Wayne Bensley, Program Director
Email address: benslewd@alfredstate.edu
The forensic science technology major is a technically rigorous four-year program culminating in a Bachelor of Science degree. Students in this laboratory-based on-campus program will complete classwork focusing on three areas of physical evidence analysis:
The forensic science technology program is fully accredited by FEPAC (Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission).
The mission of the forensic science technology program at Alfred State is to provide our students with a strong foundation in the natural and physical sciences. This includes not only theoretical didactic delivery, but also a wealth of hands-on laboratory-based forensic analytical techniques. Graduates of the program will be equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to obtain entry-level positions as laboratory technicians, scientists, or examiners in a variety of governmental, institutional, and industrial settings, or with the background necessary for successful transfer into graduate-level programs in the forensic, biological, and chemical sciences or related subjects.
Through a rigorous hands-on curriculum rooted in the natural and physical sciences, the forensic science technology program at Alfred State strives to produce graduates prepared to be active contributors in a variety of career and educational options.
Employment and continuing education rate of 100 percent – 83 percent are employed; 17 percent continued their education.
Employment and Continuing Education Report
Graduation Year | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
Receiving Degrees | 10 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 17 | 11 | |
Responding to Survey | 9 | 5 | 2 | 13 | 12 | 5 | |
Employed | 6 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 9 | 5 | |
Employed in Field | 5 | 2 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 4 | |
Continued Education | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
Program and College Graduation Rates
Major 500 | Fall 2014 | Fall 2015 | Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Fall 2018 |
Freshmen Enrollment | 20 | 22 | 20 | 22 | 29 |
# Grad w/in 6 yrs. | 9 | 10 | 4 | 7 | 17 |
6-yr Grad Rate % | 45.0% | 45.5% | 20.0% | 31.8% | 58.6% |
College (Bachelor's) | Fall 2014 | Fall 2015 | Fall 2016 | Fall 2017 | Fall 2018 |
Freshmen Enrollment | 152 | 231 | 313 | 293 | 345 |
# Grad w/in 6 yrs. | 100 | 93 | 131 | 133 | 187 |
6-yr Grad Rate % | 65.8% | 42.9% | 41.9% | 45.4% | 54.2% |
Biological Science
Criminal Justice
Health Sciences
Students have completed internship experiences at various locations, including the FBI, ATF, New York State Police Crime Laboratories, multiple county and municipal crime laboratories both inside and outside of New York State, private testing and industrial laboratories, and hospital clinical laboratories.
Required: Algebra, Geometry, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry
Recommended: Physics
If students do not place into MATH 1033 College Algebra, MATH 1084 Calculus I, MATH 1323 Quantitative Reasoning, MATH 1034 College Algebra of Functions, MATH 1054 Precalculus, or MATH 2124 Statistical Methods & Analysis, then MATH 1014 Algebra Concepts is a required prerequisite for completion of the major.
If students do not place into PHYS 1024 General Physics I or PHYS 1044 College Physics I, then PHYS 1014 Introductory Physics is a required prerequisite for completion of this major.
A tier 1 laptop computer is required for students entering this degree program. Laptop specifications are available at www.alfredstate.edu/required-laptops.
Students who believe they need a reasonable accommodation to properly participate in this program may contact Melanie Ryan in the Office of Accessibility Services. This office may be contacted by email at oas@alfredstate.edu or by phone at 607-587-4506. Please keep in mind that some accommodations may take time to implement, so students seeking accommodations are encouraged to contact OAS as early as possible.
