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Minor

Contact: David B. Rivers, Department Chair and Professor of Forensic Science
Office:
Newman Towers West 105
Telephone:
410-617-2057 
Email:
drivers@loyola.edu 

Forensic science and studies are growing fields that continue to gain relevance in all criminal and civil investigations. According to the American Academy of Forensic Science, there is an increasing demand for individuals trained in forensic science, who specifically can apply advances in science and technology to criminal investigation with the purpose of solving crimes. While an undergraduate minor in forensic studies is not sufficient to practice in the field, it does serve to allow students to explore this expanding field out of intellectual curiosity; to develop and nurture their interests in forensic studies in an applied curriculum; and to obtain the necessary background to pursue professional or graduate training in this or related fields.

The Minor in Forensic Studies is an interdisciplinary program with involvement from the Departments of Biology, Chemistry, Classics, Computer Science, Engineering, Fine Arts, History, Information Systems, Law and Operations, Mathematics and Statistics, Philosophy, Physics, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, and Writing. Students are encouraged to take a range of courses from departments in the humanities, natural sciences, social sciences, and School of Business. Typically, during the junior or senior year, students enroll in the Forensic Studies Experience or equivalent, a specialized course of study emphasizing research, independent study, or internship focused on forensic studies/science.

Minor Requirements

Electives

  • BL 276 Human Health and the Environment
  • BL 281 General Genetics
  • BL 322 Synthetic Biology w/lab 
  • BL 341 Molecular Genetics w/lab 
  • BL 351 Forensic Entomology w/lab 
  • BL 355 Forensic Biology w/lab
  • BL 428 Bioterrorism
  • BL 431 Biochemistry I and BL 433 Biochemistry I Lab
  • BL 432 Biochemistry II and BL 434 Biochemistry Lab II
  • BL 473 Special Topics in Forensic 
  • CH 201 Quantitative Analysis 
  • CH 410 Instrumental Methods and CH 411 Instrumental Methods Lab
  • CH 431 Biochemistry I and CH 433 Biochemistry Lab I
  • CH 432 Biochemistry II and CH 434 Biochemistry Lab II
  • CL 327 Volcanoes, Fire and Flood: Disasters of Ancient Rome 
  • CS 115 Cyber Security and Digital Forensics
  • CS 151 Computer Science through Programming
  • CS 212 Object-Oriented Data Structures
  • CS 312 Object-Oriented Software Design
  • EC 220 Business Statistics
  • EC 420 Econometrics
  • EC 460 Business and Government
  • EG 381 Probability & Statistics
  • FO 230 Introduction to Criminalistics
  • FO 300 Crime Scene Investigation
  • FO 310 Introduction to Fingerprints
  • FO 330 Biological and Forensic Science Quality Assurance
  • FO 377 Death Investigation
  • FO 410 Advanced Topics and Techniques in Fingerprints
  • FO 450 Forensic Cognitive Psychology
  • HS 327 Volcanoes, Fire, and Flood: Disasters of Ancient Rome
  • HS 382 Crime and Punishment in Latin America 
  • IS 358 Business Intelligence and Data Mining 
  • LW 104 Criminal Law and Society 
  • LW 109 Business, Law and Society: Special Topics 
  • MA 251 Calculus I 
  • MA 252 Calculus II 
  • PH 383 Physics of Medicine and the Human Body
  • PH 384 Waves and the Physics of Medicine
  • PL 235 Philosophical Perspectives: Philosophy and Science
  • PL 311 Bioethics
  • PL 315 Ethics after Auschwitz
  • PL 333 Philosophy of Law 
  • PL 335 Political Philosophy: Justice and Mass Incarceration
  • PS 322 Mock Trial
  • PS 337 Analytical and Legal Reasoning
  • PS 338 Constitutional Law I
  • PS 339 Constitutional Law II
  • PT 270 Basic Digital Photography 
  • PT 361 Digital Image
  • PY 202 Psychopathology
  • PY 253 Multicultural Issues in Psychology
  • PY 265/421 Forensic Psychology 
  • SC 201 Self and Society
  • SC 207 Social Problems
  • SC 233 Juvenile Delinquency
  • SC 260 Introduction to Criminal Justice
  • SC 331 Deviance and Social Control 
  • SC 332 Sociology of Crime and Criminals 
  • SC 334 Sociology of Policing
  • SC 347 Special Topics in Criminology
  • SC 360 Critical Analysis of Criminal Justice Outcomes
  • SC 371 Sociology of Serial and Mass Murder
  • SC 430 Seminar: Gender and Justice
  • SC 434 Seminar: Women and Deviance 
  • SC 435 Seminar: Forensic Sociology 
  • ST 210 Intro to Statistics 
  • ST 265 Biostatistics 
  • ST 381 Probability and Statistics 
  • TH 318 Bioethics and Social Justice
  • WR 301 Writing About Science 
  • WR 325 Professional Writing 
  • WR 326 Technical Writing 

Learn More

Visit the course catalogue to learn more.

Students gathered around a lab table looking through telescopes
Forensic Studies Minor at Loyola

Contact Us

Dr. David Rivers
Chair and Professor of Forensic Science
410-617-2057
drivers@loyola.edu