Sample Grad Plan
The Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science major has three specializations to choose from:
*Individual academic plans will vary by student due to: years of high school foreign language completed, math placement, writing placement, and attainment of transfer credits, advanced placement, or college credit plus. Students should meet with their academic advisor and/or faculty mentor to discuss their personal situation and preferences. The sample academic plan is meant to provide a general outline and timing of when students should complete the core forensic science coursework and does not include all course requirements, such as Bowling Green Perspective (BGP) and Multi-Disciplinary Component (MDC) courses.
Please utilize this planning tool in conjunction with your forensic science check sheet and your Degree Audit Report (DAR). It is important to note that the College office utilizes your Degree Audit Report to verify all requirements are met upon graduation.
First Year
**Interchangable Fall & Spring Semesters
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
BIOL 2040 or BIOL 2050 (4) (Must take both, order doesn’t matter) (BIOL 2050 is Prerequisite for BIOL 3500, BIOL 3310, & FSCI 4230) |
BIOL 2040 or BIOL 2050 (4) (Must take both, order doesn’t matter) (BIOL 2050 is Prerequisite for BIOL 3500, BIOL 3310, & FSCI 4230) |
FSCI 1910 (1)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 1770) |
FSCI 1910 (1)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 1770) |
CHEM 1230 & 1240 or CHEM 1350 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 1270/1370) |
CHEM 1270 & 1280 or CHEM 1370 & 1380 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 2010 & CHEM 3410) |
MATH 1310 (5) (Prerequisites or placement required) (Prerequisite for MATH 2470) |
WRIT 1120 (3) (Prerequisites including prior completion or credit in WRIT 1110 or placement required) |
Second Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
PHYS 2010 or 2110 (5) (Prerequisite for PHYS 2020/2120) |
PHYS 2020 or 2120 (5) |
CHEM 3410 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 3440) |
CHEM 3440 (5) (Corequisite for CHEM 3450/60) (Prerequisite for CHEM 3080 or 4450) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 1770 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 3450 or 3460 (1-2) (Corequisite for CHEM 3440) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
BIOL 3500 (4)** (Prerequisite for FSCI 4240 & BIOL 4080) |
CHEM 2010 (3)** |
Third Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) | |
BIOL 3310 (4) (Prerequisite for BIOL 3320) |
BIOL 3320 (4) |
|
FSCI 4230 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4240) |
FSCI 4240 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4990)# |
|
MATH 2470 (3) |
#As a culminating experience, forensic science majors have the choice of completing FSCI 4700 (Research), FSCI 4890 (Internship), or FSCI 4990 (Capstone). FSCI 4700 may be a laboratory or library research project; students will work with their faculty adviser to determine the scope of the project. Honors College students are encouraged to complete FSCI 4700H to receive dual credit for their forensic science culminating experience course and their honors project.
Students completing an honors project are required to take the project planning course (HNRS 4980) the semester before they wish to register for and complete their honors project. Accelerated MSFS students should complete FSCI 4700 as the course will be used as preparation for eventual thesis research. FSCI 4890 is an external internship that students find themselves, usually at a crime laboratory although other options may be allowed at the discretion of the faculty advisor, and is typically completed over the summer. To receive course credit, students doing an external internship must still register for FSCI 4890 even if the internship is not physically being completed at BGSU. The capstone (FSCI 4990) is traditionally offered in the Summer and Spring semesters, although offerings will be determined by projected enrollment. Forensic DNA analysis specialization students take this course with Dr. Oechsle and must complete FSCI 4230, BIOL 3500, and FSCI 4240 prior to registering for FSCI 4990.
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
FSCI 4400 (3) (Accelerated MS students must take FSCI 5400) |
FSCI 4990 (3) (If culminating experience not yet completed) |
BIOL 4080 (3) |
|
CHEM 4450 (3) (May take CHEM 3080 typically offered in Spring) (Accelerated MS students must take CHEM 5450) |
CHEM 3080 (3) (May take CHEM 4450 typically offered in Fall) (Accelerated MS students must take CHEM 5450 typically offered in the Fall) |
First Year
**Interchangable Fall & Spring Semesters
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
FSCI 1910 (1)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 1770) |
FSCI 1910 (1)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 1770) |
CHEM 1230 & 1240 or CHEM 1350 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 1270/1370) |
CHEM 1270 & 1280 or CHEM 1370 & 1380 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 2010 & CHEM 3410) |
MATH 1310 (5) (Prerequisites or placement required) (Prerequisite for MATH 2470) |
WRIT 1120 (3) (Prerequisites including prior completion or credit in WRIT 1110 or placement required) |
Second Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
BIOL 2040 or BIOL 2050 (4) (Must take both, order doesn’t matter) (BIOL 2050 is Prerequisite for BIOL 3310) |
BIOL 2040 or BIOL 2050 (4) (Must take both, order doesn’t matter) (BIOL 2050 is Prerequisite for BIOL 3310) |
CHEM 3410 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 3440) |
CHEM 3440 (5) (Corequisite for CHEM 3450/60) (Prerequisite for CHEM 3080 or 4450) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 1770 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 3450 or 3460 (1-2) (Corequisite for CHEM 3440) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 2010 (3)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 4220) |
CHEM 2010 (3)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 4220) |
Third Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) | |
PHYS 2010 or 2110 (5) (Prerequisite for PHYS 2020/2120) |
PHYS 2020 or 2120 (5) | |
FSCI 4300 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4990)# |
CHEM 3520 (3) (May take CHEM 4050 typically offered in the Fall) |
|
MATH 2470 (3) |
#As a culminating experience, forensic science majors have the choice of completing FSCI 4700 (Research), FSCI 4890 (Internship), or FSCI 4990 (Capstone). FSCI 4700 may be a laboratory or library research project; students will work with their faculty adviser to determine the scope of the project. Honors College students are encouraged to complete FSCI 4700H to receive dual credit for their forensic science culminating experience course and their honors project.
