Help solve crimes — and build a more just society — by using chemistry to analyze evidence. 

Major Roadmap

Explore your options — classes, internships, research and study abroad. Use the Forensic Chemistry Major Guide to find what interests you, discover what you love, and create a major experience that jumpstarts your future. 

Majoring in Forensic Chemistry will give you a solid background in chemistry, forensics and criminal justice that you can apply in careers with police or fire departments, coroner’s offices, the military, the FBI or CIA, bomb squads or private labs. You’ll learn the fundamentals of crime scene investigation and analyze blood and tissue samples to identify DNA or run toxicology screens. Understand how to verify the chemical composition of drugs taken as evidence and how to detect chemicals associated with explosives or toxic substances.

At St. Edward’s, you’ll learn how to conduct research by joining a student-faculty research group and applying your knowledge in the labs of the John Brooks Williams Natural Sciences Center. Graduate ready to use chemistry to uncover the truth and keep the public safe.

What do our graduates do?

Forensic Chemistry majors go on to a variety of careers and graduate schools from St. Edward’s. Here’s a sample.

  • Forensic scientist at the Texas Department of Public Safety
  • Gas and chemical project manager at Freescale Semiconductors
  • Project manager at NXP Semiconductors
  • Master’s student at the University of Albany

54 Alumni Who Inspire

St. Edward’s University counts more than 25,000 alumni around the globe. Some are making their mark in the job they started right after graduation. Others have excelled in multiple careers. Read about how they’re all building on the education they received at St. Edward’s. 

Degree Requirements

Major Requirements: The Bachelor of Science with a major in Forensic Chemistry requires 69 hours of major courses, which include a combination of introductory coursework, developmental chemistry, labs and research methods.

General Education Requirements: In addition to the major program requirements, all students must satisfy the general education requirements. Talk with your success coach and faculty advisor about which courses are right for you.

View and download the full degree plan for our Forensic Chemistry major (PDF).

A few examples of courses students in this major take:             

  • Crime Scene Investigation – Examine, learn, understand and employ the techniques of crime
    scene investigation. The objective is to teach the fundamentals of crime scene investigation.
    Students should be able to assess any crime scene and determine proper procedures
  • Instrumental Analysis – A study of some of the modern instrumental methods including
    atomic and molecular spectroscopy, analytical separations, mass spectrometry, magnetic
    resonance spectrometry, and other salient techniques.
  • Forensic Chemistry – Major facets of forensic analytical chemistry will be covered, including
    drug analysis, forensic toxicology, trace analysis, and arson and DNA typing. The use of
    Bayesian probability in the evaluation of guilt and innocence will also be covered. Real-world
    case studies will be used to illustrate the application of these principles.