GMercyU Offers New Forensic Science Minor

Gwynedd Mercy University’s College of Arts, Sciences, and Professional Studies is launching a new Forensic Science minor this fall. Combining science and the law, this fascinating minor takes what’s learned in GMercyU’s Crime Scene House a step further to solve crimes and support fair and accurate legal outcomes.

"The Forensic Science minor is designed for those pursuing careers where the goal is to achieve justice," said Criminal Justice Program Director Patrick McGrain, PhD. "As such, students will be trained to use science to objectively establish the legitimacy of what happened in real-world criminal investigations."

Using scientific principles, methods, and techniques, students will learn to analyze evidence for legal investigations and court proceedings. The 20-credit minor includes two required courses focused on forensic evidence collection, handling, and analysis; each course features a dedicated lab section. Elective courses such as Crime Scene Investigation, Computer Forensics, Genetics, and Forensic Psychology complete the minor, examining specialized topics related to the field of forensic studies.

The minor can put students on a path to highly in-demand careers such as forensic science technicians, a career expected to grow more than four times faster than the average occupation in the U.S. through 2034, per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Advances in technology and DNA analysis contribute to the increased demand.

"A growing number of students have expressed an interest in forensic science,” said Biology Program Director Michelle McEliece, PhD. "We’re so pleased to offer this opportunity for a hands-on experience in the field that meets our students’ interests and job market demands."

Students in any GMercyU undergraduate major can earn the minor. Though best suited for our Criminal Justice, Biology, Computer Information Science, and Psychology programs, the skills developed in the minor – including critical thinking and analytical reasoning – can be applied to many careers.

Interested students should speak with their advisors.

Learn more about the Forensic Science minor here.