Forensic Science

Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Defined as science that is used for purposes of the law, forensic science is an exciting and fascinating field for students who have a strong interest in chemistry and biology. Forensic scientists work closely with investigators, attorneys and others to discover, analyze and deliver evidence during criminal investigations. As a forensic science major at Alvernia, you’ll develop the knowledge and skills necessary to work in a modern crime lab in your hometown, or at the regional, state or federal level. Alvernia's program prepares students for a life of personal and professional integrity grounded in a commitment to serving others, enhancing understanding that science can provide vital information to make the world a better, safer place.

Classes and labs are offered in the O’Pake Science Center, a state-of-the-art teaching and research facility on Alvernia’s Reading campus. You’ll have access to sophisticated science instrumentation throughout your curriculum, including UV/Vis, Infrared and Fluorescence spectrometers, a high performance liquid chromatograph (HPLC), a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer (GC/MS), a Raman spectrometera flame/graphite-furnace atomic absorption spectrometer, and a system capable of doing laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS).

Getting Started

Where You Can Get A Degree

The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science program is available at the following Alvernia University campus:

Reading

General Notes

A minimum of 123 credits are required for graduation.
Credits earned for COM 100 and MAT 100 do not count toward the 123 credits required for graduation; however, COM 100 students may petition for elective credit.
Where appropriate, courses required for the major can be used to satisfy General Education requirements. However, the credits earned for these courses are applied to either Gen Ed requirements or the major, not both.
Paths of Knowledge coursework may count towards major or minor requirements, but may not fulfill a second Mid-Level Liberal Arts Exploration requirement.
Students are expected to follow the catalog requirements for General Education, the major, and additional requirements.
A minor or second major within the areas listed under Paths of Knowledge automatically fulfills that area of the Gen Ed requirements.
Please note: It is our responsibility to inform you as a potential student majoring in forensic science that you may be subject to a background check for future employment in the forensic science field and this can affect your eligibility for obtaining a forensic science job.

Application Instructions

Through a rolling admission process, prospective undergraduate students — including first-year, transfer, and international students — may apply via the Alvernia web portal or The Common Application. To learn more about how to complete your application, please visit our application page.

Financing Your Education

There are options to assist in financing your education and making the tuition affordable. Visit our Student Financial Services page for a detailed overview of the process, including a link to complete the FAFSA application, as well as more information about tuition, the tuition payment plan and the tuition deferment program we offer. Alvernia’s Title IV code for the FAFSA is 003233. The Office of Student Financial Services is available to help with any questions you may have. Call 610-796-8201 or email sfs@alvernia.edu.

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Program Overview

Curriculum: General Education

All Alvernia students must successfully complete a minimum of 123 semester credits to receive a Bachelor of Arts or a Bachelor of Science degree. You’ll need to complete 54-56 liberal arts core credits and complete community service hours. In addition, Forensic Science majors must complete 93-96 credits in the major.

First Year Curriculum: Enduring Questions

SEARCH Seminar-Enduring Questions or Honor Search-Enduring Questions (3 credits: SRH 101 or HNR 160)
COM 101 Composition & Research: Must earn a C or higher (3 credits)
THE 105 Foundations of Theology (3 credits)
PHI 105 Introduction to Philosophy (3 credits)

Mid-Level Liberal Arts Exploration Credits

Exploring the Natural World (6-8 credits)
- Lab Science (Met in major)
- Math (Met in related area)
Individuals & Communities (6 credits)
- History or Political Science
- PSY 101, HIS, POS, SOC, SSC, or ECON 3 (Met in related area)
Culture & Language (9 credits)
- Communication (Not COM 100 or 101)
- World Language – 2 courses in sequence
Creative Expressions (6 credits)
- Literature (ENG)
- Art, Music, or Theatre (Met with PHI 200, 210 or 220)

Ethical Leaders and Followers Credits

Theology or Philosophy (200-400 level) (3 credits)
Theology or Philosophy (Ethics/Morality @ 200 level) (3 credits) (PHI 290 recommended)

Curriculum: Paths of Knowledge

Paths of Knowledge may count towards minor or Related Requirements, but not Mid-Level Arts Exploration requirements. Choose one path.

PATH 1: Interdisciplinary Study (IS)

Three courses, at least two from Liberal Arts disciplines, not the major, at the 200-400 level from the interdisciplinary minors of Women & Gender Studies, Digital Media, Community & Environmental Sustainability, Community Engagement, Cultural Studies, Leadership Studies or Pre-Law.

PATH 2: Multi-disciplinary Study (MS)

Three courses, at least two from Liberal Arts disciplines, not the major, at the 200-400 level employing multiple disciplinary perspectives to explore the Enduring Questions in one of the following themes: Cultural & Global Studies, Imagination & Creativity, Peace & Conflict, Poverty & Wealth or Sustainability, Science & Technology.

PATH 3: In-depth Disciplinary Study (DS)

Three courses at the 200-400 level in one Liberal Arts discipline other than one’s major, guided by common ideas and methods of inquiry. Students choose from Art, Biology, Chemistry, Communication, Computer Science, Economics, English, History, Mathematics, Music, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, Sociology, Theology, Theatre or World Languages. This path may be used to give students a firm foundation in a discipline supporting their chosen major, or to pursue an interest in one of the Liberal Arts disciplines.

