BS in Biological Science (Forensic Biology)
Units required for Major: 73-85, includes units of study in chosen concentration (see below).
Program Description
The curriculum in Forensic Biology is designed to prepare students for careers as criminalist specializing in the analysis and interpretation of serological and DNA evidence. This curriculum meets the educational requirements for entry level career positions with city, county, and federal agencies. Students selecting this concentration are urged to pursue internship opportunities (BIO 195), such as those available through the Sacramento County Coroner's Office, and/or directed research (BIO 199A or BIO 199B) with a faculty member in Biological Sciences or Chemistry who utilizes molecular biology techniques and instrumentation. Students completing the requirements for a concentration in Forensic Biology also fulfill the requirements for a minor in Chemistry.
Pre-Major Requirements
The Biological Sciences program at Sacramento State is one of the most highly sought after programs in Northern California. Due to the large number of applications, the program is now officially impacted. Students wishing to become Biological Science majors must complete a series of required lower division and then must apply for admission to the program. Check the department website for requirements, and it is highly recommended that interested students speak with an advisor at the Natural Sciences Advising Center (NSAC) as soon as possible.
Freshmen interested in the major are admitted as pre-Biological Science majors.
To change to the Biological Sciences major, pre-major students are required to complete the following courses and grade requirements and submit a Declaration of Major form to the Biological Science Department Office along with transcript copies.
- Completion of the following lower division "pre-major" courses with a minimum "C" or better. Only first or second attempt will be considered:
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| BIO 1 | Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology | 5 |
| BIO 2 | Cells, Molecules and Genes | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| STAT 1 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| ENGL 5 | Accelerated Academic Literacies | 3 |
- Overall GPA of 2.5 based on the pre-major courses listed above.
- Minimum of 30 units completed at the college level.
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Lower Division Core Courses (37-41 Units) | ||
| BIO 1 | Biodiversity, Evolution and Ecology | 5 |
| BIO 2 | Cells, Molecules and Genes | 5 |
| CHEM 1A | General Chemistry I | 5 |
| CHEM 1B | General Chemistry II | 5 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 - 6 | |
| Organic Chemistry Lecture--Brief Course 1 | ||
| Organic Chemistry Lecture I Organic Chemistry Lecture II | ||
| Select one of the following: | 3 - 4 | |
| Calculus I for the Social and Life Sciences | ||
| Calculus I | ||
| PHYS 5A | General Physics: Mechanics, Heat, Sound | 4 |
| PHYS 5B | General Physics: Light, Electricity and Magnetism, Modern Physics | 4 |
| STAT 1 | Introduction to Statistics | 3 |
| Required Upper Division Core Courses (6 Units) | ||
| BIO 100 | Introduction to Scientific Analysis | 2 |
| BIO 184 | General Genetics | 4 |
| Concentration (30-38 Units) | ||
| Select from the following concentrations: | 30 - 38 | |
General Biology | ||
Biomedical Sciences | ||
Cell and Molecular Biology | ||
Clinical Laboratory Sciences | ||
Ecology, Evolution, and Conservation | ||
Forensic Biology | ||
Microbiology | ||
| Total Units | 73-85 | |
| 1 | CHEM 24 and CHEM 124 may be taken in lieu of CHEM 20. (CHEM 124 is not counted toward the 36 upper division unit requirement in the major except in the Biomedical Sciences Concentration.) |
Notes:
- Pre-Health Professional students should take the Chemistry and Math requirements as stated in the Pre-Health Professional Program section of this catalog.
- With approval, up to six units of upper division coursework from related fields may be applied as electives in the major.
- No more than 2 units from the following combined can be applied to the Biological Sciences upper division major requirement.
Course List Code Title Units BIO 195 Biological Internship 1 - 2 BIO 197A Laboratory Teaching Assistant 1 - 2 BIO 197B Laboratory Techniques 1 - 2 BIO 197C Co-curricular Activities in Biology 1 - 2 BIO 199A Introductory Undergraduate Research 1 - 2 BIO 199B Directed Readings 1 - 2
Concentration in Forensic Biology (38 units)
| Code | Title | Units |
|---|---|---|
| Required Courses (32 Units) | ||
| BIO 121 | Molecular Cell Biology | 3 |
| BIO 150 | Forensic Biology | 3 |
| BIO 151 | Advanced Laboratory Techniques in Forensic Biology | 2 |
| BIO 180 | Advanced Molecular Biology | 4 |
| CHEM 20L | Introductory Organic Chemistry Laboratory | 1 |
| CHEM 31 | Quantitative Analysis | 4 |
| CHEM 161 | General Biochemistry 1 | 3 |
| CHEM 162 | General Biochemistry Laboratory 2 | 3 |
| CRJ 4 | General Investigative Techniques | 3 |
| CRJ 154 | Introduction to Physical Evidence | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Gangs and Threat Groups in America | ||
| Sexual Offenses and Offenders | ||
| Drug Abuse and Criminal Behavior | ||
| Elective Courses (6 Units) | ||
| Select one of the following Structure and Function electives: | 3 | |
| Physiology of Human Reproduction | ||
| Advanced Human Anatomy | ||
| Neuroanatomy | ||
| Comparative Vertebrate Morphology | ||
| Developmental Biology | ||
| Plant Anatomy and Physiology | ||
| Histology | ||
| Systemic Physiology | ||
| Neurophysiology | ||
| Cardiovascular, Respiratory and Renal Physiology | ||
| Select one of the following Ecology, Evolution, and Biodiversity electives: | 3 | |
| Part A: Biodiversity Electives | ||
| Plants and Civilization | ||
| Plant Taxonomy | ||
| The Diversity of Microorganisms | ||
| Human Parasitology | ||
| General Entomology | ||
| Ichthyology: The Study of Fishes | ||
| Amphibians and Reptiles: An Introduction to Herpetology | ||
| Ornithology | ||
| Mammalogy | ||
| Part B: Ecology and Evolution Electives | ||
| Evolution and Speciation in Flowering Plants | ||
| Natural Resource Conservation | ||
| General Ecology | ||
| Animal Behavior | ||
| Principles of Fisheries Biology | ||
| Conservation Biology & Wildlife Management | ||
| Ecological and Environmental Issues Seminar | ||
| Evolution | ||
| Total Units | 38 | |
| 1 | CHEM 160A and CHEM 160B may be taken in lieu of CHEM 161. Only three units of the package may be counted toward the upper division requirement. |
| 2 | CHEM 162 can be included in the 36 upper division unit requirement for this concentration. |
Note: Students with a declared concentration in Forensic Biology do not need to take CRJ 1, CRJ 2 or CRJ 102 as prerequisites for the CRJ courses required in this concentration.