Can't get enough of TV shows like CSI? Want to lean how this work is done in the real world? Sounds like you're ready to study forensic science technology! Watch this video to learn more:
TYPICAL EIGHT-SEMESTER PROGRAM
First
FRSC | 1001 | Intro to Fornsc Science Tech I | 1 |
CHEM | 1984 | Chemical Principles I | 4 |
BIOL | 1104 | General Biology I | 4 |
COMP | 1503 | Writing Studies | 3 |
MATH | 1084 | Calculus I | 4 |
16 |
Second
FRSC | 2001 | Intro to Frnsc Science Tech II | 1 |
CHEM | 2984 | Chemical Principles II | 4 |
BIOL | 2204 | General Biology II | 4 |
SPCH | 1083 | Public Speaking | 3 |
GLST | 2113 | Global & Diverse Perspectives | 3 |
15 |
Third
FRSC | 3001 | Topics in Forensic Science I | 1 |
CHEM | 3514 | Organic Chemistry I | 4 |
PHYS | 1044 | College Physics I | 4 |
LITR | xxx3 | Literature Elective | 3 |
XXXX | xxx3 | General Education Elective | 3 |
15 |
Fourth
FRSC | 4001 | Topics in Forensic Science II | 1 |
CHEM | 4524 | Organic Chemistry II | 4 |
PHYS | 2044 | College Physics II | 4 |
MATH | 2124 | Statistical Methods & Analysis | 4 |
XXXX | xxx3 | General Education Elective | 3 |
16 |
Fifth
CJUS | 1003 | Intro to Criminal Justice | 3 |
CHEM | 5414 | Analytical Principles | 4 |
BIOL | 5254 | Principles of Microbiology | 4 |
COMP | 5703 | Technical Writing | 3 |
XXXX | xxx3 | Technical Elective | 3 |
17 |
Sixth
BIOL | 6534 | Genetics | 4 |
CHEM | 6614 | Instrumental Analysis | 4 |
CJUS | 6003 | Law & Criminal Evidence | 3 |
FRSC | 6214 | Microscopy and Criminalistics | 4 |
15 |
Seventh
FRSC | 7214 | Forensic Chemistry | 4 |
CHEM | 7784 | Biochemistry | 4 |
XXXX | xxx3 | Technical Elective | 3 |
XXXX | xxx3 | Technical Elective | 3 |
14 |
Eighth
FRSC | 8214 | Forensic Biology | 4 |
FRSC | 8111 | Forensic Science Tech Capstone | 1 |
FRSC | 8113 | Forensic Scie Tech Prof Prepar | 3 |
FRSC | 8703 | Senior Research Project | 3 |
OR | |||
FRSC | 8713 | Forensic Sci Tech Internship | 3 |
BIOL | 5013 | Biotechniques | 3 |
14 |
Approved Technical Electives:
ANTH 5333 Medical Anthropology
BIOL 1304 Botany
BIOL 1404 Anatomy & Physiology I
BIOL 2504 Anatomy & Physiology II
BIOL 4403 Pathophysiology
BIOL 4900 Directed Study, Biology
BIOL 5900 Directed Study, Biology
BIOL 6003 Molecular and Cell Biology
BIOL 6403 Advanced Pathophysiology
BIOL 7723 Research Methods in Health Sciences
CHEM 4900 Directed Study, Chemistry
CHEM 5900 Directed Study, Chemistry
FRSC 3113 Forensic Pathology
FRSC 4900 Directed Study, Forensic Science
FRSC 5900 Directed Study, Forensic Science
MATH 2094 Calculus II
MATH 6104 Multivariate and Vector Calculus
MATH 6114 Differential Equations
MEDR 1132 Essen. of Pharmacology and MEDR 1133 Med. Terminology
Students pursuing a career in forensic biology/DNA are advised that the following three courses are required at the undergraduate level: Biochemistry, Genetics, and Molecular and Cell Biology.
It is essential that students in this degree program are able to fully and safely participate, with or without reasonable accommodation, in all classroom, laboratory, field, internship, and research experiences required for completion of the program. Students in this degree program should be able to:
In addition, this degree program requires students to complete either an off-campus internship experience or a research project. Students in this degree program are expected to meet the following professional standards:
Be advised that a prior felony conviction may impede a student's ability to participate in an internship experience. In addition, students desiring careers within the field of forensic science should be aware that they will likely have to undergo background checks prior to being offered employment or an internship at a crime laboratory. These background checks are often similar to those required for law enforcement officers and may include questions regarding drug usage, criminal history, driving records, credit history, personal associations, and/or past work performance. In addition, they may include drug tests, polygraph examinations, and physical and medical examinations.
All laboratory-based courses for this academic program must be completed in an in-person format. Laboratory-based courses in the on-line format will not fulfill degree requirements.