Overview
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry, offered by the Department of Chemistry, is an interdisciplinary program designed to prepare students for careers bridging chemistry and forensic science. By combining advanced coursework in analytical chemistry with studies in biology and criminal justice, the program addresses the increasing need for skilled chemists to support local government or independent forensic laboratories.
Campus Location: Main
Program Code: ST-FCHM-BS
Undergraduate Contact Information
Ann Valentine, Chair
Beury Hall, Room 130
215-204-7118
ann.valentine@temple.edu
Vince Voelz, Vice Chair
Beury Hall, Room 240
215-204-1973
vincent.voelz@temple.edu
Steven Fleming, Faculty Advisor (Last names A-C)
Beury Hall, Room 446
215-204-0359
sfleming@temple.edu
Elizabeth Cerkez, Faculty Advisor (Last names D-G)
Beury Hall, Room 222C
215-204-7821
cerkez@temple.edu
Daniele Ramella, Faculty Advisor (Last names H-K)
Beury Hall, Room 126B
215-204-1931
daniele.ramella@temple.edu
Jonathan Smith, Faculty Advisor (Last names L-M)
Beury Hall, Room 213
215-204-2252
jmsmith1@temple.edu
Robert Levis, Faculty Advisor (Last names N-R), Undergraduate Research Coordinator
Beury Hall, Room 244
215-204-5241
robert.levis@temple.edu
Vladi Wilent, Faculty Advisor (Last names S-T)
Beury Hall, Room 344
215-204-7186
vladi.wilent@temple.edu
Graham Dobereiner, Faculty Advisor (Last names U-Z)
Beury Hall, Room 342
215-204-3185
dob@temple.edu
These requirements are for students who matriculated in academic year 2025-2026. Students who matriculated prior to fall 2025 should refer to the Archives to view the requirements for their Bulletin year.
Bachelor of Science Requirements
Summary of Requirements for the Degree
- University Requirements (123 total s.h.)
- Students must complete all University requirements including those listed below.
- All undergraduate students must complete at least two writing-intensive courses for a total of at least six credits at Temple as part of their major. The specific writing-intensive course options for this major are:
Course List Code Title Credit Hours CHEM 2096 Communicating in Chemistry 2 CHEM 3398 Physical Chemistry Laboratory II 2 CHEM 4196 Instrumental Analysis 5 - Students must complete the General Education (GenEd) requirements.
- See the General Education section of the Undergraduate Bulletin for the GenEd curriculum.
- Students who complete CST majors receive a waiver for 2 Science & Technology (GS) and 1 Quantitative Literacy (GQ) GenEd courses.
- Students must satisfy general Temple University residency requirements.
- College Requirements
- A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- A minimum of 45 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above).
- A minimum of 6 of these credits must be upper-level (courses numbered 2000 and above) CLA credits.
- Successful completion or waiver from the second level of a foreign language.
- Complete a one-credit first-year or transfer seminar.
- A minimum of 90 total credits within the College of Science & Technology (CST), the College of Liberal Arts (CLA), and/or the College of Engineering (ENG).
- Major Requirements for Bachelor of Science (70-73 s.h.)
At least 7 courses required for the major must be completed at Temple. At least 5 Chemistry courses must be completed at Temple.Course List Code Title Credit Hours Chemistry Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry I
and General Chemistry Laboratory IHonors General Chemical Science I
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 General Chemistry II
and General Chemistry Laboratory IIHonors General Chemical Science II
and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry I
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IOrganic Chemistry for Majors I
and Organic Majors Laboratory I (F)Organic Chemistry for Honors I
and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F)Select one of the following: 4 Organic Chemistry II
and Organic Chemistry Laboratory IIOrganic Chemistry for Majors II
and Organic Majors Laboratory II (S)Organic Chemistry for Honors II
and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S)CHEM 3102 Data Analysis and Evidence 2 CHEM 3103
& CHEM 3105Analytical Chemistry
and Analytical Chemistry Lab 14 Select one of the following: 3-4 Cooperative Research Undergraduate Research CHEM 4108 Investigative Chemistry (S) 3 CHEM 4196 Instrumental Analysis (WI) 5 CHEM 4401 Biochemistry I 3 One Advanced Chemistry course - select from the following: 2 2-4 Inorganic Chemistry Physical Chemistry Lecture I 3,4 Physical Chemistry Lecture II 1,3,4 Physical Chemistry Laboratory I Physical Chemistry of Biomolecules 3 All other Chemistry courses numbered 4002 and above 3Biology BIOL 1111 Introduction to Organismal Biology 4 or BIOL 1911 Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology Select one of the following: 4 Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes or BIOL 1912Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology or BIOL 2912Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology Criminal Justice CJ 1001 Introduction to Criminal Justice 3 or CJ 1901 Honors Introduction to Criminal Justice CJ 2501 Introduction to Criminal Law 3 Mathematics MATH 1041 Calculus I 4 or MATH 1941 Honors Calculus I MATH 1044 Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences 4 Physics Select one of the following: 4 4 Introduction to General Physics I Elementary Classical Physics I or PHYS 1961Honors Elementary Classical Physics I General Physics I (F) or PHYS 2921Honors General Physics I Select one of the following: 4 4 Introduction to General Physics II Elementary Classical Physics II or PHYS 1962Honors Elementary Classical Physics II General Physics II (S) or PHYS 2922Honors General Physics II Writing Intensive (Additional) Select one of the following: 2 Communicating in Chemistry Physical Chemistry Laboratory II (WI) 1,4 Total Credit Hours 70-73 Course List Code Title Credit Hours (F) - Fall only course (S) - Spring only course - 1
CHEM 3103, CHEM 3105, and CHEM 3302 are prerequisites for CHEM 3398.
