鈥淭here is nothing so important as trifles,鈥 once said Sherlock Holmes; most criminal science majors would certainly agree. This is a field whose main focus is the reconstruction of crimes through the characterization of trace evidence. As a criminal science major, you鈥檒l take chemistry and clinical laboratory classes where you鈥檒l learn how to analyze potential physical evidence of a crime, including fire debris, gunshot residues, bodily fluids, metals, glasses, hair, fibers, paint, and drugs.
While criminal science is very much a chemistry-based field, it鈥檚 important to understand the larger context of the evidence you鈥檒l be working with. Outside the crime lab, you鈥檒l study research methods, juvenile justice, corrections, criminology, and court systems. You鈥檒l also take classes like psychology, sociology, and behavioral science. Though perhaps it鈥檚 less exciting than DNA matching or dusting for fingerprints, this major will also teach you practical skills like computer applications, record-keeping, and evidence handling and storage.
Abnormal Personality
Analysis of Criminal Behavior
Chemistry and Crime
Court Systems and the Judicial Process
Introduction to Sociology
Principles of Investigation
Survey of Forensic Science
The Juvenile Offender
For this major, just sit back and watch as many episodes of CSI and Law & Order as you can鈥 just kidding. Take math, biology, advanced chemistry, physics, and English.
Connect with our featured colleges to find schools that both match your interests and are looking for students like you.
Ready to create the next great app? Launch your gaming career at one of these top 50 programs.
165,000 students rate everything from their professors to their campus social scene.
Join athletes who were discovered, recruited & often received scholarships after connecting with NCSA's 42,000 strong network of coaches.