The latest addition to the Greenville College Biology Department's offerings is a new and innovative Forensics track. This exciting course prepares students for careers in law enforcement, with internships sponsored by the state police and, in some case, the FBI. The course itself covers both the theoretical and practical aspects of crime scene investigation. The textbook used is the same employed by the Illinois State police. Materials for the course have also donated from the local police and the FBI.

The curriculum covers topics such as crime scene investigation, collection of evidence, processing of evidence, DNA analysis, drug and narcotic analysis, psychological profiling, arson investigation, and crime scene reconstruction. Additionally, laboratory exercises include fingerprint analysis, hair and fiber analysis, simulated ballistics, and chemical analysis. In addition, lectures are given not only by professors in the College but also by detectives, state police investigators, Special Forces officers, and chaplains in the prison system and the military.

For an experiential component, there is a special laboratory exercise in which the local police set up an actual crime scene and do a walk-through with the students on how the crime scene investigation is conducted by the professionals. A final component is the opportunity for each student to spend 4-8 hours in a ride-along with the local police.

Additional courses will include opportunities to study in specialized areas such as entomology and genetic fingerprinting. Because the track is multi-disciplinary, students are encouraged to take courses in psychology, chemistry, anatomy, plant taxonomy, physics, criminal justice, and ethics.

We are excited about the opportunities that the new Forensics track offers and look forward to the presentation of even more intriguing offerings in the future.