STUDENT PLANNING GUIDE
Bachelor of Science Degree
Forensic Science
Chemistry Option
Biology Option
Director, Forensic Science, Dr. Lori Wilson (lori.wilson@eku.edu)
Faculty: Dr. David Cunningham, Dr. Lynnette Noblitt, Dr. Darrin Smith, Dr. Jamie Fredericks,
& announcing a new forensic chemist TBA
Practitioners: Prof. Joseph Wallace, Prof. Mike Ward, and Prof. Barbara Wheeler
The purpose of this guide is to help you plan your four-year curriculum leading to your
Bachelor of Science degree in Forensic Science at Eastern Kentucky University. You should
use this guide along with the current EKU Undergraduate Catalog and your Degree Works
form.
You are the one who is ultimately responsible for organizing your schedule and
satisfying degree requirements. You will have a faculty advisor who will help guide you during
your time at EKU. You will need to schedule at least one meeting with your advisor during the
pre-registration period each semester. Your advisor will help you decide on your courses for
the upcoming semester. Your advisor will also give you a RAC number that you will need for
registration. This RAC number changes each fall and spring semester.
The advisors for all forensic science are:
Forensic Biology: Dr. Jamie Fredericks (mailto:jamie.fredericks@eku.edu)
Forensic Chemistry: Dr. Jerome May (Jerome.may@eku.edu) and Dr. David Cunningham
(david.cunningham@eku.edu ).
The EKU Chemistry Department has 5th year masters program (3+2 in Forensic
Science). If you follow this program, you can finish a B.S. in Forensic Science and an M.S. in
Chemistry in a 5-year period. You can ask your advisor about this if you are interested, or
read more about it on the Chemistry Department web page.
Forensic Science Major Planning Guide
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Important Information for Forensic Science Majors
The Forensic Science Program requires that a student earn a minimum GPA of 2.75
on all work taken at Eastern. This is higher than the general university
requirement of 2.0, and is a specific requirement of the Forensic Science major .
In order to compete successfully with other candidates for an internship or a job in
forensic science, applicants must be attentive to their personal behavior and
appearance as well as their academic performance. If you have any history of
problems in the areas below, your job opportunities for working as a forensic scientist
may be greatly diminished or eliminated altogether, depending on the severity of the
offense:
Drug use
DUI or any alcohol abuse problems
Any convictions or arrests
Credit problems
Dishonest behavior
You will meet with the program director or internship director sometime in your
junior year to discuss any problems you may have had in the areas listed above. If you
want to talk with us sooner, make an appointment with Dr. Lori Wilson
(lori.wilson@eku.edu).
You should also be aware that forensic scientists are expected to present a
conservative and professional appearance in the workplace. Tattoos that cannot be
covered up by clothing, obvious multiple body piercings, long hair on men, and revealing
clothing for women are not acceptable in the professional forensic setting. Students
who are not willing to conform to the accepted professional standards are not likely to
be accepted for internships or hired into regular jobs in the forensic laboratory.
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Forensic Science Major: First Year
In your first year, you will be taking basic science courses that will prepare you for the
forensic science courses you will take later. It is important to get off to a good start in
your first year. Here are some things you should be doing and thinking about:
1. The background checks on applicants for forensic science internships and jobs have
increased significantly in the past few years. If you have a history of drug use, alcohol
abuse, credit problems, or an arrest record you are not likely to be offered a job or
internship in a forensic lab. Forensic science is not the best major for you, and you
should consider a change.
2. Your grades are important. You must earn a minimum grade of C in all of the core
science courses in order to continue with the 400-level forensic science courses. Your
knowledge of chemistry is particularly important, so you need to perform well in those
courses in particular.
3. There is a “Crime and Chemistry” club. Consider joining this club, and participate in its
activities.
4. A typical schedule for the first year for both the Chemistry and Biology Option is
shown on the next page. In your first year, it doesn’t really make any difference which
option you have chosen, since the coursework is the same but by the end of this year
you need to commit to either chemistry or biology option.
5. You will meet with your advisor during the scheduled advising period in late fall and late
spring to set up your schedule for the next semester. You will get more information
about this during the ASO 100 class.
6.
You should read all emails that come to the FORSCI major listserv.
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Forensic Science Major: Second Year
1.
You must continue to earn the best possible grades in your courses.
2. You will probably be taking Physics I and II along with Organic Chemistry I and II, as
well as Quantitative Analysis this year. This is a heavy and difficult course load, but it
is typical for the forensic science major.
3. You need to think ahead to your junior year. Notice that the core forensic course, FOR
411, is ONLY offered in the fall semester. You must complete all core science courses
with a minimum grade of C before you can take FOR 411. Since FOR 411 is a prerequisite
for other upper division FOR courses, you will lose a year if you do not complete your
core science courses. These core science courses are:
CHE 111 and 111L
BIO 111
CHE 112 and 112L
PHY 131 (or 201*)
CHE 361 and 361L
PHY 132 (or 202*)
CHE 362 and 362L
MAT 124
CHE 325 and 325L
*recommended if you are considering grad school
4. You should also begin to think about whether or not you might want to go to graduate
school. If you are a chemistry option major or a double major in forensic science and
chemistry, and think you may go to graduate school in chemistry, you should consider
taking Calculus II (and eventually Calculus III). This course will be required for the 2semester physical chemistry course in your junior or senior year.
