Forensic Sciences Certificate

Print Degree Planner (opens a new window) |

Forensic sciences program director: Susan M.T. Myster, anthropology/forensic sciences.

Students may pursue the certificate as degree-seeking undergraduates or as postbaccalaureate students (postbaccalaureate students are students who have already earned a bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university). All certificate-seeking students must complete (or must have completed) an undergraduate major in one or more of the following relevant disciplines: anthropology, biology, chemistry, criminal justice, legal studies, physics, or psychology. Given that the forensic sciences include a broad range of disciplines, petitions requesting to earn the certificate through majors not listed will be evaluated by the director of the program.

A majority of all forensic scientists are employed in a forensic science laboratory setting. Professional requirements for a career in forensic science are currently evolving and the nationally-funded Technical Working Group on Education and Training in Forensic Sciences (TWGED) has published recommendations for an appropriate educational undergraduate curriculum. The Forensic Sciences Certificate program incorporates many of these recommendations and encourages students through close advising to choose the best major from which to pursue their chosen career path in forensic science. Students pursuing a career in forensic science with an emphasis in criminalistics (including analysis of toxicology, controlled substances, DNA, trace evidence, fingerprints, documents, firearms, and impression evidence) must major in either biology or chemistry, while those interested in investigation and/or the medico-legal forensic sciences (e.g., forensic anthropology, forensic pathology, forensic psychology, forensic psychiatry, death investigation) must major in the discipline appropriate to their chosen path (e.g. anthropology, biology, psychology). Students seeking the certificate to enhance a future career in law enforcement or law may major in any of the required majors; a minor in biology or chemistry is strongly recommended.

Required Courses (12-14 courses/ 42-48 credits)

Note: Students majoring in criminal justice may take their internship through CJFS 5660: Capstone and Internship in Criminal Justice.

One course chosen from

12-16 approved elective credits taken from the following three categories:

(all courses are 4 credits unless otherwise indicated)

a. 4 credits: Legal Studies/Law

LAW 5450: Wrongful Convictions (2 credits; taught in the Law School)

b. 4 credits: Sociology/History

HIST 3960 - Topics in Comparative History
Topic: International Human Rights
SOC 3750 - Criminology

c. 4-8 credits: Topical courses (2 courses)

Students must take two topics courses, for a minimum total of four topics credits.

Note:

1. postbaccalaureate students: a maximum of two courses, with grades of C or better, from prior college work can apply toward the certificate.

2. Relevant courses from other colleges will be considered through petition to the director of the program.

3. No course in which the grade received is less than a C may be used to meet certificate requirements. The grade point average of all courses taken in the certificate must be 2.7 or higher and the cumulative GPA of all Hamline courses taken must be 3.0 or higher.

4. Violation of the Hamline University Student Honor Code may result in suspension from the Forensic Sciences Certificate Program.

5. (4 credits of CJFS 3570 courses are applicable to the certificate). Examples of CJFS 3570 are:

Crime Scene Investigation (2 credits)
Demystifying Fingerprints (2 credits)
Principles of Firearms and Tool Marks (2 credits)
Forensic Biology (2 credits)
Forensic Document Examination (2 credits)
Introduction to Medico-legal Death Investigation
Criminal Investigation (2 credits)
Forensic Graphics (2 credits)