Forensic Sciences Certificate

Forensic Sciences Graduate Certificate

The forensic sciences graduate certificate program complements a program of study at Iowa State University that leads to any graduate degree in an established academic major. The forensic sciences certificate is also recommended for students who wish to strengthen their interdisciplinary skills. Coursework for the certificate is at the graduate level; however, qualified undergraduates may also enroll by admission to the Graduate College as a certificate student for a minimum of one semester. Completion of the certificate is noted on the student's transcript and via a certificate provided by the Registrar.

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of the graduate certificate in forensic sciences, students will be:

• Educated in a diverse array of topics that contribute to the interdisciplinary field of forensic science.
• Well informed about the needs for research and development in forensic science.
• Able to propose a research project related to forensic science.
• Informed about forensic science as a career choice.
• Aware of the possibility of offering expertise to law enforcement agencies within the community.
• Aware that forensic sciences can be used as an educational tool in post-graduate capacity as a professor/teacher, parent, or community volunteer.

Requirements

• 12 credits of coursework and seminars at Iowa State University with a total GPA of 3.0 or higher.
• Attendance at all events hosted by the NIST Center for Excellence in Statistics and Applications in Forensic Evidence (CSAFE) at Iowa State.
• Attendance at a national or regional scientific meeting devoted to forensic science.
• Completion of the certificate within three contiguous calendar years.

Coursework

• 1 graduate credit seminar course in forensic science: ANTHR 5410 . This seminar will be offered each fall semester. In this seminar, you will report on the off-campus conference you attend, and also on your research.
• 1 graduate credit of independent study: ANTHR 5420 . You will choose a topic in forensics, ask the Director of Certificate Studies (DOCS) for approval, research it in the literature and write a paper on it. You will present this research project to the seminar group.
• At least 10 graduate credits from among the courses listed in the Certificate Electives course list. From this list, you may not choose any courses offered toward your academic major, and you must choose courses from at least two different departments entirely outside of your department or program. No credits may be transferred to ISU from other institutions.

All Certificate candidates are required to take ANTHR 5410 (1 credit) and ANTHR 5420 (1 credit). In addition, choose 10 credits from the following list of Certificate Electives:

AGRON 5020	Chemistry, Physics, and Biology of Soils	3
AGRON 5550	Environmental Soil Mineralogy	3
ANS 5610	Population and Quantitative Genetics for Breeding	4
AGRON 5630	Soil Formation and Landscape Relationships	3
ANTHR 5030	Biological Anthropology and Archaeology	3
ANTHR 5190	Skeletal Biology	3
ANTHR 5240	Forensic Anthropology	3
BMS 5540	General Pharmacology	3
CHEM 5110	Advanced Analytical Chemistry	3
CHEM 5130	Analytical Molecular and Atomic Spectroscopy	3
CHEM 5160	Analytical Separations	3
CHEM 5720	Spectrometric Identification of Organic Compounds	3
CHEM 5770	Mass Spectrometry	3
CPRE 5360	Computer and Network Forensics	3
ENT 6750	Insecticide Toxicology	3
GEN 4090	Molecular Genetics	3
GEN 4620	Evolutionary Genetics	3
GDCB 5110	Advanced Molecular Genetics	3
MATH 5350	Steganography and Digital Image Forensics	3
MSE 5500	Nondestructive Evaluation	4
MSE 5510	Characterization Methods in Materials Science	3
MSE 5520	Scanning and Auger Electron Microscopy	3
SOC 5840	Current Issues in Crime and Justice	3
STAT 5870	Statistical Methods for Research Workers	4
TOX 5460	Clinical and Diagnostic Toxicology	1-3
VMPM 5280	Principles of Epidemiology and Population Health	3
VMPM 5860	Medical Bacteriology	4
VMPM 5420	Introduction to Molecular Biology Techniques