Western Carolina University

Transfer Guide

Western Carolina University
Forensic Science, BS

Transfer Guide for Associate in Science

2024-2025

Concentration(s): Forensic Biology
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 151: College Physics I
OR
PHY 251: General Physics I 		4 University Equivalencies Additional General Education Courses Required Course, General Education
PHY 152: College Physics II
OR
PHY 252: General Physics II 		4 University Equivalencies 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 Biology Concentration 21

The concentration requires a total of 21 hours. 

Students must take the following (15 hours):

  • BIOL 240 - Introduction to Genetics Credits: 4 (BIO 250: Genetics)
  • BIOL 330 - Population Genetics for Forensic Science Credits: 3

OR

  • FS 330 - Population Genetics for Forensic Science Credits: 3
  • BIOL 333 - Cell and Molecular Biology Credits: 4 (BIO 265: Cell Biology)
  • FS 422 - Forensic Biology Credits: 4

OR

  • BIOL 422 - Forensic Biology Credits: 4

AND choose two from the following (6 hours)

  • BIOL 412 - Cellular and Molecular Immunology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 413 - Principles of General Microbiology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 414 - Methods of General Microbiology Credits: 2
  • BIOL 415 - Plant Physiology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 416 - Plant Molecular Biology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 418 - Advanced Techniques in Microscopy Credits: 4
  • BIOL 419 - Cell Biology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 420 - Darwin’s Origin of Species Credits: 3
  • BIOL 421 - Principles of Biotechnology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 424 - Pharmacology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 425 - Flora of the Southern Appalachians Credits: 4
  • BIOL 433 - Ecological Co-Adaptations Credits: 4
  • BIOL 434 - Terrestrial Landscape Ecology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 435 - Aquatic Ecology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 441 - Conservation Biology Credits: 3
  • BIOL 453 - Principles of Systematics Credits: 3
  • BIOL 455 - Vascular Plants Credits: 4
  • BIOL 467 - Biostatistics Credits: 3
  • BIOL 470 - Biology of Arthropods Credits: 4
  • BIOL 471 - Animal Behavior Credits: 4
  • BIOL 472 - Ornithology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 473 - Microbial Ecology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 475 - Animal Development Credits: 4
  • BIOL 476 - Contemporary Fisheries Credits: 4
  • BIOL 477 - Herpetology Credits: 4
  • BIOL 480 - Research in Biology Credits: 1-3, R6
  • BIOL 493 - Studies in Biology Credits: 1-6, R12
  • BIOL 498 - Senior Thesis I Credits: 2
  • BIOL 499 - Senior Thesis II Credits: 1
  • CHEM 450 - Advanced Biochemistry Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 550 - Advanced Biochemistry 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
  • FS 493 - Topics in Forensic Science Credits: 1-4, R9
  • CHEM 464 - Genomics Credits: 3

OR

  • CHEM 564 - Genomics Credits: 3
  • 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
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