Degree Offered
- Bachelor of Science
Nature of the Program
The curriculum of the program emphasizes breadth of knowledge and the development of analytical skills. Familiarity with fundamental theories and practices within the social and natural sciences, enhanced communication skills, and an understanding of the limits and uses of forensic techniques form a base from which the student develops either a plan for entry into a graduate program or a career path. The program emphasizes the historical evolution of investigative techniques and terminology and the use of scientific methods to reconstruct the recent past. The program's primary focus is on investigation, although lab techniques and analyses are incorporated into the course work. The program is appropriate for those planning a career as investigators, as well as, current practitioners. Students also have the flexibility to select specific courses to prepare them for future work in a forensic laboratory or graduate school admission. The curriculum combines class instruction, hands-on laboratory and practical field applications. Among the program's notable features are a course in research methods, a senior thesis, and a capstone practicum internship that places the student in a supervised setting for professional competence development.
While WVU Institute of Technology is a division of West Virginia University, WVU Tech offers some programs that are separate and distinct from WVU main campus in Morgantown. The WVU main campus offers a B.S. program in Forensic and Investigative Science (FIS). The WVU Tech campus offers a B.S. program in Forensic Investigation (FRNX). These are separate and distinct programs. The WVU-Morgantown FIS program's accreditation is through the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) does not encompass the WVU Tech FRNX program. WVU Tech courses labeled FRNX will not transfer into the WVU-Morgantown FIS program.
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.
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations | ||
| F1 - Composition & Rhetoric | 3-6 | |
| Introduction to Composition and Rhetoric and Composition, Rhetoric, and Research | ||
or ENGL 103 | Accelerated Academic Writing | |
| F2A/F2B - Science & Technology | 4-6 | |
| F3 - Math & Quantitative Reasoning | 3-4 | |
| F4 - Society & Connections | 3 | |
| F5 - Human Inquiry & the Past | 3 | |
| F6 - The Arts & Creativity | 3 | |
| F7 - Global Studies & Diversity | 3 | |
| F8 - Focus (may be satisfied by completion of a minor, double major, or dual degree) | 9 | |
| Total Hours | 31-37 | |
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.
Curriculum Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| University Requirements | 16 | |
| Program Requirements | 40 | |
| Forensic Investigation Major Requirements | 64 | |
| Total Hours | 120 | |
University Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| General Education Foundations (GEF) 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8 (31-37 Credits) | ||
| Outstanding GEF Requirements 1, 5, 6, and 7 | 15 | |
| WVUE 191 | First Year Seminar | 1 |
| Total Hours | 16 | |
Program Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| WRIT 305 | Technical Writing | 3 |
| MATH 126 | College Algebra (or higher, GEF 3) | 3 |
| ECON 225 | Elementary Business and Economics Statistics (GEF 8) | 3 |
| or STAT 211 | Elementary Statistical Inference | |
| Select one of the following groups (GEF 2): | 4 | |
| Survey of General, Organic, and Biological Chemistry 1 and Survey of Chemistry 1 Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 1 Laboratory | ||
| Select one of the following groups: | 4 | |
| Survey of General Organic Biological Chemistry 2 and Survey of Chemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 and Fundamentals of Chemistry 2 Laboratory | ||
| PHSC 101 | Introductory Physical Science 1 (or higher, GEF 8) | 4 |
| or PHYS 111 & 111L | General Physics 1 and General Physics 1 Laboratory | |
| CS 101 | Intro to Computer Applications | 4 |
| POLS 102 | Introduction to American Government | 3 |
| or POLS 220 | State and Local Government | |
| POLS 313 | American Constitutional Law | 3 |
| PSYC 101 | Introduction to Psychology (GEF 8) | 3 |
| SOC 101 | Introduction to Sociology (GEF 4) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3 | |
