Chemistry-Specialized (CHS)

An internship provides the student with an opportunity to work on a project in a laboratory or classroom setting. If this work is completed off-campus the student must work with a qualified supervisor at the site as well as a faculty mentor. Goals and objectives will be planned by the student, faculty mentor, and the off-campus supervisor when applicable. Permission of the Department Chair is required and is contingent on the student finding a faculty mentor.

The biochemistry of biomolecules (proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids) will be discussed. Metabolism and enzyme kinetics will be investigated. Techniques used in forensic biochemistry (body fluid stain identification, DNA extraction, DNA quantitation, PCR, and genotyping) will be investigated. Emphasis will be placed on state-of-the-art technologies and their application to forensic challenges such as degradation, sensitivity, specificity, and variation in sample type. Advanced DNA topics including SNPs, microbial DNA, Y-STRs, mitochondrial DNA, and plant and animal DNA will also be discussed. Laboratory included.

This course will introduce students to the latest techniques in the analysis of drugs. Topics will be presented to include organic reactions and mechanisms, techniques and instrumentation such as microscopy, chromatography, infrared spectroscopy, and ultraviolet spectroscopy, GC-MS and nuclear magnetic spectroscopy and their applications in forensic science. Laboratory included.

Individual study under the direction of a faculty mentor. Topic will be selected based on mutual agreement between the student and the faculty member.