Bachelor's Degree in Forensic Chemistry

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Degree: Bachelor of Science
Major: Forensic Chemistry
Hours: 120

Bachelor of Science - Forensic Chemistry

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Degree Description

The Lamar University Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry is for you if you want to laboratory analysis to help solve criminal cases. As a forensic chemist, you will use knowledge from chemistry, biology, materials science, genetics and criminal justice to evaluate material evidence related to crime scenes. Police investigations and legal trials often rely upon the work of forensic chemists, and they must often provide expert testimony and explain their findings to a jury.

Why Study Forensic Chemistry at Lamar?

The Bachelor of Science Degree in Forensic Chemistry at Lamar University prepares you to work in government labs for federal, state, local police department, county medical examiner’s office, forensic services lab or a branch of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). There are also private labs that provide forensic services and analysis.

Lamar University's Chemistry and Biochemistry Department has active research programs in several areas including environmental chemistry biochemistry, surface chemistry, computational chemistry, materials science, polymer chemistry, transition metal coordination chemistry, molecular spectroscopy and organic reaction mechanisms. As an undergraduate student, you'll be able to take advantage of these programs to strengthen your education.

Career Paths

You'll receive up to a year of on-the-job training for DNA analysis and as many as three years for firearms analysis. You will likely need to pass a proficiency examination before being able to handle your own cases. Successful forensic scientists stay continually up-to-date on advances in the field. You'll typically work in government labs, but other options exist in academic and scientific research or leadership. (acs.org, "Forensic Chemistry")