Saint Mary's

Forensic Sciences (FRSC)

Forensic Sciences refers to the application of scientific disciplines for the purposes of legal investigations, either criminal or civil in nature. With this broad definition, forensic scientists can be trained in many different fields, including biology, anthropolgy, chemistry, genetics, toxicology, psychology, etc. In Canada, 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.

The Certificate in Forensic Sciences is a recognition of the successful completion of a set of requirements, designed to expose students to selected facets of the application of science to the law. Progressing through the program as a cohort group, students learn directly from both research faculty and external field experts, to develop their awareness of the science underpinning physical evidence investigation. The Certificate program is an added distinction to the Bachelor degree with Major (or Honours), which is completed concurrently with the fulfillment of the requirements for the student’s chosen major. It is not a stand-alone program.

The Certificate builds on a required first-year science foundation, and is comprised of an eighteen (18) credit-hour core in fundamental forensic sciences breadth, and an additional six (6) credit hours of selected program electives aligning with the student’s particular major, and with their future goals in related practice or continued study.

Program Goals

The Certificate is intended to provide motivated undergraduate students focused opportunities to explore their expressed interest in the application of scientific concepts, methods of analysis, and critical evaluation, to forensic matters. The goal is to add special interest, applied study to a core discipline major in a way that can help to prepare students for post-graduate education in desired related fields. Critical thinking practice is at the core of the program with an inherent focus on the development of such intellectually disciplined processes of applying, analyzing, and evaluating information, results, and conclusions.

Admission to the Certificate in Forensic Sciences 

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 February of each year). Directions and deadlines for applicaions  are available online on the Forensic Sciences webpage. Interested students should commence their inquiry about the Certificate Program with a Science Advisor as soon as possible so that they are best prepared for admission.

Applicants must be current Saint Mary's students with a declared major (or clearly-stated intended major, if admission to the particular major is not yet allowable). Applicants must have completed at least thirty (30) credit hours by the end of the winter semester in the year in which they are applying, with a minimum CGPA of 3.00, including the following admission pre-requisite courses:

• BIOL 1201 Molecular and Cell Biology
• BIOL 1202 Organismal and Ecological Biology
• CHEM 1210 General Chemistry I
• CHEM 1211/1212/1213 General Chemistry II