Certificate Program in Forensic Science

Administered by IFRI, based in the department of chemistry, the undergraduate certificate in Forensic Science is designed to provide a focus for those students who are interested in pursuing a career in the forensic sciences. The program is suitable for students majoring in chemistry, biology or an allied discipline who wish to enter the field of forensic science. The program also allows access to persons in the community who are currently working in this area to develop or upgrade their skills. The field of forensic science is interdisciplinary and requires significant training in the natural sciences. Results from a recent survey [1] confirms that crime lab directors have a preference for the B.S. in chemistry, followed by biology and forensic science degrees with significant chemistry components (minimum of 6 semester on average). Please visit IFRI’s homepage at www.fiu.edu/~ifri.

FIU’s Forensic Science program offers the preferred B.S. in the natural sciences with the additional training and certification in forensic science after completing a required internship component. The prerequsite for the forensic science core courses and internship is the equivalent of a minor in chemistry (one year of general chemistry, one year of organic chemistry and one semester of analytical chemistry) and one semester of biological chemistry/biochemistry. The certificate will be awarded at the time of awarding the Bachelor's degree, or upon completion of this work if the student already has a Bachelor's degree. The program consists of six courses (16-18 credits) detailed below: 

Required courses (12):

CCJ 3024 An Overview of Criminal Justice (3) (or approved cognate)

MLS 4540 Forensic Serology (3) or BSC 5935 Forensic Biology (3)  

CHS 4503 Forensic Science or CHM 5993 Forensic Chemistry (3)

CHS 4591 Forensic Science Internship (3)

Specialized courses: (4-6) in one of the following specializations:

Biology (4):    

PCB 4524 Molecular Biology (3) and PCB 4524L Molecular Biology Lab (1)  

Chemistry (4):

CHM 4130 Instrumental Analysis (3)   and  CHM 4130L Instrumental Analysis Laboratory (1)  

Criminal Justice (6):

CCJ 3101 Law Enforcement Systems (3) and CCJ 3271 Criminal Procedure (3)  

Elective Courses (6):

Additional recommended courses chosen in consultation with your departmental advisor.

BOT 1010 Introductory Botany (3); CHS 4505L Forensic Science Lab (1); GLY 3030 Environmental Geology (3); SOP 4842 Legal Psychology (3); STA 3111 Statistics I (4).

For additional information please contact one the the Coordinating Committee members below:

Janet A. Lineback, Professor, Chemistry; CP314; (305) 348-2871

Kalai Mathee, Asst. Professor, Biological Sciences; OE246; (305)-348-1261.

W. Clinton Terry, Assoc. Professor, Criminal Justice/SPM; ACI 278; (305)-919-5849.

Kenneth G. Furton, Committee Chairperson, Assoc. Prof., Chemistry; CP330; (305)-348-2292.

 [1] K.G. Furton, Y.-L. Hsu, and M.D. Cole, What educational background is required by crime laboratory directors?, J. Forensic Sci. 1999; 44:128-132

Read the results of the  survey of Crime Laboratory Directors on the preferred educational requirements for forensic scientists working in crime laboratories in the U.S.

Information on the Master of Science in Forensic Science Program at FIU

Go to the IFRI Home Page

Go to Dr. Furton's Home Page                      Email Dr. Furton         

Go to Dr. Almirall's Home Page                    Email Dr. Almirall