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WVU Morgantown

Forensic Chemistry, B.S.

  • Overview
  • Faculty
  • Admissions Requirements
  • Major
  • Degree Progress
  • Learning Outcomes

Department website: http://forensics.wvu.edu/

Degree Offered

  • Bachelor of Science

Nature of the Program

The Department of  Forensic and Investigative Science (FIS)  offers a Bachelor of Science degree in three major areas: Forensic Biology, Forensic Chemistry, and Forensic Examiner.  All of these majors provide students with a strong background in the fundamental science and applied practice associated with forensic science.  The Program is accredited by the Forensic Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

Because of the unique nature of the profession of forensic science, students are forewarned that a record of criminal, unethical, or other socially unacceptable behavior (such as illicit drug use or alcohol offenses) could negatively affect their ability to pass a background check, which may in turn make it difficult or impossible and complete the degree.  Department guidelines are available from departmental advisers. 

Students who earn a degree in the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences must complete the University requirements, the College requirements for their specific degree program, and their major requirements.

Minors

All students have the possibility of earning one or more minors; click the following link for a list of all available minors and their requirements. Please note that students may not earn a minor in their major field.


Faculty

Chair

  • Casper Venter - Ph.D. (University of South Africa)

Director of Graduate Studies

  • Tina Moroose - M.S. (Marshall University)

Director of Undergraduate Studies

  • Rachel Mohr - Ph.D. (Texas A&M University)

Professors

  • Glen Jackson - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, Ming Hsieh Distinguished Professor, Forensic Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry
  • Keith Morris - Ph.D. (University of Port Elizabeth)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, Ming Hsieh Distinguished Professor, Impression Evidence, Evidence Interpretation

Associate Professors

  • Luis Arroyo - Ph.D. (Florida International University)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, Toxicology, Environmental Forensics
  • Tina Moroose - M.S. (Marshall University)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, Forensic Biology, Quality Assurance
  • Jacqueline Speir - Ph.D. (Rochester Institute of Technology)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, Forensic Informatics, Microscopy
  • Tatiana Trejos - Ph.D. (Florida International University)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, Trace Evidence, Elemental Analysis

Assistant Professors

  • Robin Bowen - Ph.D. (West Virginia University)
    Associate Graduate Faculty, Ethics, Bloodstain Pattern Analysis
  • Tiffany Edwards - M.S. (University of Central Oklahoma)
    Criminalistics, Death Investigation
  • Arati Iyengar - Ph.D. (University of Southampton)
    Regular Graduate Faculty, DNA, Forensic Genetics
  • Roger Jefferys - M.S. (West Virginia University)
    Criminalistics
  • Lisa Licata - M.S. (University of North Texas Health Science Center)
    Criminalistics, DNA
  • Rachel Mohr - Ph.D. (Texas A&M University)
    Associate Graduate Faculty, Forensic Entomology
  • Robert O'Brien - M.S. (St. Joseph's College)
    Associate Graduate Faculty, Crime Scene Investigation

Admissions for 2026-2027

  • First Time Freshmen with a MATH ACT of 22 or a MATH SAT of 540 or with a 3.75 cumulative high school GPA are admitted directly to the major. A minimum ALEKS score of 45 is recommended for the timely completion of the degree. 
  • Students transferring from another WVU major or from another institution with fewer than 24 credits and at least a 2.0 overall GPA must meet the following requirements: MATH ACT of 22 or a MATH SAT of 540 or a 3.75 cumulative high school GPA.
  • Students transferring from another WVU major or from another institution with 24 hours or more and at least a 2.0 overall GPA must meet the following requirement prior to being admitted to the major:  CHEM 115 or higher with a C-.

Major Code 14C6

General Education Foundations

Please use this link to view a list of courses that meet each GEF requirement.

NOTE: Some major requirements will fulfill specific GEF requirements. Please see the curriculum requirements listed below for details on which GEFs you will need to select.

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations
F1 - Composition & Rhetoric3-6
ENGL 101
& ENGL 102
Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric
and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research
or ENGL 103
Accelerated Academic Writing
F2A/F2B - Science & Technology4-6
F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning3-4
F4 - Society & Connections3
F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past3
F6 - The Arts & Creativity3
F7 - Global Studies & Diversity3
F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree)9
Total Hours31-37

Please note that not all of the GEF courses are offered at all campuses. Students should consult with their advisor or academic department regarding the GEF course offerings available at their campus.