5. If possible you should try to take FOR 301 Introduction to Forensic Science and FOR
401 Forensic Professional Practice during this year.
6. If you think you want to go to medical school, you should contact the Center for PreProfessional Advising (Lobby of NSB or http://preprofessional.eku.edu). This is not a
decision that you can make during your senior year and expect to be considered for
admission the fall after you graduate.
7. If you think you want to get a Master’s degree at EKU on the 5-year program, you
should talk to your advisor or the graduate program advisor, Dr. Donghui Quan.
8. You should consider joining the FORSCI Living Learning Community and fully
participating in its activities.
9. You should continue to participate in the Crime and Chemistry club.
10. You should consider doing faculty mentored research. Why? Even if you don’t pursue a
research career you will develop skills that will last a lifetime and distinguish you when
it is time to apply for jobs.
a.
Sign up for CHE 200 or CHE 495A or CHE 495B. For more information visit
http://chemistry.eku.edu/eku-chemistry-research-opportunities.
b. Over the summer either after your sophomore or junior year you should search
the web for REU programs (research experiences for undergraduates). Even if
you don’t pursue a research career you will develop skills that will last a lifetime
and distinguish you when it is time to apply for jobs.
11. You should read all emails that come to the listserv forscimajor@listserve.eku.edu.
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Forensic Science Major: Third Year
1.
The FOR course work this year provides the basis for the work you will be doing during
your career in the forensic laboratory. It is extremely important that you learn the
material in these courses very thoroughly, and that you retain this knowledge.
2. During this year, the courses for the Biology and Chemistry options diverge. You should
have a clear idea by now about which option you want. It is possible to complete both
options, but it is likely that an extra year will be needed. Course requirements for the
options may have conflicting times.
3. You should begin thinking about your plans after graduation. You should attend a career
workshop to help you begin this process. Contact http://career-coop.eku.edu.
4. If you think you want to go to graduate school in chemistry, you should take Calculus
III, along with the 2-semester physical chemistry sequence. This sequence is only
offered every other year, so you may be taking this either your junior or senior year.
5. If you want to enroll in the EKU 5-year master’s program, you should do so this fall. It
requires a GPA of 3.0. Discuss the three options (thesis, internship and coursework)
with the Graduate Coordinator for the chemistry department, Dr. Donghui Quan. Your
undergraduate research can grow into a master’s thesis project.
6. If you did not do an REU last summer and graduate school for a chemistry Ph.D. is your
goal, you should consider applying for a summer research experience. Applications
usually become available in December or January. These are offered at universities
across the country. These programs are extremely competitive, so a high GPA and
involvement in extracurricular activities will improve your chances.
7. If you think you want to go to medical school, you should contact the Center for PreProfessional Advising (Lobby of NSB or http://preprofessional.eku.edu). You also may
want to consider changing your major to chemistry or biology, because you will benefit
more from courses in those areas than from courses in forensic science.
8. Juniors are expected to begin assuming leadership and service roles in the forensic
science program. This includes involvement in the crime and chemistry club, FORSCI
LLC and participation in various activities of the program, such as Spotlight Days.
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Internship Information
Internships are normally done only in the Spring and Summer semesters. The internship
is strongly encouraged, but is optional. The internship requires Departmental approval.
Approval for many internship positions require
1. A GPA in the major core courses of 3.0.
2. Students has taken or is registered for FOR 310 Training for Internships.
3. Junior level status.
During the fall semester of your third year, you should sign up for the FOR 310 Training
for Internships. As part of this class you can begin thinking about where you might like
to intern, and do some preliminary research into the labs.
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The internship is a course that you have to pay for during the semester you
intern, just as you do any other course.
The EKU Center for Career and Cooperative Education coordinates the
internship after the student has completed the Internship Orientation
Course – you should not contact the laboratories yourself.
Internships will not be coordinated through EKU unless the student takes it
for academic credit
You should not apply for an internship unless you are committed to doing it.
The internship will vary based on the laboratory interests and geographical
preferences of the student.
The history and background of students applying for internships has come under
increased scrutiny. Students should be aware that some laboratories have very strict
rules about previous history of drug use, theft, DUI, or other criminal history. You may
be required to undergo a background investigation and take a drug and polygraph test
even for an internship. You must give the internship coordinator truthful information
about any past problems in these areas. Lying and misrepresenting yourself will often
be sufficient cause to deny an internship.
For more information about internship please contact Dr. Jamie Fredericks
(Jamie.fredericks@eku.edu).
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Forensic Science Major: Fourth Year
1.
By now, you will have completed most of the courses required for the forensic science
major. An important course for the senior forensic science major is the capstone
course, FOR 499. This is offered ONLY in the fall of each year, and is
required of all forensic science majors. The course takes you through the entire
experience of a forensic analysis, from evidence collection at a mock crime scene
through a mock trial testimony on the results of your analysis. A comprehensive written
examination is also part of this course. This course is required to maintain our FEPAC
accreditation.
2. If you have earned 90 hours, you should apply for graduation. The university will
contact all students who have 90 earned hours to find out their intended graduation
date. You will be blocked from registering if you have not already applied.
3. If you intend to go to graduate school, you should plan to take the GRE and begin the
application process.
4. If you are applying to medical school you should seek an appointment with the PreMedical Advisory Committee (contact james.luba@eku.edu).
5. If you request letters of recommendation, it is good practice to provide the person with
a copy of your resume, the form that the person should use, information about the
program to which you are applying, and a stamped, pre-addressed envelope for the
letter.
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