| Research Methods and Analysis 1 | ||
| Research Methods and Analysis 2 | ||
| Social Research Methods | ||
| Total Hours | 40 | |
Forensic Investigation Major Requirements
| Code | Title | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| An overall GPA of 2.0 across all courses applied to the major. | ||
| CJ 101 | Introduction to Criminal Justice (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| CJ 202 | Principles of Criminal Law (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| CJ 320 | Courts and Judicial Systems (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 101 | Introduction to Forensic Investigation (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 210 | Fingerprint Evidence Analysis (minimum grade of C) | 4 |
| FRNX 301 | Investigative Photography (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 310 | Firearms and Tool Marks (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 311 | Trace and Blood Spatter (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 315 | Interviewing Theory (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 316 | Death Investigation (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 318 | Crime Scenes (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 484 | Senior Seminar in Forensic Investigation (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| FRNX 496 | Senior Thesis (minimum grade of C) | 3 |
| HUMS 489 | Practicum Capstone Internship (minimum grade of C-) | 6 |
| Minor or Restricted Electives ** | 18 | |
| Fraud Examination | ||
| Advanced Fraud Investigation & Analysis | ||
| Terrorism and National Security | ||
| Effective Public Speaking | ||
FRNX, CJ, CRIM, POLS, BIOL, CHEM, PHYS, PHSC course or MATH greater than 126 (must be approved by an advisor and must not be fulfilling a major requirement) | ||
| Practicum Capstone Internship (Practicum Capstone Internship (may include up to 6 additional hours with advisor approval)) | ||
| Total Hours | 64 | |
- *
Elective Courses with sufficient credits to meet the 120 hour minimum may be required.
- **
Students must complete either a minor for 15 credit hours plus three hours of restricted electives, or 18 credit hours of restricted electives with a required six credit hours at the 300- or 400-level.
Suggested Plan of Study
| First Year | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| ENGL 101 (GEF 1) | 3 | ENGL 102 (GEF 1) | 3 |
| MATH 126 (or higher; GEF 3) | 3 | Select one of the following groups: | 4 |
| Select one of the following groups (GEF 2): | 4 | ||
| CS 101 | 4 | ||
| CJ 101 | 3 | SOC 101 (GEF 4) | 3 |
| FRNX 101 | 3 | GEF 5 | 3 |
| WVUE 191 | 1 | ||
| 17 | 17 | ||
| Second Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| WRIT 305 | 3 | ECON 225 or STAT 211 (GEF 8) | 3 |
| PHSC 101 (GEF 8) | 4 | POLS 102 or 220 | 3 |
| PSYC 101 (GEF 8) | 3 | GEF 6 | 3 |
| CJ 202 | 3 | GEF 7 | 3 |
| FRNX 210 | 4 | Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 |
| 17 | 15 | ||
| Third Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| FRNX 311 | 3 | CJ 320 | 3 |
| FRNX 315 | 3 | FRNX 301 | 3 |
| POLS 313 | 3 | FRNX 310 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 | FRNX 316 | 3 |
| Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 | FRNX 318 | 3 |
| 15 | 15 | ||
| Fourth Year | |||
| Fall | Hours | Spring | Hours |
| SOC 311, PSYC 203, or PSYC 204 | 3 | FRNX 496 | 3 |
| FRNX 484 | 3 | HUMS 489 | 6 |
| Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 | Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 |
| Restricted Elective or Minor | 3 | Elective (if needed) | |
| 12 | 12 | ||
| Total credit hours: 120 | |||
Major Learning Outcomes
Forensic Investigation
This program has the following specific outcomes:
- The student will be able to demonstrate knowledge of the language, history, and traditions of the forensic discipline and the investigative professions.
- The student will be able to use critical thinking and problem solving in an investigative situation.
- The student will be able to effectively communicate in interviewing, investigative, and legal settings.
- Students will have an appreciation of the ethical, legal, and regulatory issues impacting the decision making process.
- Students will be able to apply the technical skills necessary to conduct investigative work.