Departmental Requirements for the B.S. in Forensic Chemistry

Students must complete WVU General Education Foundations requirements, Eberly Edge Program requirements, major requirements, and electives to total a minimum of 120 hours.

  • Calculation of the GPA in the Major: A minimum grade of C- or better in all courses applied to major requirements, including the STEM Foundations. If a course is repeated, all attempts will be included in the calculation of the GPA, unless the course is eligible for a D/F repeat.

  • Writing and Communication Skills Requirement: The Forensic Chemistry Bachelor of Science is a SpeakWrite Certified ProgramTM. SpeakWrite Certified programs incorporate and develop students’ written, verbal, visual, and mediated communication skills across the curriculum.

  • Capstone Requirement: The university requires the successful completion of a Capstone course.  Forensic Chemistry majors must complete FIS 406L.

  • Internship Requirement: All students are required to successfully complete the FIS 386 internship course for a minimum of 3 hours of credit.

Curriculum Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
University Requirements25
Eberly Edge Requirements9
Forensic Chemistry Major Requirements86
Total Hours120

University Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits)
Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 4, 5, 6, and 718
FIS 191First-Year Seminar1
General Electives6
Total Hours25

Eberly Edge Program Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
EDG 1 : Data and Society 3
EDG 2 : Effective and Civil Communication (FIS 406L)
EDG 3 :Ethics and Civil Responsibility (FIS 485)
EDG 4: Global and Regional Perspectives3
EDG 5 : Practicing Arts & Sciences (ARSC 380)
EDG 6 : EEDG High Impact Experience (FIS 386)
Total Hours6

Forensic Chemistry Major Requirements

Course List
Code Title Hours
STEM FOUNDATIONS *27
BIOL 115
& 115L
Principles of Biology
and Principles of Biology Laboratory
BIOL 117
& 117L
Introductory Physiology
and Introductory Physiology Laboratory
MATH 155
Calculus 1
MATH 156
Calculus 2
PHYS 101
& 101L
& PHYS 102
& PHYS 102L
Introductory Physics 1
and Introductory Physics 1 Laboratory
and Introductory Physics 2
and Introductory Physics 2 Laboratory
or PHYS 111
& 111L
& PHYS 112
& PHYS 112L
General Physics 1
and General Physics 1 Laboratory
and General Physics 2
and General Physics 2 Laboratory
STAT 215
Introduction to Probability and Statistics
CORE CHEMISTRY COURSES24
CHEM 115
& 115L
Fundamentals of Chemistry 1
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory
CHEM 116
& 116L
Fundamentals of Chemistry 2
and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory
CHEM 215
& 215L
Introductory Analytical Chemistry
and Introductory Analytical Chemistry Laboratory
CHEM 233
& 233L
Organic Chemistry 1
and Organic Chemistry 1 Laboratory
CHEM 234
& 234L
Organic Chemistry 2
and Organic Chemistry 2 Laboratory
CHEM 341
& 341L
Physical Chemistry: Brief Course
and Physical Chemistry: Brief Course Laboratory
or CHEM 348
& 348L
Physical Chemistry 2
and Physical Chemistry 2 Laboratory
CORE FORENSIC AND INVESTIGATIVE SCIENCE COURSES28
FIS 201
Introduction to Forensic Identification
FIS 202
Crime Scene Investigation Overview
FIS 314
& 314L
Introduction to Microscopy
and Introduction to Microscopy Laboratory
FIS 340
& 340L
Forensic Chemical Analysis
and Forensic Chemical Analysis Laboratory
FIS 385
Professional Internship Preparation
FIS 386
Forensic Identification Internship
FIS 404
Law and Evidence
FIS 460
& 460L
Analysis of Seized Drugs
and Analysis of Seized Drugs Laboratory
FIS 480
Forensic Quality Assurance
FIS 485
Professional Ethics in Forensic Science
UPPER-DIVISION ELECTIVES4
Select two of the following sequences:
FIS 414
& 414L
Trace Evidence Examination
and Trace Evidence Examination Laboratory
FIS 451
& 451L
Arson and Explosives Analysis
and Arson and Explosives Analysis Laboratory
FIS 470
& 470L
Analytical Forensic Toxicology
and Analytical Forensic Toxicology Laboratory
CAPSTONE EXPERIENCE3
FIS 406L
Capstone: Courtroom Testimony and Laboratory
Total Hours86
*

STEM foundation courses are common to most STEM majors and excluded from the calculation of the percentage of upper-division courses

