Program Overview

This 60 credit-hour program will provide instruction to students in the proper techniques of identifying, collecting and packaging physical evidence associated with crime scenes and understanding the importance of proper evidence handling. The forensic science technician is responsible for processing evidence at crime scenes, identifying, collecting, and preserving physical evidence to support law enforcement activities. Graduates may be employed as forensic technicians, property and identification custodians, arson investigators and investigators for local law enforcement and fire services, federal agencies, local, regional and national crime labs, as well as in private industry such as insurance companies, etc.

Program Requirements

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Students must place into MTH 101 or higher. If a student does not place into MTH 101, they may seek to retake the math placement exam or complete a college-level math course with a co-requisite to meet math requirements. Students who place into MTH 101 or higher may take a 3 credit-hour AAS General Education elective. See full list of AAS General Education Electives.

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Prerequisite of FIS 100 will be waived for Forensic Science students.

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This course meets the World Cultures and Diversity graduation requirement.

Program Learning Outcomes

• Identify the different types of evidence.
• Demonstrate the duties and responsibilities of the first officer on the scene.
• Demonstrate the basic methods of crime scene searches.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic methods of visually documenting crime scenes.
• Apply scientific principles to the function of collection and preservation of physical evidence i.e. latent fingerprints, trace and impression evidence, blood and other biological evidence.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the legal aspects of evidence.
• Differentiate the types of physical evidence associated with various types of crimes.
• Demonstrate the basic methods of locating and preserving evidence associated with various types of crimes i.e. death investigations, sexual assaults, arson and explosive evidence, burglaries.
• Demonstrate knowledge of the basic methods of firearms identification, examination, and comparison.
• Demonstrate the basic methods of computer forensics.