Why Choose Forensic Investigation at Bethel University?
Forensic Investigation is for students drawn to the investigative side of solving crime, where science, criminal procedure, and human behavior meet at the scene. This degree trains you to document crime scenes, recognize and preserve evidence, and carry a case from the initial report through the courtroom, blending forensic science with criminal investigation and the behavioral sciences.
Where a pure laboratory degree stays at the bench, this major keeps you close to the investigation itself. You study crime scene investigation, forensic entomology, and forensic osteology alongside criminal evidence, deviance, and abnormal psychology, building a well-rounded understanding of both the physical and human dimensions of a case. Supported by anatomy coursework, hands-on labs, and an internship, you graduate ready for investigative and crime-scene careers or further study.
What You'll Learn
In this program, you will learn:
- An understanding of forensic science and the relationship between science and the law
- Crime scene investigation skills, including scene documentation, evidence recognition, and investigative protocols
- A knowledge of criminal investigation across crimes against people, property, and the state
- The ability to process crime scenes and prepare and select evidence for court
- An understanding of forensic entomology and how insects inform investigations and legal proceedings
- A foundation in forensic osteology, including estimating age, sex, ancestry, stature, and trauma from skeletal remains
- A grounding in human anatomy and physiology
- Insight into deviance, abnormal behavior, and the social and psychological dimensions of crime
- The ability to carry an investigation from the initial report through courtroom procedures
Courses You'll Take
These are the main courses that define the major:
FSC 100, Forensic Science
FSC, Forensic Science II: Crime Scene Investigation
FSC, Entomology
FSC, Forensic Osteology
CJS 392, Criminal Investigations
CJS 393, Advanced Criminal Investigations
CJS 410, Criminal Evidence
SOC 414, Sociology of Deviance
PSY 413, Abnormal Psychology
BIO 201, Human Anatomy and Physiology I
BIO 202, Human Anatomy and Physiology II
BIO 460, Internship
