Nov 04, 2024  
2022-2023 Academic Catalog 
    
2022-2023 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Forensic Science, Chemistry Concentration, BS


The Department of Justice Studies ‘ Forensic Science program at SJSU offers Bachelor of Science (BS) degrees in Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology , Crime Scene Investigation , and Digital Evidence  for students with a career interest in crime lab work. Students in the forensic science major take basic and advanced biology, chemistry, and physics courses to build a strong foundation in the sciences, and complement these with coursework in forensic science applications. The curricula of each major concentration meet the American Academy of Forensic Sciences Forensic Education Program Accreditation standards.

Summary of Degree Units

University Graduation Requirements 32
Major Preparation 41
Major Requirements 47
Total 120

Program Roadmaps

The 4-Year Roadmap is available online. Roadmaps should be used in consultation with the catalog and your advisor to identify additional requirements for completing the major (for example, course grade minimums). Associate Degrees (ADT) Pathways are also available online.

Major-Specific Graduation Requirements

All courses required in the major, including all electives, must be completed with a grade of C or better. This includes all courses in the following sections: Major Preparation and the Major Requirements.

Prerequisite Requirements

Enrollment in any chemistry course requires that the prerequisite courses be passed with a grade of “C or better” (C- not accepted). Exceptions may be made only with instructor consent or if not explicitly stated in the course description. Refer to the SJSU Course Catalog for specific information regarding course prerequisites.

University Requirements


Students must satisfy all of the major and Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements , which includes unit, GPA, and residency requirements as well as the below identified General Education , American Institutions, Graduation Writing Assessment, and Physical Education requirements. Courses that meet Undergraduate University Graduation Requirements are noted with an area designation (see Course Abbreviations ).

Core Lower Division General Education (21 units)


Of the 39 units required by the university, 18 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Courses that meet GE Areas A1, A2, A3, B4, or F must be passed with a “C-” or better to meet the requirement. Consult with a major advisor for details.

Note: Students who have completed the ADT Transfer degree (under SB 1440) for this major will have completed all lower division GE requirements (except for 1 course in GE Area C and 1 course in GE Area D) and should follow the 60 unit guarantee roadmap (which include the missing GE in Area C and D). Meet with an advisor prior to registering for your first semester for the 60 unit roadmap or specific questions.

Upper Division General Education (3 units)


Of the 9 units required by the university, 6 units may be satisfied by coursework outlined below. Consult with a major advisor for details.

American Institutions (6 units)


Complete one 6-unit sequence of American Institutions (US123) courses, which also satisfies GE Area D. Students may also satisfy the American Institutions Requirement  with other courses, but these may not satisfy other GE areas.

The American Studies (AMS 1A /AMS 1B ; 12 units) and Humanities Honors (HUM 1A /HUM 1B /HUM 2A /HUM 2B ; 24 units) sequences satisfy the American Institutions Requirement and additional GE Areas (see course descriptions for details).

Consult with a major advisor to select the appropriate sequence.

Asian American Studies (6 units)


U.S. History and Government (6 units)


Complete One US1: US History Course


Complete One US23: US Constitution and California Government Course


Physical Education (2 units)


All SJSU undergraduate students, regardless of major, have an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skills in physical activities. To accommodate students’ needs and interests, the university offers a diverse selection of activity courses .

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement


At SJSU, students must pass both the SJSU Writing Skills Test (WST) and a Writing in the Disciplines (100W) course. The Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR)  is satisfied by a course in the major. A grade of C or better (C- not accepted) is required to meet graduation requirements.

Statistics Course


Complete one course: (UNVS/MATH 15  may be used in lieu of the statistics course required by this major.)

Major Requirements (47 units)


Total Units Required (120 units)