Forensics Program at SMU: An Introduction to the Undergraduate Forensics Certificate program
Written by: Sarah Campbell*
Thumbnail Photo retrieved and edited from: Canva
*This article is a part of a Youtube video “What is the SMU Forensic Science program like?” on The SMU Journal’s Youtube Channel, go check it out for a less formal introduction of the program!
Here at Saint Mary’s, there is a unique undergraduate program open to students interested in the field of forensic science. However, what exactly is forensic science? For most of us to answer this question, we may be stumbling on our words a bit.
Like a good textbook, let's start with a quick definition. Forensic Science is the application of science to the legal system, both in criminal and civil cases. Forensic science is a broad field that deals with how science intertwines with legal issues. Almost all science disciplines have some contribution to the field of forensic science. For example, we can use physics to reconstruct car crashes and calculate the speed of a vehicle at the time of an accident. We can use engineering to give us insight into the reasons why machines or products failed and advise us on how to avoid failure the next time. We can also use knowledge from anthropology to determine the distinctive traits of the skeletal remains.
Forensic science also applies to more than just solving criminal cases. In civil cases, forensic scientists may collect and interpret evidence and provide expert testimony. For example, looking into a case where a company is intentionally polluting the environment (Siegel, 2020), or assessing handwriting analysis (Forensics Access). Criminal and civil cases involving forensic science do much of the same things, just in different branches of the law.
The beauty of forensic science is that it amalgamates science and law, two very different disciplines. Yet like any two things that collide, they have inherently different methods in reaching those goals. For example, law runs on precedents, where past cases dictate future cases. In contrast, science adheres to the idea that scientific findings are constantly evolving and building on each other. However, I find that these challenges make forensic science an even more interesting discipline to study. Now let's look at the disciplines a forensic scientist can take part in.
A wide array of disciplines can practice forensic science, such as, biology, anthropology, toxicology, criminology, medicine, economics, accounting, and my personal favourite, psychology. As you can see, forensic science can be found in places you may never have realized! Are you intrigued? Next, let’s take a look at how you can start towards a career in forensic science, by introducing you to SMU’s Undergraduate Forensic Science Program.
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What is the Forensic Science Certificate program at SMU?
The Undergraduate Certificate in Forensic Science is a program that aims to introduce students to forensic science. It contains a mixture of lectures and labs. Each year, 20 students are admitted, and the program takes two years to complete. The program works as follows: you will major in the field of your choice (e.g., anthropology, psychology, physics) and complete the Forensic Science certificate requirements simultaneously. Note that you cannot major in this forensic science program; a major or honours is required beside the program itself. To complete the program, you must fulfill 24 credit hours (equivalent to 8 courses): half from the required classes, and half from a pool of electives. Thus, when you graduate, you have your regular degree and a certificate in Forensic Science on top.
You can find the specific course requirements and electives from the SMU Forensic Science Program page. The 12 credit hours (4 required courses) are usually taken in the span of 2 years, one course per semester. The other 12 credit hours (4 electives) could be taken anytime, but they are all upper-year courses (2000, 3000, 4000 level courses), so prerequisites may be needed before you can get in. If you are still not sure how your courses may plan out, you can plan a visit with your academic advisor for any degree related works.
As mentioned above, this two years program has both required and elective courses. Classes for the required component are typically lecture style and come with additional lab components, which teach you about conducting experiments. The rest of the electives are the typical lecture style. However, the format of the first year required classes (FRSC 2200 Basic Sciences for Forensics Ⅰ & FRSC 2201 Basic Sciences for Forensics Ⅱ) is a bit different from the usual lectures. What is unique about these two courses -- FRSC 2200 & FRSC 2201 -- is that each lecture is on a different topic within the field of Forensic Science and features guest lectures all year by professionals who are experienced in that field. For example, during this fall 2020 semester in FRSC 2200, one of the guest lectures was given by a medical examiner from the Nova Scotia Medical Examiner Service who came to talk about autopsies. Before the pandemic, students would have also been able to go on a field trip and tour the medical examiner center!
How do you apply?
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Students usually apply for the program in the first or second year of their undergraduate degree and enroll in the following year. Applications are due each year around February (changes yearly). Before discussing the application, note that in order to be accepted, you would need to have 30 credit hours (30/3 = 10 courses) with a minimum CGPA of 3.00, a declared major, and have taken the following 4 prerequisites: Biology 1201, Biology 1202, Chemistry 1210, and Chemistry 1211 (or 1212 or 1213). So, if you are a first-year student interested in the program, make sure you have taken a total of 10 courses by the end of winter or spring term, and amongst those 10 courses, two Bio courses and two Chem courses are needed, and your CGPA needs to be above 3.00. Before applying, you would also need to talk to your academic advisor about declaring your major. For more information, check out the SMU Forensic Science program page.
The full application process is outlined in the How To Apply section of the program. To apply, you would have to submit a ‘Certificate Program Application’ for Forensic Sciences and write a 1-2 pages essay talking about why you want to be in the program. The program admissions wish to ensure that you are committed to the program, that you understand what the program is like, and what you wish to get out of it. You can talk about what made you interested in the field of forensic science or why you are interested in the certificate program. While some students join the program because of their keen interest in the field and their certainty of having it as a career, other students may join the program because of the extensive hands-on laboratory experiences and applied nature of the program..
How would it contribute to your future?
Most jobs in the field of Forensic Science in Nova Scotia require further education after this certificate. This program doesn't allow you to become a Forensic Scientist. The goal of the program is to expose students to the field and hopefully elicit interest in further education. For example, you can join the RCMP, or go to medical school to become a medical examiner, or you can even apply for Saint Mary's Masters in Forensic Psychology! For more information, there is a report on Forensic Science in Canada, which discusses the different career paths in the field. However, understand that this is a program unique to Saint Mary's, which most schools don't offer. It teaches you about the diversity of Forensic Science, and equips you to be scientifically literate. The program will also provide you with a community of 20 potential life-long friends and connections in the Forensic Science field. After all, the university experience is about the knowledge you acquire and the relations you make.
For more information, check out theSMU Forensic Science Program webpage. Also, check out The SMU Journal’s new Youtube Channel and its latest video on the Forensic Science Program!