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Undergraduate Catalog 2024-2025

Chemistry B.S. – Forensic Science Concentration

Program Overview

College of Natural and Health Sciences

Contact: Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Location: Ross Hall 3480

Email: chemistry@unco.edu

Website: www.unco.edu/nhs/chemistry

Advising Information:

Students must consult with their assigned major advisor each semester prior to registering.

To find your advisor, log into ursa.unco.edu; go to 'Student' tab and click 'View Student Information' link. If no advisor is listed, contact the major program for advisor information.

The program consists of four parts:

  1. Liberal Arts Curriculum (LAC) Credits
  2. Required Major Credits
  3. Required Minor 
  4. University-Wide Credits

Program Description:

This program is designed to prepare students to enter the field of forensic science by providing them with background courses in chemistry, physics, sociology and criminal justice along with laboratory experiences as research and an internship. Students completing this degree concentration who wish to pursue graduate study in one of the areas of chemistry may be required to complete additional course work in physical chemistry and/or mathematics and biology depending on the entrance requirements of the specific graduate school.

Program Admission Requirements:

Academic Good Standing

Program Requirements:

  • All students in the program must take an assessment examination before graduation.
  • Students majoring in chemistry must earn a grade of “C” or better (C- is not acceptable) in all courses having a CHEM prefix which count toward the major.
  • In accordance with University Policies, coursework earned more than 10 years prior to the date of matriculation to UNC may not be used to satisfy any major or minor requirements.  Any exception to this policy is at the discretion of the academic program.

Program Recommendations:

  • Graduate level CHEM courses are recommended for juniors and seniors. Other recommended electives include courses in statistics, sociology, criminal justice, anthropology, or additional courses in mathematics.
  • It is recommended that students have a fundamental background in computers.
  • Juniors and seniors are expected to participate in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry’s undergraduate research program.
  • Qualifying students may be eligible for a five-year program resulting in a B.S./M.S. degree. Consult your advisor early in your program for details.

Degree Requirements — 120 Credits

1. Liberal Arts Curriculum — 31 credits

To complete the degree in 120 credits as outlined, the program recommends the below LAC courses that also count toward the 66 required major credits.

Any additional coursework completed outside of the recommended list below may extend the length of the program of study.

Written Communication — 6 credits

SCI 291 is recommended to fulfill the Intermediate Writing Course in the Written Communication requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Written Communication courses

Mathematics — 3 credits

MATH 131 is recommended to fulfill Mathematics requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Mathematics courses

Arts & Humanities, History, Social & Behavioral Sciences, U.S. Multicultural Studies [MS], and International Studies [IS] — 15 credits

To complete the LAC in the minimum number of credits, be sure to choose at least one course with an IS designation and one course with an MS designation.

Select any courses to fulfill this requirement from the currently approved LAC course list.

See Arts & Humanities, History, and Social & Behavioral Sciences courses

Natural & Physical Sciences — 7 credits

CHEM 111, CHEM 111L, and BIO 110 are recommended to fulfill Natural & Physical Sciences requirement and will fulfill both LAC and major requirements.

See Natural & Physical Sciences courses

See Liberal Arts Curriculum

2. Required Major — 66 credits

Take all of the following courses:

BIO 110Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASL

4

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry ILAS1

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL

1

CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4

CHEM 112LPrinciples of Chemistry II Laboratory

1

CHEM 321Chemical Analysis

4

CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I

4

CHEM 331LOrganic Chemistry I Laboratory

1

CHEM 332Organic Chemistry II

4

CHEM 332LOrganic Chemistry II Laboratory

1

CHEM 381Principles of Biochemistry

3

CHEM 381LPrinciples of Biochemistry Lab

1

CHEM 421Instrumental Analysis

4

CHEM 422Directed Studies

1- 3

CHEM 425Forensic Chemistry

4

CHEM 441Inorganic Chemistry I

3

CHEM 450Survey of Physical Chemistry

3

CHEM 450LSurvey of Physical Chemistry Laboratory

1

CHEM 499Seminar and Research in Chemistry

1- 3

MATH 131Calculus ILAX1

4

PHYS 220Introductory Physics ILAS1LASL

5

PHYS 221Introductory Physics II

5

SCI 291Scientific WritingLAW2

3

CHEM 422: Take 0-2 credits

CHEM 499: Take 0-2 credits

CHEM 422 and CHEM 499: Take 2 credits total between those two courses.

