Forensic & Investigative Science Program
Areas of Emphasis

WVU’s undergraduate program has three tracks or areas of emphasis. All students take the same courses the first two years and then as part of the admissions process, select one track in which to specialize. The curricula are designed specifically to facilitate obtaining a second major such in biology, chemistry, or another area.

How to choose? First, make sure you have a realistic understanding of what a forensic job is and what it entails. It is not like television where characters participate from crime scene through investigation, scientific analysis, and testimony. In reality, these responsibilities are compartmentalized. Crime scene analysts rarely work in the lab while forensic chemists and biologists rarely go to crime scenes. A good place to start your research is at the web site of the American Academy of Forensic Sciences and their sections on forensic careers and forensic jobs. Look over these job listings to get an idea of the real world of forensic science is like.

The next key question is your career goals. Do you want to work in a laboratory or in the field? Are you more inclined to scientific laboratory environments or investigative work? Read the descriptions below to see what fits best and remember that you don’t have to choose until your sophomore year. However, knowing sooner makes it easier to plan your program and obtain the best second major to compliment your program.

Track: Forensic Examiner

Advisor: Dr. Keith Morris
Suggested second majors: Forensic Chemistry, Forensic Biology, Anthropology

What it prepares you for:

This track prepares students for entry level positions as crime scene analysts, latent fingerprint examiners, forensic photographers, evidence technicians, investigators, and law enforcement officers and agents. It also is well suited as a pre-professional program for dental, medical, and law school. Working conditions are more variable than for the other tracks but are typically field and/or office based rather than laboratory based. Crime scene analysts are often part of major crime scene squads that collect and document evidence, but they rarely participate in the scientific examination of the evidence in the laboratory.

Track: Forensic Biology

Advisors: Dr. Cliff Bishop, Dr. David Ray, Dr. Jeff Wells
Suggested second major: BS Biology (see Biology Department web site for more information)

What it prepares you for:

This track prepares students for entry level positions in forensic labs as DNA analysts. It also is well suited as a pre-professional program and as excellent preparation for graduate work in biological disciplines. Forensic DNA work is a laboratory based profession with employment opportunities in local, state, federal, and private laboratories. Forensic biologists typically do not do crime scene work on a routine basis, but may occasionally be called to a scene.

Track: Forensic Chemistry & Toxicology

Advisor: Dr. Suzanne Bell
Suggested second majors: BS Chemistry, BA Chemistry, BA Chemistry/Biochemistry
(see Chemistry Department web site for more information)

What it prepares you for:

This track prepares students for entry level positions in forensic labs as forensic chemists, arson analyst and investigator, forensic toxicologists, and trace evidence examiners. Like the biology track, it too is well-suited as a pre-professional program and as excellent preparation for graduate work in biological disciplines. Forensic chemistry work is a laboratory based profession with employment opportunities in local, state, federal, and private laboratories. Forensic chemists typically do not do crime scene work on a routine basis, but may occasionally be called to a scene.