The Certificate in Forensic Identification

Students wishing to pursue a career in one of the forensic sciences should consult advisors in anthropology, biology, or chemistry. Entry level employment in criminalistics commonly requires a major in one of the physical or natural sciences, including a year of General Chemistry and a course in Quantitative Analysis.

Graduate programs in criminalistics commonly require a major in one of the physical or natural sciences.

Prerequisites to Program:

Candidates for the certificate must have completed a Bachelor's degree or must complete the Bachelor's degree concurrently with the certificate.

Course Requirements for the Certificate: 27-38 units

The following courses, or their approved transfer equivalents, are required of all candidates for this certificate.

Core Program: 12 units

3 courses required:

ANTH 311 Survey Forensic Science 3.0 FS
ANTH 489A Physical Anth Internship 1.0 -6.0 FS
Prerequisites: Faculty permission.

Note: ANTH 489A course must be taken for a total of 6 units.

ENGL 230 Intro to Technical Writing 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: ENGL 130.

Methods and Techniques: 12-23 units

These courses must be selected from outside the student's major department and chosen with the prior approval of the certificate coordinator. A specific program of courses may be required depending upon the student's major and previous preparation.

12-23 units selected from:

ANTH 301 Physical Anthropology 4.0 FA
ANTH 380 Field Archaeology 4.0 F1
ANTH 481 Human Identification 3.0 SP
Prerequisites: ANTH 301.
BIOL 430 Comparative Anat: Vertebrates 4.0 FA
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 153.
BIOL 460 Histology 4.0 S1
Prerequisites: BIOL 152, BIOL 153.
BIOL 462 Hematology 3.0 S1
Prerequisites: BIOL 153. Recommended: BIOL 424 and CHEM 270.
BIOL 485 Electron Microscopy 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: PHYS 202A, PHYS 202B.

Note: Additional upper-division BIOL courses may be counted for the Methods and Techniques requirement with approval of the Forensic Coordinator.

BIOL 685 Elect Microscope Operation Lab 2.0 SP
Prerequisites: May be taken concurrently with BIOL 485 and
CHEM 111 General Chemistry 4.0 FS *
Prerequisites: Second-year high school algebra; one year high school chemistry. (One year of high school physics and one year of high school mathematics past Algebra II are recommended.)
CHEM 112 General Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 111.
CHEM 270 Organic Chemistry 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
CHEM 320 Quantitative Analysis 4.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 112.
CHEM 370 Organic Chemistry 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 270.
CHEM 370L Organic Chem Laboratory 1.0 FS
Prerequisites: CHEM 370 may be taken as a prerequisite or concurrently with CHEM 370L.

Legal Systems: 3 units

Select a course with the prior approval of the certificate coordinator.

1 course selected from:

PHIL 438 Jurisprudence/Phil of Law 3.0 FA

This course is also offered as POLS 438.

POLS 250 Intro to Criminal Justice 3.0 FS
POLS 438 Jurisprudence/Phil of Law 3.0 FA

This course is also offered as PHIL 438.

POLS 459A Criminal Procedure 3.0 FS
Prerequisites: POLS 250.
SOCI 384 Criminology 3.0 FS

Professional Standards:

The forensic certificate signifies readiness to begin professional work in an area requiring trust and high ethical standards. Students are expected to meet the ethical and professional standards set by the agencies with which they may serve as an intern. Should it be determined that students do not meet such standards, they may be disqualified from fulfilling the internship component of the certificate and thus prevented from completing the certificate.

An overall GPA of 2.5 is required for the entire program.