forensic studies” was chosen over alternatives (e.g.
“forensic science”) for two primary reasons. First, on the national
level programs with the name “forensic science” focus on the “how to”
of forensic science with an emphasis on those forensic sciences
practiced at a crime lab. In this case there is the expectation that, for
example, lab courses in lifting and processing fingerprints will be
offered. This minor is conceived as focusing on the theoretical rather
that the practical. In other words, for the student to learn about
forensic science instead of learning how to do specific crime lab
procedures. Second, programs in “forensic science” tend to be
narrow in scope with nearly singular focus on those forensic sciences
that are relevant to investigations of traditional crimes such as murder
or theft and which are practiced by forensic scientists who work at a
crime lab. The focus of this minor is again broader, to also include
the forensic sciences that are more useful in civil proceedings
(forensic economics, forensic medicine, etc.) as well as related areas
such as homeland security/terrorism and organized crime.
Nationally, including in Montana, forensic science classes and
programs are typically housed either in Anthropology (as at UM and
MSU), Chemistry (as at FVCC), or a separate department of Forensic
Science (as at UGF).
The curriculum design derives from ethnographic observations
of forensic scientists and their work. The following observations
about forensic science and forensic scientists are relevant.
 The forensic sciences include a broad spectrum of natural
sciences, social sciences, and specialized skills. A set of
broad-ranging courses exploring the theory, practice, and
extent of the forensic sciences is fundamental. Therefore, the
following courses are required:
FS 100N Introduction to Forensic Science
FS 400 Forensic Science Beyond the Crime Lab
 The forensic sciences include a broad range of specialties in a
wide variety of natural and social sciences. Therefore courses
in a wide variety of natural and social sciences are appropriate.
The table below lists a selection of the forensic specialties,
what experts in these specialties do, and appropriate courses.
Forensic Specialty
Forensic accounting
What They Do
Examine financial records for evidence of
criminal activity
Forensic anthropology Search for buried evidence and analyze
skeletal remains for clues about identity
Relevant
Courses
Accounting
Field
archaeology,
osteology,
human variation
Forensic chemistry
Testing suspicious powders and liquids to
Quantitative
determine whether they are illegal drugs
analysis
Forensic computer
Discovering evidence on computer or
Operating
Science
network systems and investigation of hacking systems,
and system attack. Designing databases for networking,
use by forensic scientists and law
computer
enforcement agents.
architecture
Forensic DNA analysis Matching DNA from a crime scene with the Molecular
DNA of a suspect
biology,
Biochemistry
Forensic engineering Investigation of traffic accidents, fires,
Physics,
explosions, structure failures, and product
engineering
failures
Forensic entomology Estimating time since death from insect
Entomology
evidence
Forensic firearms
Matching firearms evidence (bullets, casings) Physics
examination
from a crime scene to those associated with (mechanics &
a suspect
motion)
Forensic geology
Matching soils, rocks, and hydrocarbons
Physical
found at a crime scene to those associates geography,
with a suspect
geology
Forensic mathematics Detecting logical and statistical fallacies
Statistics, graph
regarding evidence and applying
theory
graph/network theory investigation of to
terrorist cells
Forensic medicine
Estimating the extent of injury and the cost of Anatomy &
its treatment
physiology
Forensic odontology Determining identity by matching dental
Anatomy &
records and matching bite mark evidence to physiology
a suspect's dentition
Forensic pathology
Doing autopsies to determine cause of death Anatomy &
physiology
Forensic photography Documenting crime scenes and steps in the
analysis of evidence
Forensic psychology Providing psychological support and
treatment to peace officers, victims,
suspects, and convicts
Forensic serology
Forensic toxicology
Photography
Abnormal
psychology,
clinical
psychology
Matching blood evidence from a crime scene Genetics, Cell &
to a suspect
molecular
biology
Examination of blood or tissue to detect the Biochemistry,
presence of drugs or alcohol
Toxicology
The preceding observations about forensic scientists are embodied in the
Minor in Forensic Studies, which includes specific courses about forensic
science, courses in the natural and social sciences, and courses in specific
technical skill areas.
Policy on Prerequisites
Many courses required or accepted for the Minor in Forensic Studies have
prerequisites. It is up to the student to take these prerequisites before attempting
any required or allowed course with no implication that the prerequisite courses
count toward the Minor in Forensic Studies. All advising documents and the
catalog copy will include this warning.
Policy on Cross-Listed Courses
Cross-listed courses that are the same as a course on the list above but
offered through another department are acceptable for the minor in Forensic
Studies.
Resource Impacts
The resource impacts of the Minor in Forensic Studies are minimal.
Department of Anthropology, including the Central and Southwestern Asian
Studies program and the Linguistics program, already offers the BA degree in
Anthropology, the Archaeology Option, the Cultural and Ethnic Diversity Option,
the Forensic Anthropology Option, the Linguistics Option, the Major in Central
and Southwest Asia, the Minor in Anthropology, the Minor in Central and
Southwest Asia, the Minor in Linguistics, the Certificate of Accomplishment in
English as a Second Language, the Certificate in Forensic Studies, and the
Certificate in Historic Preservation, along with a wide range of graduate degrees
and options. Thus we have a broad range of interests into which the Minor in
Forensic Studies fits well. There are no new courses required, and no new
faculty required. However, if the Minor and Certificate in Forensic Studies grow
to become very large additional administrative support may be required in the
future. The two required courses offered by our department are capable of
accommodating additional students.
Impact on other departments and programs is also minimal. There will be
some impact on the introductory Chemistry and Biology courses, since these are
required by the Minor in Forensic Studies. These courses, particularly the lab
components, are already strained to capacity due to the demands of general
education requirements. However, we have consulted with both of these units
and in both cases it seems as if a moderate number of students in the Minor in
Forensic Studies could be accommodated, and that resources will need to be
allocated to expand the capacity of these courses in any case. Impacts due to
the upper division courses listed as qualifying for the Minor in Forensic Studies
will be minimal since it is expected that students electing to take a particular
course on that list will probably already be pursuing a major in that program.