Forensic Science, Digital Evidence 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.

Program Learning Outcomes

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).

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.

1. Complete the Baccalaureate Degree Requirements

Students must satisfy the specific degree requirements for their undergraduate major and fulfill the following University degree requirements:

Academic (program total units with an average 2.0 GPA - “C” or better)
General Education (GE) (34 Lower Division + 9 Upper Division)
American Institutions (AI) (0-6 units) (may be satisfied in GE Areas 3A, 3B, 4, UD 3, or UD 4)
Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR) 3 units (see Writing in the Disciplines)
Physical Education (PE) (0-2 units)
Units in Residence (30 units, including 24 upper division and 12 in major)
Upper Division Units (40 units, including 12 upper div in major for BA, 18 upper div in major for BS)
Undergraduate Policies & Procedures

Apply for Graduation
Information about the Commencement Ceremony and Conferral of the Degree

Summary of Degree Units

Core Lower Division General Education: 15 (13 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

American Institutions/ US123 Requirements: 6 (Note: may be satisfied by GE coursework)

Upper Division General Education: 3 (6 units may be satisfied by major coursework)

Physical Education: 2

Graduation Writing Assessment Requirement (GWAR): 0 (3 units may be satisfied by FS 100W or JS 100W)

Major Preparation: 44

Major Requirements: 36

University Electives: 14

Total: 120

2. Major Preparation (44 units)

BIOL 30 - Principles of Biology I 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5B and 5C / Formerly Area B2 and B3)
CS 46A - Introduction to Programming 4 unit(s)
CS 46B - Introduction to Data Structures 4 unit(s)
CS 47 - Introduction to Computer Systems 3 unit(s)
ENGL 1A - First Year Writing 3 unit(s) (GE Area 1A / Formerly Area A2)
JS 171 - Human Rights and Justice 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 3 / Formerly Area V)
MATH 30 - Calculus I 3 unit(s) (GE Area Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
MATH 30X may be used instead of MATH 30.
MATH 42 - Discrete Mathematics 3 unit(s)
MATH 42X may be used instead of MATH 42.
PHIL 186 - Professional and Business Ethics 3 unit(s) (GE UD Area 4 / Formerly Area S)
PHYS 2A - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)
PHYS 2B - Fundamentals of Physics 4 unit(s) (GE Area 5A and 5C / Formerly Area B1 and B3)

Statistics Course

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

JS 15 - Introductory Statistics in Justice Studies 3 unit(s) (GE Area Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
STAT 95 - Elementary Statistics 3 unit(s) (GE Area Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)

Programming Course

Complete one course:

CS 22A - Python for Everyone 3 unit(s) (GE Area Area 2 / Formerly Area B4)
CS 49C - Programming in C 3 unit(s)

3. Major Requirements (36 units)

Core Courses (18 units)

FS 100W - Forensic Science Writing Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID) OR JS 100W - Writing Workshop 3 unit(s) (WID)
FS 11 - Survey of Forensic Science 3 unit(s)
FS 161 - Crime Scene Investigation 3 unit(s)
FS 162 - Forensic Science Applications 3 unit(s)

Practical Requirement

Complete 3 units:

JS 180 - Individual Studies 1-3 unit(s)
JS 181 - Internship: Justice Studies 1-6 unit(s)
JS 182 - Themis: Journal of Justice Studies and Forensic Science 3 unit(s)
JS 184 - Directed Reading 1-3 unit(s)

Senior Seminar