3. Required Minor — 18 Credits

A minor in Criminology and Criminal Justice or Anthropology is required. 

4. University-Wide Credits — 5 credits*

Complete additional credits to achieve the minimum credits needed for any degree at UNC; for this program, that will typically be 5 credits.

*Note: Students who apply the recommended courses to both the liberal arts curriculum and the major requirements will have an increased number of university wide electives to apply to this degree. See your advisor for details.

Program Notes

Students wishing to participate in the Honors Program should consult their advisors about Liberal Arts Curriculum selections and other requirements.

Four Year Plan

This four year plan is a recommended schedule to complete this bachelor's degree in 4 years. Courses are subject to availability. Students must consult with their major advisor to receive information on any additional graduation requirements and course sequence guidance. 

Year 1 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

BIO 110Biology: Atoms to CellsLAS1LASL

4

CHEM 111Principles of Chemistry ILAS1

4

CHEM 111LPrinciples of Chemistry I LaboratoryLAS1LASL

1

ENG 122College CompositionLAW1

3

MATH 131Calculus ILAX1

4

Total Credit Hours:16

Spring Semester

CHEM 112Principles of Chemistry II

4

CHEM 112LPrinciples of Chemistry II Laboratory

1

Minor Course

3

LAC Social and Behavioral SciencesLAB1LAB2LAB3

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

LAC Social and Behavior Sciences: Choose U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or International Studies (IS) course.

Year 2 – 32 credits

Fall Semester

CHEM 331Organic Chemistry I

4

CHEM 331LOrganic Chemistry I Laboratory

1

PHYS 220Introductory Physics ILAS1LASL

5

Minor Course

3

LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4

3

Total Credit Hours:16

LAC Arts and Humanities: Choose one U.S. Multicultural Studies (MS) or one International Studies (IS) course.

Spring Semester

CHEM 332Organic Chemistry II

4

CHEM 332LOrganic Chemistry II Laboratory

1

PHYS 221Introductory Physics II

5

SCI 291Scientific WritingLAW2

3

Minor Course

3

Total Credit Hours:16

Year 3 – 28 credits

Fall Semester

CHEM 321Chemical Analysis

4

CHEM 381Principles of Biochemistry

3

CHEM 381LPrinciples of Biochemistry Lab

1

CHEM 441Inorganic Chemistry I

3

Minor Course

3

Total Credit Hours:14

Spring Semester

CHEM 421Instrumental Analysis

4

CHEM 425Forensic Chemistry

4

Minor Course

3

LAC HistoryLAH1

3

Total Credit Hours:14
 

Year 4 – 30 credits

Fall Semester

CHEM 422Directed Studies

1- 3

or

CHEM 499Seminar and Research in Chemistry

1- 3

Minor Course

3

LAC Arts and HumanitiesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Total Credit Hours:14

A minimum of 2 credits in CHEM 422 or 2 credits in CHEM 499 must be completed. Consult with your advisor about these options.

Spring Semester

CHEM 450Survey of Physical Chemistry

3

CHEM 450LSurvey of Physical Chemistry Laboratory

1

LAC Arts and Humanities, History, or Social and Behavioral SciencesLAA1LAA2LAA3LAA4LAB1LAB2LAB3LAH1

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

University-Wide Elective

3

Chemistry Assessment Exam

Total Credit Hours:16
 

Advising Notes –

  • Students who lack sufficient preparation in mathematics may need to start in MATH 124 College Algebra (4), MATH 125 Plane Trigonometry (3), or MATH 127 Elementary Functions (4). Consult your advisor.
  • With advisor approval, students can substitute ENG 123 for SCI 291.
  • Upper-level courses are generally taught only one semester per year. In the four year plan courses are listed in order of required prerequisites first.

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