Forensic Science and Management – Biology specialization

Forensic Science is an emerging interdisciplinary area of science that includes elements of social science and involves the use of scientific principles to analyze evidence for legal investigations. The Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Forensic Science is distinguished by a strong scientific foundation in biology and chemistry, with allied courses related to forensic aspects of identification, toxicology, psychology and law.

The first year of the program has core courses in each of biology, chemistry, calculus, and physics. This provides students with a basic grounding in fundamental science disciplines, both in order to prepare them for future scientific developments in any area they choose to pursue, and also to allow the flexibility for selecting different scientific specializations in the upper years of study. Forensic Science program specializations include Biology, Chemistry, and Physics, and provide students with opportunities inherent in typical programs in these areas, including post‐degree and graduate studies. In keeping with UOIT’s mission to prepare students for careers, this program also includes development in leadership skills and is accredited by the American Academy of Forensic Sciences (AAFS) – Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC).

The combination Science and Management program will consist of the curriculum from the selected science program and 10 courses in business and management that are taken in Year 5 of the regular program. Graduates will benefit from a complete science education complemented by solid accounting, finance, operations, human resources and marketing skills.

UOIT’s Bachelor of Science and Management (Honours) is available to students in any of the following regular programs:

• Applied and Industrial Mathematics and Management 
• Biological Science and Management – Complementary Studies 
• Biological Science and Management – Environmental Toxicology specialization 
• Biological Science and Management – Life Sciences specialization 
• Biological Science and Management – Pharmaceutical Biotechnology specialization 
• Chemistry and Management – Comprehensive 
• Chemistry and Management – Chemical Biology specialization 
• Chemistry and Management – Pharmaceutical Chemistry specialization 
• Computer Science and Management – Comprehensive 
• Computer Science and Management – Digital Media specialization 
• Forensic Science and Management – Biology specialization 
• Forensic Science and Management – Chemistry specialization 
• Forensic Science – Physics specialization  
• Physics and Management – Comprehensive 
• Physics and Management – Astrophysics specialization 
• Physics and Management – Energy and Environmental Physics specialization 

Students in one of the Faculty of Science co-operative education programs may also complete a Science and Management combination program. The Science and Management plus co-op combination programs will take students six years to complete. Details are available within the co-operative education program pages.

Applications to the Bachelor of Science and Management will be accepted in the winter semester of student’s third year of study. A minimum GPA of 2.3 is required to be eligible to apply to the program. This program may have limited space and applications are considered on a competitive basis.  Successful applicants will be notified by the Registrar’s office by the end of May term of application.

The Science and Management program follows the same program map and degree requirements as the four-year degree program for each option. The program includes the addition of 10 BUSI courses in fifth year. Please note the Business electives are subject to availability of space and not all electives are offered each semester.

Note: This program specialization is limited to students who entered Year 1 in the 2013-2014 academic year or later.

No more than 42 credit hours may be taken at the first-year level.

*Electives and breadth requirements

All students must complete 24 elective credit hours. At least 12 elective credit hours must be in courses offered by the Faculty of Science including 6 credit hours in biology (refer to recommended Biology electives). In order to satisfy breadth requirements 9 elective credit hours must be in courses outside the Faculty of Science. Students must take the remaining 3 elective credit hours in a general elective (offered by the Faculty of Science or outside the Faculty of Science).

**Thesis Project and Senior Science electives

Students in clear academic standing who have completed 90 credit hours of their program and six third-year required FSCI courses may optionally apply to take a two-course sequence consisting of FSCI 4410U – Forensic Science Thesis Project I and FSCI 4420U – Forensic Science Thesis Project II. Students not accepted to take the thesis courses must complete FSCI 4430U – Directed Studies in Forensic Science or FSCI 4460U – Mock Crime Scene Practicum, plus one additional Senior Science elective. A Senior Science elective is defined as any third- or fourth-year series science course not explicitly specified in the program map. FSCI 4430U and FSCI 4460U may be offered in either semester, depending on demand. Opportunities for the Thesis project, Directed Studies, and Mock Crime Scene Practicum are limited; for any of these options, students must apply to the forensic science fourth-year thesis co-ordinator by March 30 in the third year of their program.

Recommended Biology electives:

Progression through the Forensic Science program is restricted. After the spring session of each academic year, students must be in clear academic standing and have successfully completed the full set of required courses, including electives, of the prior academic terms in order to progress into the program’s next academic year. Failure to do so will result in program dismissal. After a period of one full academic year, students who have achieved clear academic standing and have completed all missing courses may reapply to the Forensic Science program. Readmission to the program will be dependent upon program space, resource availability, and the students’ grades.