Suggested Plan of Study

First Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
FIS 1911ENGL 101 (GEF 1)3 
BIOL 115
& 115L (GEF 2)
4BIOL 117
& 117L (GEF 8 course 2)
4 
CHEM 115
& 115L (GEF 8 course 1)
4CHEM 116
& 116L (GEF 8 course 3)
4 
FIS 2013MATH 1564 
MATH 155 (GEF 3)4EDG 4: Global and Regional Perspectives3 
 16 18
Second Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
CHEM 233
& 233L
4ENGL 102 (GEF 1 course 2)3 
ENGL 101 (GEF 1 course 1)3CHEM 234
& 234L
4 
PHYS 101
& 101L
4FIS 2023 
STAT 2153PHYS 102
& 102L
4 
EDG 1: Data and Society3  
 17 14
Third Year
FallHoursSpringHoursSummerHours
CHEM 215
& 215L
4ARSC 380 (EDG 5)3FIS 386 (EDG 6)3
FIS 314
& 314L
3CHEM 341
& 341L
4 
FIS 340
& 340L
4FIS 460
& 460L
4 
FIS 3851GEF 43 
FIS 4802  
 14 14 3
Fourth Year
FallHoursSpringHours 
FIS 4043FIS 485 (EDG 3)3 
FIS 406L (EDG 2)3FIS Chemistry Elective4 
GEF 53GEF 73 
GEF 63General Elective 2 
 12 12
Total credit hours: 120

Degree Progress

  • All majors must meet with a FIS adviser each semester.
  • By the start of the third regular semester (Fall or Spring) in the major, students must be enrolled in or have successfully completed  and with a C-.
  • Beyond the fifth regular semester, all students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses applied to major requirements with a minimum grade requirement of C- in all courses applied to major requirements. 
  • If students do not begin upper-level FIS courses in their third year, they must complete the foundational courses listed below by the end of their sixth regular semester.
  • Students who do not meet major benchmarks may be removed from the major. 

Upper Level Qualification

During their first four semesters, students are expected to complete their foundational biology, chemistry, math, and physics courses. These fundamentals must be completed prior to taking upper-level FIS courses.  Many of these courses will satisfy the GEF 1, 2, 3, 4, and 8 requirements, as well as the College B.S. requirements. Students interested in the forensic chemistry major are strongly encouraged to take PHYS 111/PHYS 112 if they qualify.

To begin taking upper-level FIS courses, typically in the fifth semester/fall of the junior year, students must have completed the courses listed below with a grade of C- or better. If students are deficient in a single course requirement but can complete it in the fall semester, they may be permitted to enroll in upper-division FIS courses alongside the deficient course, based on availability of seats and compatibility of scheduling. 

  • BIOL 117 & BIOL 117L 
  •  CHEM 234 & CHEM 234L 
  •  MATH 154 or MATH 155  (Forensic Biology and Forensic Examiner) or MATH 156 (Forensic Chemistry)
  •  PHYS 102 & PHYS 102L or PHYS 112 & PHYS 112L 
  •  STAT 215 or STAT 312  

Calculation of GPA

All students must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.5 in all courses applied to major requirements with a minimum grade requirement of C- in selected courses. Selected courses are: all courses applied to major requirements.

Major Learning Outcomes

Forensic Chemistry

Upon graduation from the Forensic Chemistry major, students will be able to:

  1. Apply scientific methodology and evaluate techniques in the collection, processing, analysis, and evaluation of forensic evidence. 
  2. Assess and defend data generated during forensic investigations
  3. Present scientific data in written, verbal, and visual formats. 
  4. Demonstrate the professionalism and high ethical standards demanded by the justice system and the forensic science community. 
  • Anthropology
  • Biochemistry
  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Communication Studies
  • Criminology
  • Data Science
  • Earth and Environmental Science
  • English
  • English/​Secondary Education
  • Forensic Biology
  • Forensic Chemistry
  • Forensic Examiner
  • History
  • Integrated Studies
  • International Studies
  • Mathematics
  • Multidisciplinary Studies
  • Neuroscience
  • Philosophy
  • Physics
  • Political Science
  • Professional Writing and Editing
  • Psychology
  • Regents Bachelor of Arts
  • Scientific and Technical Writing
  • Social Studies/​Secondary Education
  • Social Work
  • Sociology
  • Sustainability Studies
  • Women's and Gender Studies

WVU Morgantown

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Office of the University Registrar
P.O. Box 6878
Morgantown, WV 26506
Email: registrar@mail.wvu.edu
Phone: 304-293-5355

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