Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
Forensic Science, BS

Transfer Guide for Associate in Science

2024-2025

Concentration(s): Forensic Chemistry
Delivery Method: On-Campus

Program Admission Notes:

Transfer students should apply to Western Carolina University at applynow.wcu.edu. A minimum 2.2 GPA is required for consideration, however, this does not guarantee admission. We recommend that you aim for an average cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on 12+ hours of college credit for competitiveness with other incoming transfer applicants.

Please note that admission to the institution does not guarantee admission to specific programs, and some programs do require a supplemental application. Check the program website at WCU.edu for supplemental application details and instructions, or reach out to the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at 828.227.7317.

Contact:

Advising Center
transferadvising@wcu.edu

Revised: May, 2024

College Level Foreign Language Requirements:

No foreign language requirement for this program.

Major-Specific Course Recommendations:

Students are encouraged to build the Community College course recommendations below into the associate degree to best prepare for the intended major.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
CHM 151: General Chemistry I 4 CHEM 139: General Chemistry I UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course, General Education
CHM 152: General Chemistry II 4 CHEM 140: General Chemistry II UGETC Natural Sciences Required Course, General Education
MAT 271: Calculus I 4 MATH 153: Calculus I Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
BIO 111: General Biology I 4 BIOL 140: Principles of Biology I Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
PHY 251: General Physics I 4 PHYS 230: General Physics I Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
PHY 252: General Physics II 4 PHYS 231: General Physics II Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
MAT 252: Statistical Methods II 4 MATH 270: Statistical Methods I & MATH 19A: Lower Level Electives Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
CHM 251: Organic Chemistry I 4 CHEM 241: Organic Chemistry I Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
CHM 252: Organic Chemistry II 4 CHEM 242: Organic Chemistry II Elective/Pre-Major Courses Required Course
MAT 171: Precalculus Algebra 4 MATH 130: Precalculus I & MATH 19A: Lower Level Electives UGETC Math Suggested Course, General Education
MAT 172: Precalculus Trigonometry 4 MATH 146: Precalculus II UGETC Math Suggested Course, General Education

Remaining Associate Degree Requirements:

In addition to major-specific course recommendations above, students should work with a community college advisor to select additional community college courses to fulfill the remaining associate degree requirements identified below.

Recommended CC Course Credit
Hours		 University Equivalent Associate Degree
Requirement Fulfilled		 University Requirement Fulfilled
ENG 111: Writing and Inquiry 3 ENGL 101: Writing and Rhetoric English Composition General Education
ENG 112: Writing/Research in the Disc 3 ENGL 202: Writing and Critical Inquiry English Composition General Education
COM 231: Public Speaking 3 COMM 201: Foundations of Communication UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 3 University Equivalencies UGETC Humanities/Fine Arts General Education
Student Choice/No Preference (Approved Course Options) 6 University Equivalencies UGETC Social/Behavioral Sciences General Education
ACA 122: College Transfer Success 1 ELEC 19A: Lower Level Electives Academic Transition Elective

Additional Information From Western Carolina University:

None

Remaining Bachelor’s Degree Requirements at University:

University Course Credit
Hours		 University Course Notes
Additional Forensics and Science Courses 17

Students must take an additional 17 hours of Forensics and Science courses. 

14 hours should be from the following list:

  • CJ 150 - Introduction to Criminal Justice & Criminology Credits: 3 (CJC 111: Intro to Criminal Justice)
  • CJ 323 - Crime Scene Investigations Credits: 3 (CJC 222: Criminalistics)
  • BIOL 361 - Principles of Biochemistry Credits: 3 (CHM 271: Biochemical Principles)

OR

  • CHEM 361 - Principles of Biochemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 475 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1

OR

  • CHEM 575 - Biochemistry Laboratory Credits: 1
  • FS 466 - Physical Methods in Forensic Science Credits: 3
  • FS 495 - Seminar in Forensic Science Credits: 1

Forensic Science students must complete 3 semester hours from the following:

  • CJ 305 - Social Justice and the Law Credits: 3
  • CJ 343 - Criminal Procedure and Judicial Process Credits: 3
  • CJ 370 - Ethics in Criminal Justice Credits: 3
  • FS 110 - Survey in Forensic Science Credits: 3
  • LAW 201 - Individual Rights Credits: 3
  • PAR 230 - Legal, Scientific, & Critical Reasoning Credits: 3
  • PAR 313 - Philosophy of Law Credits: 3
  • PAR 366 - Science, Religion & Knowledge Credits: 3
Forensic Chemistry Concentration 21

The concentration requires a total of 21 hours. 

Students must take the following (15 hours):

  • CHEM 232 - Quantitative Analysis Credits: 4 (CHM 261: Quantitative Analysis or CHM 263: Analytical Chemistry)
  • CHEM 352 - Physical Chemistry: Chemical Thermodynamics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 370 - Instrumental Analysis I Credits: 4
  • FS 465 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4

OR

  • CHEM 465 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4

OR

  • CHEM 565 - Forensic Chemistry Credits: 4

AND choose two from the following (6 hours)

  • CHEM 321 - Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 380 - Research in Chemistry Credits: 1-3, R12
  • CHEM 421 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 521 - Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 435 - Instrumental Analysis II Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 535 - Instrument Analysis II Credits: 3
  • CHEM 440 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 540 - Synthetic Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 441 - Physical Organic Chemistry Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 541 - Physical Organic Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 442 - Introduction to Organic Polymers Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 542 - Introduction to Organic Polymers Credits: 3
  • CHEM 445 - Structural Determination Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 545 - Structural Determination Credits: 3
  • CHEM 450 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 550 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 453 - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 553 - Physical Chemistry: Quantum Chemistry and Spectroscopy Credits: 3
  • CHEM 454 - Computer Interfacing Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 554 - Computer Interfacing Credits: 3
  • CHEM 455 - Chemometrics Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 555 - Chemometrics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 461 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 561 - Environmental Chemistry Credits: 3
  • CHEM 462 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 562 - Molecular Bioinformatics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 463 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 563 - Molecular Biotechnology Credits: 3
  • CHEM 464 - Genomics Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 564 - Genomics Credits: 3
  • CHEM 472 - Organic Syntheses Credits: 1

OR

  • CHEM 572 - Organic Syntheses Credits: 1
  • CHEM 493 - Topics in Chemistry Credits: 1-3, R6

OR

  • CHEM 593 - Topics in Chemistry Credits: 1-3 Lecture, 0-3 lab or seminar
  • FS 380 - Research in Forensic Science Credits: 1-3, R15
  • FS 388 - Internship in Forensic Science Credits: 1-3, R9
  • FS 389 - Cooperative Education in Forensic Science Credits: 3
  • FS 493 - Topics in Forensic Science Credits: 1-4, R9
General Electives 30

To complete 120 hours, students may need to take additional General Electives (the number depends on how many Liberal Studies courses also count toward the major).

Though not required and depending on the desired career path, students may wish to consider some or all of the following electives to aid in their development as a professional forensic scientist and/or to prepare for further professional, post-baccalaureate training.

  • ANTH 251 - Introduction to Forensic Anthropology Credits: 3
  • ANTH 333 - Medicolegal Death Investigation Credits: 3
  • BIOL 291 - Human Anatomy and Physiology I Credits: 4
  • BIOL 292 - Human Anatomy and Physiology II Credits: 4
  • CS 150 - Problem Solving and Programming I Credits: 4
  • CS 151 - Problem Solving and Programming II Credits: 4
  • PSY 375 - Forensic Psychology Credits: 3
  • PSY 470 - Abnormal Psychology Credits: 3