Forensic Chemistry: Program Overview, Universities, Careers & Salaries

Program Overview

Forensic Chemistry is a specialized scientific discipline that applies advanced chemical principles and cutting-edge analytical technologies to the examination of physical evidence within criminal justice contexts. This program equips students with the technical expertise and critical thinking skills necessary to support legal investigations through rigorous scientific analysis.

• Analytical Chemistry: Focuses on methods and techniques used to identify and quantify substances, forming the foundation for accurate evidence interpretation in forensic settings.
• Inorganic Chemistry: Explores the properties and reactions of inorganic compounds, essential for analyzing trace materials like metals, glass, and soil found at crime scenes.
• Organic Chemistry: Investigates carbon-based compounds, crucial for identifying drugs, explosives, and biological materials such as blood or hair.
• Physical Chemistry: Applies principles of physics to chemical systems, supporting the understanding of reaction kinetics, thermodynamics, and material behavior under various conditions.
• Biochemistry: Examines the chemical processes within living organisms, enabling the analysis of biological samples including DNA, proteins, and metabolic byproducts.
• Forensic Toxicology: Concentrates on the detection and identification of drugs, poisons, and other chemicals in biological fluids and tissues to determine cause of death or impairment.
• Instrumental Analysis: Utilizes sophisticated equipment such as mass spectrometers, gas chromatographs, and spectroscopic tools to analyze trace evidence with high precision.
• Crime Scene Processing: Teaches systematic procedures for evidence collection, preservation, and documentation to maintain chain of custody and ensure admissibility in court.
• Criminal Investigation: Provides foundational knowledge of investigative protocols, legal standards, and the role of forensic science within the broader criminal justice system.
• Forensic Laboratory Technology: Covers best practices in lab operations, quality control, instrumentation maintenance, and data management to ensure reliable and reproducible results.
• Applicable Law: Introduces legal frameworks governing evidence handling, expert testimony, and the admissibility of scientific findings in judicial proceedings.