Forensic Science
As part of our rigorous interdisciplinary Forensic Science program, which pairs legal courses with a strong scientific background in either Biology or Chemistry, you’ll learn how to examine, analyze and testify about physical evidence, preparing you for a career as a forensic science technician.
Immersive Crime Scenes
Forensic Science students have a unique opportunity to be fully immersed in processing crime scenes through a one-of-a-kind, virtual-reality crime-scene training program designed for undergraduate students. Created by Karla-Sue Marriott, professor and director of Forensic Science at RWU, the VR program lets users process crime scenes and use a blood spatter simulator to calculate bloodstain patterns. Students gain valuable experience by using virtual tools including evidence markers and items to collect blood and fingerprints to help solve crimes.
Success By The Numbers
Real-World Experience
SJS students have guaranteed opportunities for internships or co-op experiences at various agencies.
Placement of 2022 Grads
Our 2022 SJS graduates found success in employment or in graduate school within 6 months of graduation.
Average Starting Salary
of our 2022 graduates.
Degree Requirements
Customize Your Studies
Choose Your Track
The interdisciplinary Forensic Science program works closely with RWU’s School of Social and Natural Sciences and gives students a strong background in both science and criminal justice. Within the RWU program, you can choose between a Biology-focused track or a Chemistry-focused track. All students, regardless of the track they choose, take Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Forensic Science lab courses as well as Criminal Justice courses.
- Students who enter the Biology track have an interest in doing more crime scene and data collection. They will be prepared for careers as DNA analysts or fingerprint examiners. They inspect evidence like saliva, blood, and bodily fluids and work with police to solve crimes.
- The Chemistry track is for students interested in doing more intensive and analytical lab work. They are prepared for careers as a lab analyst or toxicologist. They analyze collected evidence such as weapons, projectiles, and drug samples.
3+3 Accelerated Law Program
Earn your Bachelor’s and Juris Doctor degrees in six years through RWU’s 3+3 Law program. You’ll get a jump start on your J.D. by integrating law courses into your undergraduate studies and completing undergraduate requirements in your first year of law school. Accepted students will take first-year courses in the School of Law along with legal electives to fulfill undergraduate fourth-year requirements. Interested students must indicate their intent to pursue a 3+3 pathway early in their undergraduate studies for curriculum planning and advising.
Learn More About the 3+3 Program
Cutting-Edge Technology
In the Forensics and Networking Security (FANS) lab, students work with cutting-edge technology to learn how to solve issues around hacking and cyberattacks and discover how to acquire, analyze and manage evidence collected from computers or mobile devices.
Learn from Faculty Experts
Karla-Sue Marriott, Ph.D.
Professor & Director of Forensic Science
Karla-Sue Marriott serves as the director of the Forensic Science Program in the School of Justice Studies. Dr. Marriott was recently credited for using virtual reality as a tool to shift the forensic science educational paradigm and raise the training bar to new heights. She brings this expertise to RWU, involving students in cutting-edge virtual reality experiences.
Alumni Share Their Experiences
“The lab work that we do in Forensic Science, especially Biology-related, is really amazing. I’ve been able to gain all these experiences and apply them to job interviews. It’s amazing to look at a job description and know that I’ve done this before and feel confident that I know what I'm doing. I could not have seen college going any better."
Brigid Woods ’22
Toxicology medical laboratory assistant for Quest Diagnostics in Marlboro, Mass.
“There are no better people to learn from than those who are out in the field doing exactly what you want to do. [RWU’s] program has pulled in some really great professors to help get our foot in the door and get students internships and experiences like I’ve had.”
Rebecca Millard '18
Criminalist I at City of Boston Police Department , M.S. in Biomedical Forensic Science from BU School of Medicine
“The research I did in my capstone class and in Crime Scene Investigations was really interesting and helped me get into graduate school. Dr. Marriott has been a great mentor with my research at RWU.”
Kyle Rocha ’22
Master’s Degree Candidate in Chemistry at the University of New Haven
Get a Great Career
Our program prepares you to be competitive in this growing field of Forensic Science. Our recent graduates have found success in their graduate school and job placements.
| Name | Class/Track | Where are they now? |
Caroline Negrin | 2022/Chem | Analytical Chemist at Alpha Analytical |
Kyle Rocha | 2022/Chem | Graduate School for MS in Chemistry, University of New Haven |
Brigid Wood | 2022/Bio | Toxicology medical laboratory assistant at Quest Diagnostics |
Jaylin Bodell | 2023/Chem | Graduate School for MS in Chemistry, University of New Haven |
Emma Morin | 2023/Bio | Graduate School for MS in BiomedicalForensic Science at Boston UniversitySchool of Medicine |
Amela McDonald | 2023/Bio | Histotechnologist at Maine General Medical Center |
Hanna Scheffler | 2023/Bio (double major with Chem) | Molecular Technologist at Labcorp in Westborough, MA |
Sarah Bentz | 2023/Bio | NYPD Criminalist I, Forensic Investigations Division |
Intern with Prestigious Organizations
Our strong industry connections guarantee internships or co-op experiences at a variety of agencies and companies such as the U.S. Marshals Service, R.I. Office of the Attorney General, R.I. State Police, Naval Investigative Service, Mass. State Police Crime Lab, R.I. State Crime Lab, Raytheon Company, Dell SecureWorks, Security Weekly, MediTech, Alpha Analytical: Sediment/Tissue and Petroleum Forensics Extraction Department, Rhode Island State Police Fusion Center, Burlington Mass. Police Department,and FM Global.
Ways to Get Involved
Forensic Science Club
The goal of the Forensic Science Club is to educate on the various sub-disciplines within the Forensic Science community, provide networking opportunities pertaining to both employment and higher education, as well as expand upon transferable skills such as critical thinking and problem solving via crime scene reconstruction and case studies.
True Crime Club
The True Crime Club is a space where true crime followers can join together and share criminal cases and create an environment where ideas can be shared freely.