Tri-State University - Science Department

Forensic Science Major

What is forensic science?: The collection and study of trace evidence left at a crime scene.; Television shows such as CSI portray forensic science at work. Crime scene investigators collect even the smallest pieces of evidence, which are then analyzed in a lab. The emergence of these shows proves how far forensic science has come. With technology unknown just a few years ago, forensic science has extraordinary powers to produce evidence that wins court cases. DNA testing is a perfect example. With trace evidence, police and forensic scientists can reopen and prove who committed decades-old crimes.
What careers do forensic science students enter?: a Crime/arson scene investigation; a Scientist; a Lab technician
Why study forensic science at Tri-State University?: "Depending on what career you want, you can mold your coursework around your goals," said Ann Benson, chair of TSU’s Science Department. For example, the FBI hires more graduates with accounting degrees than any other major. "At Tri-State, you could major in forensic science and earn a minor in criminal justice, business, or computer science," Benson said. "The departments can work together here. You don’t get that at a lot of big schools." The TSU Science Department also has state-of-the-art equipment that students get to use, including a comparison microscope, an atomic absorption spectrophotometer, a gas chromatography mass spectrophotometer, and a high-pressure liquid chromatography equipment.
What a current student says: Read what one Tri-State student said about his experiences in the Forensic Science Program.
Program of study: To see a full description of the coursework required for a Forensic Science Major, click here, or go to page 157 of the Tri-State University Catalog. The catalog can also be found on line.
For more information: To learn more about TSU’s Forensic Science program, Prof. Ann Benson, chair of TSU's science department at bensona@tristate.edu or (260) 665-4256.