Certificate in Forensic Science

An enriching addition to a Bachelor of Science, the Certificate in Forensic Science is designed to expose students to select facets of this unique intersection of complementary disciplines. 

Progressing through the program as a cohort group, students learn directly from both research faculty and external field experts, developing their awareness of the science underpinning physical evidence investigation. 

Critical thinking practice is at the core of the program, with an inherent focus on the development of intellectually disciplined processes of applying, analyzing, and evaluating information, results, and conclusions.

Career Options

Forensic scientists use their skills in many different fields, including biology, chemistry and psychology. Police forces are regularly involved in forensic investigations, but there are others (e.g., medical personnel, dentists, biologists, criminologists and anthropologists) who are interested in, or can benefit from, training in forensic sciences.

Recent Forensic Science students have followed their certificate with these roles:

• Halifax Regional Police Forensic Identification Unit
• Financial Fraud Investigator
• Forensic Technician NSMES
• Forensic Technologist in an RCMP Lab
• Lab Technician (DNA /Health Services)
• Graduate Studies in Forensic Science

How to Apply

Admission to the Certificate in Forensic Sciences is by approval of the Program Coordinator following review of student applications on an annual basis (normally in May of each year).

To be eligible to apply, an applicant must be a current BSc or BA student at Saint Mary’s University with:

• Major declared;
• A minimum CGPA of 3.00.
• At least thirty (30) credit hours completed by the end of the winter semester in the application year, including prerequisites.

To apply, please send the following to forensics@smu.ca:

• Personal Statement (1-2 pages) that
  • describes your motivation and expectations for the Program;
  • indicates your major (or intended major); and
  • gives permission for your transcript to be reviewed
• A completed Change of Degree or Program form

Program Requirements

The Certificate in Forensic Sciences consists of twenty-four credit hours of required and elective courses, plus prerequisites. Students must maintain a minimum GPA of 3.0.

Admission Prerequisites* (15 credit hours total): 

• BIOL 1211 Molecular and Cell Biology
• BIOL 1212 Organismal and Ecological Biology
• BIOL 1213 Applications in Biology
• CHEM 1210 General Chemistry I
• One of: CHEM 1211 General Chemistry II for Physical Sciences OR CHEM 1212 General Chemistry II for Life Science OR (Note MATH pre-reqs for these courses)

Required courses:

• FRSC 2200 Basic Sciences for Forensics I 
• FRSC 2201 Basic Sciences for Forensics II
• FRSC 3310 The Role of Science in Forensics
• FRSC 3350 Forensic Sciences in Practice

Science Electives: Twelve (12) credit hours, with at least six (6) FRSC credit hours in addition to FRSC required courses: 

• FRSC 3007 [BIOL 3007] DNA Typing
• FRSC 3400 Forensic Human Anatomy
• FRSC 4002 [BIOL 4002] Wildlife Forensics
• FRSC 3800-49 Special Topics in Forensic Science
• FRSC 3876 – 99 Directed Studies in Forensic Science
• ANTH 2282 Introduction to Forensic Anthropology
• ANTH 3471 Forensic Skeletal Identification
• ANTH 3472 Forensic Skeletal Analysis
• ANTH 3473 Forensic Facial Anatomy
• BIOL 2307 Genetics
• PSYC 3130 Drugs and Behavior
• PSYC 3710 Psychology and Law
• PSYC 3720 Forensic Psychology
• PSYC 4710 Advanced Psychology and Law
• PSYC 4720 Advanced Forensic Psychology

• Visit the Faculty of Science page to learn more
• Forensic Science Certificate Brochure