- 2
CHEM 4881 and CHEM 4891 will not fulfill an Advanced Chemistry elective for the Forensic Chemistry BS degree.
- 3
CHEM 3301, CHEM 3302, CHEM 3405, and some advanced chemistry courses numbered 4002 and above have additional math prerequisites and co-requisites.
- 4
If interested in taking CHEM 3301, CHEM 3302, or CHEM 3398, you should plan on taking a calculus-based physics sequence (PHYS 1061 or PHYS 1961 or PHYS 2021 or PHYS 2921 and PHYS 1062 or PHYS 1962 or PHYS 2022 or PHYS 2922).
Suggested Academic Plan
All prospective majors should schedule an appointment with one of the departmental advisors (names of current faculty advisors are available in the Overview section) to plan a program of study. The recommended order of courses for the major is listed below; a different order is acceptable as long as the student adheres to prerequisite requirements.
Bachelor of Science in Forensic Chemistry
Suggested Plan for New Students Starting in the 2025-2026 Academic Year
| Year 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Fall | Credit Hours | |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry I and General Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science I and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory I (F) | ||
| MATH 1041 or MATH 1941 | Calculus I or Honors Calculus I | 4 |
| SCTC 1001 | CST First-Year Seminar | 1 |
| ENG 0802 | Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] or Analytical Reading and Writing: ESL [GW] or Honors Analytical Reading and Writing [GW] | 4 |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Spring | ||
| BIOL 1111 or BIOL 1911 | Introduction to Organismal Biology or Honors Introduction to Organismal Biology | 4 |
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| General Chemistry II and General Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| Honors General Chemical Science II and Honors Chemical Science Laboratory II (S) | ||
| MATH 1044 | Introduction to Probability and Statistics for the Life Sciences | 4 |
| IH 0851 or IH 0951 | Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] or Honors Intellectual Heritage I: The Good Life [GY] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Fall | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes or Honors Introduction to Biomolecules, Cells and Genomes | ||
| Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology or Honors Introduction to Cellular and Molecular Biology | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry I and Organic Chemistry Laboratory I | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Majors I and Organic Majors Laboratory I (F) | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Honors I and Organic Honors Laboratory I (F) | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | |
| Introduction to General Physics I | ||
| Elementary Classical Physics I | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics I (F) | ||
| General Physics I (F) | ||
| Honors General Physics I (F) | ||
| IH 0852 or IH 0952 | Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] or Honors Intellectual Heritage II: The Common Good [GZ] | 3 |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| Select one of the following: | 4 | |
| Organic Chemistry II and Organic Chemistry Laboratory II | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Majors II and Organic Majors Laboratory II (S) | ||
| Organic Chemistry for Honors II and Organic Honors Laboratory II (S) | ||
| Select one of the following: 1 | 4 | |
| Introduction to General Physics II | ||
| Elementary Classical Physics II | ||
| Honors Elementary Classical Physics II (S) | ||
| General Physics II (S) | ||
| Honors General Physics II (S) | ||
| CJ 1001 or CJ 1901 | Introduction to Criminal Justice or Honors Introduction to Criminal Justice | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 2 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 3 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 3102 | Data Analysis and Evidence | 2 |
| CHEM 3103 | Analytical Chemistry 2 | 3 |
| CHEM 3105 | Analytical Chemistry Lab 2 | 1 |
| CJ 2501 | Introduction to Criminal Law | 3 |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 4401 | Biochemistry I | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 2 | |
| Communicating in Chemistry [WI] | ||
| Physical Chemistry Laboratory II [WI] 3 | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3-4 | |
| Elective | 4 | |
| Elective | 4-3 | |
| Credit Hours | 16 | |
| Year 4 | ||
| Fall | ||
| CHEM 4196 | Instrumental Analysis [WI] | 5 |
| Advanced Chemistry Course 4 | 2-4 | |
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 2-0 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Spring | ||
| CHEM 4108 | Investigative Chemistry (S) | 3 |
| Select one of the following: | 3-4 | |
| Cooperative Research | ||
| Undergraduate Research | ||
| GenEd Breadth Course | 3 | |
| Elective | 3 | |
| Elective | 3-2 | |
| Credit Hours | 15 | |
| Total Credit Hours | 123 | |
- 1
If interested in taking CHEM 3301, CHEM 3302, or CHEM 3398, you should plan on taking a calculus-based physics sequence (PHYS 1061 or PHYS 1961 or PHYS 2021 or PHYS 2921 and PHYS 1062 or PHYS 1962 or PHYS 2022 or PHYS 2922).
- 2
It is strongly encouraged that CHEM 3103/CHEM 3105 be taken prior to any laboratory courses numbered above CHEM 3105.
- 3
CHEM 3103, CHEM 3105, and CHEM 3302 are prerequisites to CHEM 3398.
- 4
Advanced Chemistry Courses for BS students consist of CHEM 3001, CHEM 3301, CHEM 3302, CHEM 3303, CHEM 3398, CHEM 3405, and all courses in Chemistry having a number of 4002 or above (except CHEM 4881 and CHEM 4891). If the student has successfully completed the appropriate prerequisite course, a graduate course in Chemistry may be included in this category.
| Code | Title | Credit Hours |
|---|---|---|
| (F) - Fall only course | ||
| (S) - Spring only course | ||