Why study forensic drug analysis at BGSU in Ohio?
- Growing industry demand. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts job opportunities for forensic science technicians will far outpace all other occupations over the next decade.
- FEPAC accreditation. BGSU is one of just two colleges statewide with accreditation from the Forensic Science Education Programs Accreditation Commission (FEPAC) – a designation for exceptional forensic science programs adhering to superior standards for facilities, curriculum, faculty and academic support.
- Center for the Future of Forensic Science (CFFS). The university is proud to offer the highest quality forensics education and support trailblazing forensic research. The CFFS offers unparalleled experiential learning. Our students get hands-on experience in state-of-the art classrooms, with access to all the instrumentation of a fully-functioning crime lab.
- On-site Ohio BCI laboratory. The lab is staffed by professional forensic scientists and law enforcement agents working for the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Investigation – including several BGSU adjunct forensic science professors.
- Learn from the best. Our expert faculty has decades of professional crime laboratory work experience. CFFS faculty have published dozens of peer-reviewed manuscripts and provided 100+ external academic presentations – including Continuing Legal Education conferences for credit through the Ohio Supreme Court.
- Graduate option. BGSU also offers a Master of Science in forensic science for those vying for positions in forensic science leadership, higher education, research and innovation. According to FEPAC, BGSU may have one of the only accredited forensic science academic programs in the country offering an accelerated bachelor’s to master’s pathway.
BGSU is one of just 10 schools with both undergraduate and graduate accredited forensic science degree programs.
Career - what can you do with a forensic drug analysis degree?
As one of the top schools for forensic science in the Midwest, our graduates are sought-after job candidates with proven knowledge and skill. They are fully capable of carrying out proper, ethical and accurate processing of physical evidence.
Forensic drug analysis is a field that combines science with public service. Make a good living with forensic science jobs that leverage your love for chemistry while also making a real difference in people’s lives.
Most professionals with a forensic chemistry degree like this one work in lab settings. But the importance of their work extends far beyond four walls. When outcomes of major criminal and civil cases hang in the balance, forensic drug analysis ensures conclusions are backed by scientific certainty.
Test results can make or break cases in a wide range of investigation types, including overdoses, drug trafficking, DUI, personal injury, product safety testing, workplace drug testing, toxicology in death cases, child custody matters and parole and probation violations.
Forensic drug analysis provides the objective evidence necessary to establish key facts and guide major decisions. These efforts can help to dismantle criminal drug rings, support rehabilitation efforts, bring closure to grieving families and promote public health and safety.
Career paths
- Forensic scientist
- Drug chemist
- Forensic chemist
- Research and development chemist
- Quality control chemist
- Arson and explosives chemist
- Forensic toxicologist
Quick Facts from the Bureau of Labor Statistics
Curriculum
BGSU prides itself on forensic science program coursework that’s robust, well-rounded and highly relevant for employment in modern labs.
Begin with a foundation in biology, human anatomy, organic chemistry and biochemistry. Continue on with courses in physical chemistry, chemical separations, toxicology and methods of chemical isolation and detection. Common chemicals in forensic studies can include accelerants, explosives, poisons, drugs and alcohol. Forensic tasks like identifying unknown powders, hair analysis, toxicology and drugs of abuse are covered in theory and labs.
Expect rigorous chemistry theory and lab study with exposure to the broader unique aspects of professional practice, including evidence collection, sample handling, analysis and reporting, legal and ethical considerations and expert courtroom testimony.
Toward the end of their coursework, forensic science students choose one of three culminating experiences:
- Internship – 200+ hours of hands-on experience in a professional setting
- Research project – laboratory-based projects, theoretical literature-based papers or a combination
- Capstone course – covers biological and/or chemical analysis as applied to law. Students process a mock case from beginning-to-end in their chosen discipline, analyze their results, write a report and testify in a moot court setting.
Honors students can use the research course to meet their honors project requirements. Accelerated graduate students can leverage the research course to plan their master’s thesis project.
Sample courses
- Spectroscopic Methods in Organic Chemistry
- Introduction to Forensic Science
- Pharmacology and Toxicology of Drugs of Abuse
- Physical Chemistry
- Chemical Separations
Summer Forensic Camp for high school students
BGSU’s virtual summer camp lets you experience what it’s like to be a forensic scientist.
- Classroom, lab and field experiences
- Taught by professionals from our cutting-edge forensic science program (They’ve even been featured on the hit show Forensic Files.)
- A virtual tour through a mock crime scene by a forensic scientist
- Home labs such as fingerprinting, evidence collection, blood typing and more.
The forensic science program is in the BGSU College of Arts and Sciences and affiliated with the Center for the Future for Forensic Science at BGSU.
Updated: 11/08/2024 11:35AM