Departments & Programs
Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program
Minors in Forensic and Investigative Sciences
Undergraduate Minor
The minor in Forensic and Investigative Sciences can be used in relevant majors where the student’s primary interest is in the major but who wishes to learn the basic concepts of forensic science and how to apply them to other fields of knowledge. Prerequisites to any of the minor courses are not included but are required in order to complete the minor. All FIS classes require a grade of C or higher. All SPEA classes require a grade of C- or higher. Students must have a 2.0 GPA average for all courses used for the minor.
- FIS-N 100 Investigating Forensic Science Lecture (1 cr.)
- FIS-N 101 Investigating Forensic Science Lab (2 cr.)
- FIS-I 205 Concepts of Forensic Science I (3 cr.)
- FIS-I 206 Concepts of Forensic Science II (3 cr.)*
- FIS-I 305 Professional Issues in Forensic Science (3 cr.)**
- FIS-I 415 Forensic Science and the Law (3 cr.)**
*P: FIS-I 205 and CHEM-C 101 or CHEM-C 105 or FIS-N 101
**P: FIS-I 205 and FIS-I 206
Choose 3 credit hours from the following courses:
- FIS-I 300 Microscopy Lecture (1 cr.) (P: FIS-I 205 and FIS-I 206)
- FIS-I 440 Population Genetics (3 cr.) (P: BIOL-K 322, BIOL-K 323, and STAT-I 301)
- FIS-I 496 Special Topics in Forensic Science (credits vary - repeatable under different topics)
- SPEA-J 303 Evidence (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-J 101)
- SPEA-J 320 Criminal Investigation (3 cr.) (P: SPEA-J 101)
Doctoral Minor in Forensic Science
The Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program offers a Ph.D. minor program in forensic science that requires 6 credit hours of selected course work. The minor provides basic knowledge of the application of science to the forensic science system via graduate coursework in either a chemistry or biological background. The doctoral minors are restricted to School of Science Ph.D. students.
Course requirements are as follows:
Required Courses (Two courses: 3 credit hours)
- FIS-I 500 Crime Scene Investigation and Quality Assurance (2 cr.)
- FIS-I 505 Overview of Forensic Biology (1 cr.) this is meant for chemistry focused students to get an overview of forensic biology concepts
- OR
- FIS-I 515 Overview of Forensic Chemistry (1 cr.) this is meant for biology focused students to get an overview of forensic chemistry concepts
Elective Courses include (Total 3 credit hours):
- FIS-I 510 Advanced Forensic Microscopy Lecture (1 cr.)
- FIS-I 540 Forensic Biology (3 cr.)
- FIS-I 560 Population Genetics (3 cr.)
- FIS-I 520 Forensic Chemistry I (3 cr.)
- FIS-I 530 Forensic Chemistry II (3 cr.)
- FIS-N 570 Design of a Research Project (2 cr.)
- FIS-I 550 Forensic Science and the Law (3 cr.)
PLEASE NOTE:
- No grade lower than B (e.g., B-) is acceptable for any course in the minor.
- A minimum grade point average of 2.00 in minor courses is required.
- A minimum of 6 credit hours in the minor must be completed at IU Indianapolis.
- The doctoral minors are restricted to School of Science Ph.D. students.