Curriculum: Major Requirements

Required Courses (72 credits)

CHE 104: General Chemistry I (co-requisite: CHE 110)
CHE 105: General Chemistry II (pre-requisites: CHE 104, 110; co-requisite: CHE 111)
CHE 107: Laboratory Safety
CHE 110: General Chemistry Lab I (co-requisite: CHE 104)
CHE 111: General Chemistry Lab II (pre-requisites: CHE 104, 110; co-requisite: CHE 105)
CHE 201: Organic Chemistry I (pre-requisites: CHE, 105, 111; co-requisite: CHE 210)
CHE 202: Organic Chemistry II (pre-requisites: CHE 201, 210; co-requisite: CHE 211)
CHE 210: Organic Chemistry Lab I (pre-requisites: CHE 105,111; co-requisite: CHE 201)
CHE 211: Organic Chemistry Lab II (co-requisites: CHE 201, 210; pre-requisite: CHE 202)
CHE 212: Analytical Chemistry (pre-requisites: CHE 104, 105, 110, 111)
CHE 221: Instrumental Analysis (pre-requisite: CHE 212)
CHE 230: The Forensics Profession
CHE 301: Physical Chemistry I (pre-requisites: CHE 104, 105, 110, 111)
CHE 310: Physical Chemistry I lab (pre-requisites: CHE 105 and CHE 111; co-requisites: CHE 301)
CHE 315: Forensic Technology (pre-requisites: CHE 212, 221)
CHE 325: Forensic Criminalistics
CHE 405: Forensic Chemistry (pre-requisites: CHE 104, 105, 110, 111, 201, 202)
SCI 402: Seminar
BIO 103: Principals of Biology I
BIO 104: Principals of Biology II (co-requisite: BIO 103)
BIO 303: Genetics (pre-requisite: BIO 103 or instructor permission; co-requisite: BIO 309)
BIO 304: Cell Biology (pre-requisites: BIO 103, CHE 105, 202; co-requisite: BIO 311)
BIO 309: Molecular Genetics Lab (co-requisite: BIO 303)
BIO 311: Cell Biology Lab (co-requisite: BIO 304)
BIO 430: Forensic Biology (pre-requisites: BIO 304/311, 303/309, CHE 202/211)
Select one 6-credit option:
- SCI 480 internship OR
- SCI:406 Research I and SCI: 407: Research II

Related Requirements (21 credits)

PHY 200: Physics I (pre-requisite: MAT 230 or as a co-requisite)
PHY 201: Physics II (pre-requisite: PHY 200)
MAT 209: Probability & Statistics (pre-requisite: satisfactory score on math placement test)
MAT 230: Calculus I (pre-requisite: MAT 131 or by placement)
PSY 101: Introductory Psychology
PHI 200, 210 or 220

Recommended (3 credits)

MAT 131: Pre-Calculus

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Through internships, students have opportunities to apply theories and knowledge learned in the classroom in a variety of professional settings. In addition to providing exposure to the activities and expectations of a real-world workplace, internship experiences help students develop their network of professional contacts.

Accreditation Statements

Alvernia is an accredited institution and a member of the Middle States Commission on Higher Education. MSCHE is an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the Council for Higher Education Accreditation.

Career Outlook

After earning your Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science, you can pursue a variety of careers, including:

Crime lab
Drug Enforcement Administration
Food and Drug Administration
Environmental Protection Agency
Occupational Safety and Health Administration

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, careers for forensic science technicians are expected to grow by 11 percent between 2021 and 2031, much faster than average for all occupations. The median annual salary is $61,930.

Opportunities for Majors

Science Association

The object of this club is to afford an opportunity for the students of science to become better acquainted, to secure the intellectual stimulation that arises from professional association, to obtain experiences in preparing and presenting technical material before chemical audiences, to foster a professional spirit among the members, to instill a professional pride in the sciences, and to build an awareness of the responsibilities and challenges facing the modern scientist. Membership of this association is open to students pursuing their study in the area of science and related fields. Contact Rosemarie Chinni (610-568-1492, rosemarie.chinni@alvernia.edu) or Kevin Burns (kevin.burns@alvernia.edu, 610-790-2865) for more information.

Pre-Health Club

The Pre-Health Professions Club includes, but is not limited to, Pre-Medical, Pre-Dental, Physician Assisting, Occupational Therapy, Nursing, and Pre-Veterinary students. It provides a setting in which students who are working toward future careers in the health professions can get together, share information, learn more about the health professions in general, and develop friendships with students who share some of their interests. Members of this organization are composed of students pursuing study in several areas of science and related health fields.

Environmental Club

The purpose of this student organization is to maintain the temperate deciduous forest, riparian, and freshwater ecosystems about Alvernia University and the community it serves. The organization does this by recruiting new members, educating the public, and holding events that draw attention to the environment. Such events are Eco-Fun Day, trail clean-up days, and hosting public speaker seminars.

Beta Kappa Chi

Beta Kappa Chi is the National Science Honor Society composed of chapters which seek to encourage and advance scientific education through original education, the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the stimulation of high scholarship in pure and applied science.

Epsilon Gamma Chapter of the Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Society

This is a National Scholastic Honor Society for students, faculty, and alumni of colleges and universities with a Catholic tradition.

The Washington Center Experience

Alvernia students have an opportunity to earn college credit by spending a semester or summer in Washington, D.C. where they serve as interns in a congressional office, government agency, major corporation, newspaper or news network, or agencies devoted to legal affairs, international relations, or business and economics. They also may intern with one of several non-profit groups dealing with the environment, women’s issues, the arts, education, science, or labor relations among others. Participants are customarily juniors or seniors who have achieved grade point averages of 2.5 or better and who have the endorsement of the appropriate academic area. In addition to their internship, students select one seminar dealing with the arts and humanities, communication, public policy, the legal system, business, and government. Interested students should see their academic advisor.

Get to Know Your Faculty

For more information about Alvernia’s Forensic Science program contact the Admissions Office at 610-796-8269 or admissions@alvernia.edu. Or reach out directly to Science Department Chair Eric Recktenwald at 610-796-8427 or eric.recktenwald@alvernia.edu. To see a list of Science lecturers, click here.