College of Science

Forensic Science


Forensic science focuses on applying science and technology to the field of law. At LIU, we prepare you for a variety of jobs working in crime labs as a crime scene investigator, evidence technician with the police department and other similar roles.

Earn Your Bachelor's in Forensic Science

As a forensic scientist you will bring the most advanced scientific tools to bear on the most pressing problems, including solving crimes and saving lives. The challenge of forensic science is to look back in time to determine the who, what, when, where and why of disputed events. In your search for clues that dispel mysteries and serve justice, you will investigate everything from DNA, blood and other body fluids to textiles, footwear, footprints, tire tracks, documents and signatures, flammables, pollutants and much more.

LIU Post's BS in Forensic Science degree prepares students for a rewarding careers in the lab, from police departments to medical examiners’ offices, toxicology and pathology. The program integrates lecture courses with laboratory work and hands-on field experiences. Students study a broad range of forensic applications such as molecular pathology, criminalistics, human genetics and forensic anthropology. Classes are taught by practicing forensic scientists, medical professionals and LIU Post professors of biomedical sciences, chemistry, criminal justice and forensic science. In addition, students serve as interns at highly-productive Long Island and Manhattan crime laboratories, health departments and medical examiners’ offices.

Course # Course Name Credits
Required Foundation Science/Mathematics Courses (35-36 credits) 
 BIO 103 General Biology I  4      
 BIO 104 General Biology II
 CHM 3 Principles of Chemistry I
 CHM 4 Principles of Chemistry II
 CHM 21 Organic Chemistry I
 CHM 22 Organic Chemistry II 
One of the following
 BIO 141 Biostatistics 3-4
 ECO 72 Statistics 3-4
 MTH 19 Basic Statistics 3-4
 MTH 23 Foundations of Statistical Analysis 3-4
 PSY 53 Psychological Statistics  3-4
 SOC 53 Sociological Statistics  3-4
One of the following sequences
 PHY 3 University Physics I   8
 PHY 4 University Physics II   8
 OR
 PHY 11 College Physics I   8
 PHY 12 College Physics II 
Required Specialized Science Courses (19 credits) 
 BIO 107 Genetics  4      
 CHM 37 Quantitative Analysis 
 CHM 71 Basic Biochemistry 
 BMS 80 Immunology 
 BMS 256 Diagnostic Techniques in Molecular Pathology                                      
Required Forensic Science Courses (22 credits) 
 FSC 51 Forensic Anthropology  3      
 FSC 39 Forensic Instrumentation 
 CRJ 76 Criminal Procedure 
 BMS 71 Introduction to Criminalistics 
 BMS 255 Toxicology 
 BMS 257 Forensic Molecular Technology
 BMS 271 Forensic Internship 
Required Core Courses (4 credits) 
One of the following
 MTH 3 College Algebra and Trigonometry 4       
 MTH 7 Calculus and Analytic Geometry I 

Course # Course Name Credits
POST 101 Post Foundations 1
FY First-Year Seminar 3
ENG 1* Writing 1 3
ENG 2* Writing 2 3
MTH Quantitative Reasoning: fulfilled with any MTH course
(MTH 7 required for major)
3-4
Choose one course from each of the five below course clusters and one additional course from one of the clusters.
Scientific Inquiry & the Natural World
(BIO 103 required for major)
4
Creativity Media & the Arts 3
Perspectives on World Culture 3
Self, Society & Ethics 3
Power, Institutions & Structures 3
One additional course from one of the five above clusters. (BIO 104 required for major) 3-4

* In addition to ENG 1 and 2, students take at least 3 more writing intensive (WAC) courses as part of their major, core, or elective courses.

ENG 303 and 304 can satisfy the ENG 1 and 2 requirement for students in the Honors College.

Credit Requirements
Total Major Requirement Credits 36
Elective Major Credits 41
Total Core Requirement Credits 32
Elective Liberal Arts & Sciences Credits 11
Total Degree Credits 120


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