Forensic chemistry major approved by Faculty Senate
Kari Williams
Issue date: 3/2/10 Section: News
The Faculty Senate approved a forensic chemistry specialization on Feb. 19, according to Chemistry Department Chair Bob Dixon.
Dixon said all of the classes are already offered, but students have not been able to declare forensic chemistry on their transcripts.
Due to an increase in enrollment, Dixon said it will not cost anything to add the specialization.
"We've been able to hire new faculty with this specialization, so we don't need to hire any additional faculty members for the course," Dixon said. "The couple courses that are added have been added over the last few years in biology and in chemistry, so there really [aren't] any new resources necessary for this program."
According to Dixon, the addition of forensic chemistry came partially because of potential students asking if the university had it as a major.
"Other than receiving phone calls from potential students asking if we had a forensics chemistry major or forensics program, those are the ones that really brought it to the department's attention that we should explore formalizing the degree," Dixon said.
Freshman undeclared major Angel Frazier said the specialization sounds interesting.
"[Being a forensic chemist] sounds like a cool job," Frazier said.
The specialization does not change requirements for chemistry majors, according to Dixon. Once students take the general chemistry course and pass, they are then able to declare a major in chemistry.
Paul Brunkow, biology professor and chair of the Implementation Committee on the Faculty Senate, said plans are in the works for a new undergraduate program.
The undergraduate program would be implemented within approximately a two-year period, according to Brunkow.
"[We have a] desire to make general education a little more streamlined," Brunkow said.
Possible changes to general education would include reducing the number of hours necessary for graduation from 124 to 120 and allowing major courses to count toward both general education requirements and one's major, according to Brunkow.
Junior exercise and wellness major Jessica White said changing the program will benefit students, but reducing graduation requirements by four credits will not make that much of a difference.
"The average person changes majors more than once, and I think that making undergraduate classes apply to your major would only benefit students in the long run," White said.
Frazier said allowing courses to count toward both general education and one's major is a good idea.
However, only the proposal has been approved by the Faculty Senate. The implementation plan is still being discussed with the provost's office to see what will be feasible, according to Brunkow.
A possible risk with implementing the new program too soon is that it could slow down student progress rather than speed it up, as the program is intended to do.
Dixon said all of the classes are already offered, but students have not been able to declare forensic chemistry on their transcripts.
Due to an increase in enrollment, Dixon said it will not cost anything to add the specialization.
"We've been able to hire new faculty with this specialization, so we don't need to hire any additional faculty members for the course," Dixon said. "The couple courses that are added have been added over the last few years in biology and in chemistry, so there really [aren't] any new resources necessary for this program."
According to Dixon, the addition of forensic chemistry came partially because of potential students asking if the university had it as a major.
"Other than receiving phone calls from potential students asking if we had a forensics chemistry major or forensics program, those are the ones that really brought it to the department's attention that we should explore formalizing the degree," Dixon said.
Freshman undeclared major Angel Frazier said the specialization sounds interesting.
"[Being a forensic chemist] sounds like a cool job," Frazier said.
The specialization does not change requirements for chemistry majors, according to Dixon. Once students take the general chemistry course and pass, they are then able to declare a major in chemistry.
Paul Brunkow, biology professor and chair of the Implementation Committee on the Faculty Senate, said plans are in the works for a new undergraduate program.
The undergraduate program would be implemented within approximately a two-year period, according to Brunkow.
"[We have a] desire to make general education a little more streamlined," Brunkow said.
Possible changes to general education would include reducing the number of hours necessary for graduation from 124 to 120 and allowing major courses to count toward both general education requirements and one's major, according to Brunkow.
Junior exercise and wellness major Jessica White said changing the program will benefit students, but reducing graduation requirements by four credits will not make that much of a difference.
"The average person changes majors more than once, and I think that making undergraduate classes apply to your major would only benefit students in the long run," White said.
Frazier said allowing courses to count toward both general education and one's major is a good idea.
However, only the proposal has been approved by the Faculty Senate. The implementation plan is still being discussed with the provost's office to see what will be feasible, according to Brunkow.
A possible risk with implementing the new program too soon is that it could slow down student progress rather than speed it up, as the program is intended to do.
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