Forensic Science and Investigation Pathway
Digging for Answers.
The Forensic Science & Investigation Pathway offers an interdisciplinary program of study for students interested in applying science, social context, and rules of criminal procedure to the seizure and analysis of physical evidence.
Pathway Information
As Interdisciplinary Studies majors, students in this pathway learn theories and methods enabling them to address forensic questions by integrating insights, methods, and techniques from multiple relevant disciplines, including Anthropology, Biology, and Chemistry, as well as Criminology.
If you have any questions, please contact the Director of the Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Andy Walter, (awalter@westga.edu).
IDS MAJORS
All IDS majors complete an XIDS course sequence through which they learn interdisciplinary concepts and method, culminating with a capstone project that reflects their intellectual and career interests:
Required Foundation Courses
- ANTH 1105 - Introduction to Physical Anthropology
- CRIM 1100 - Introduction to Criminal Justice
- XIDS 2000 - Introduction to Interdisciplinary Studies
- Principles of Biology
- BIOL 1107/BIOL 1107L and BIOL 1108/BIOL 1108L, OR
- BIOL 2107/BIOL 2107L and BIOL 2108/BIOL 2108L
- Principles of Chemistry II
- CHEM 1211/CHEM 1211L
- CHEM 1212/CHEM 1212L*
Required Upper Level Area Courses
- ANTH 4125 - Forensic Anthropology
- CHEM 3130 - Modern Forensic Science
- XIDS 3000 - Interdisciplinary Methods
- XIDS 4000 - Interdisciplinary Capstone
Student Selected Upper Level Area Courses
Students will choose two of the four disciplines as their main subjects. From these two disciplines, they must take a minimum of 9 credit hours each. From the remaining two disciplines, they must take at least one course each. Total minimum credit hours:
Anthropology
- ANTH 3110 - Human Osteology
- ANTH 3250 - Pig Dig Crime Scene: Methods in Forensic Archaeology and Biological Anthropology
- ANTH 4122 - Skeletal Indicators of Health and Behavior
- ANTH 4135 - Genes and Genomania
- NOTE: ANTH 4125 hours also count here.
Mentors
Criminology
- CRIM 3333 - Victimology
- CRIM 3411 - Criminal Investigations
- CRIM 3705 - Criminal Profiling
- CRIM 3900 - Social Science in the Legal System
- CRIM 4000 - Research Methodology
- CRIM 4230 - Ethics and the Criminal Justice System
Mentor
Biology
- BIOL 3134 - Molecular Cellular Biology
- BIOL 3231 - Comparative Vertebrate Anatomy
- BIOL 3513 - Human Physiology
- BIOL 3621 - Genetics and Medical Genetics
- BIOL 4241 - Entomology
Mentor
Chemistry
- CHEM 3140 - Drugs and Drug Abuse
- CHEM 3310K - Analytical Chemistry**
- NOTE: CHEM 3130 hours also count here.
*MATH 1111 and MATH 1112, OR MATH 1113
**MATH 1111 and MATH 1112, OR MATH 1113 AND MATH 1634
Contact
Contact Us
Dr. Andy Walter
Director, Center of Interdisciplinary Studies
(678) 839-4070
awalter@westga.edu