Students completing an honors project are required to take the project planning course (HNRS 4980) the semester before they wish to register for and complete their honors project. Accelerated MSFS students should complete FSCI 4700 as the course will be used as preparation for eventual thesis research. FSCI 4890 is an external internship that students find themselves, usually at a crime laboratory although other options may be allowed at the discretion of the faculty advisor, and is typically completed over the summer. To receive course credit, students doing an external internship must still register for FSCI 4890 even if the internship is not physically being completed at BGSU. The capstone (FSCI 4990) is traditionally offered in the Summer and Spring semesters, although offerings will be determined by projected enrollment. Forensic drug analysis specialization students take this course with Dr. Worst and must complete FSCI 4300 prior to registering for FSCI 4990.
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
FSCI 4400 (3) (Accelerated MS students must take FSCI 5400) |
FSCI 4990 (3) (If culminating experience not yet completed) |
BIOL 3310 (4) (Prerequisite for BIOL 3320) |
BIOL 3320 (4) |
CHEM 4660 (3) |
CHEM 4220 (3) |
CHEM 4450 (3) (May take CHEM 3080 typically offered in Spring) (Accelerated MS students must take CHEM 5450) |
CHEM 3080 (3) (May take CHEM 4450 typically offered in Fall) (Accelerated MS students must take CHEM 5450 typically offered in the Fall) |
CHEM 4050 (3) (May take CHEM 3520 typically offered in Spring) |
First Year
**Interchangable Fall & Spring Semesters
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
BIOL 2040 or BIOL 2050 (4) (Must take both, order doesn’t matter) (BIOL 2050 is Prerequisite for BIOL 3310, & FSCI 4230) |
BIOL 2040 or BIOL 2050 (4) (Must take both, order doesn’t matter) (BIOL 2050 is Prerequisite for BIOL 3310, & FSCI 4230) |
FSCI 1910 (1)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 1770) |
FSCI 1910 (1)** (Prerequisite for CHEM 1770) |
CHEM 1230 & 1240 or CHEM 1350 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 1270/1370) |
CHEM 1270 & 1280 or CHEM 1370 & 1380 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 2010 & CHEM 3410) |
MATH 1310 (5) (Prerequisites or placement required) (Prerequisite for MATH 2470) |
WRIT 1120 (3) (Prerequisites including prior completion or credit in WRIT 1110 or placement required) |
Second Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
PHYS 2010 or 2110 (5) (Prerequisite for PHYS 2020/2120) |
PHYS 2020 or 2120 (5) |
CHEM 3410 (5) (Prerequisite for CHEM 3440) |
CHEM 3440 (5) (Corequisite for CHEM 3450/60) (Prerequisite for CHEM 3080 or 4450) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 1770 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 3450 or 3460 (1-2) (Corequisite for CHEM 3440) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4400) |
CHEM 2010 (3)** |
CHEM 2010 (3)** |
Third Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
FSCI 3110 (3)** (Prerequisite for FSCI 4200) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4990)# |
FSCI 3120 (3)** Prerequisite for FSCI 4990)# |
FSCI 4230 (3) (Prerequisite for FSCI 4240) |
MATH 2470 (3) |
BIOL 3310 (4) (Prerequisite for BIOL 3320) |
BIOL 3320 (4) |
#As a culminating experience, forensic science majors have the choice of completing FSCI 4700 (Research), FSCI 4890 (Internship), or FSCI 4990 (Capstone). FSCI 4700 may be a laboratory or library research project; students will work with their faculty adviser to determine the scope of the project. Honors College students are encouraged to complete FSCI 4700H to receive dual credit for their forensic science culminating experience course and their honors project.
Students completing an honors project are required to take the project planning course (HNRS 4980) the semester before they wish to register for and complete their honors project. Accelerated MSFS students should complete FSCI 4700 as the course will be used as preparation for eventual thesis research. FSCI 4890 is an external internship that students find themselves, usually at a crime laboratory although other options may be allowed at the discretion of the faculty advisor, and is typically completed over the summer. To receive course credit, students doing an external internship must still register for FSCI 4890 even if the internship is not physically being completed at BGSU. The capstone (FSCI 4990) is traditionally offered in the Summer and Spring semesters, although offerings will be determined by projected enrollment. Forensic examination specialization students take this course with Mr. Davison and must complete FSCI 3110, FSCI 3120 prior to registering for FSCI 4990.
Fourth Year
| Fall Semester (credits) | Spring Semester (credits) |
FSCI 4400 (3) (Accelerated MS students must take FSCI 5400) |
FSCI 4990 (3) (If culminating experience not yet completed) |
FSCI 4200 (3) ** |
FSCI 4200 (3) ** |
CHEM 4450 (3) (May take CHEM 3080 typically offered in Spring) (Accelerated MS students must take CHEM 5450) |
CHEM 3080 (3) (May take CHEM 4450 typically offered in Fall) (Accelerated MS students must take CHEM 5450 typically offered in the Fall) |
FSCI 4230 (3) (This course may be taken in Fall of the 3rd or 4th year; however, prospective Accelerated MS students must take FSCI 4230 prior to application) |
Updated: 11/06/2025 02:49PM