Forensic and Investigative Sciences - BS, Pre-Law Emphasis

Forensic and Investigative Sciences (BS - Pre-Law Emphasis) is a major offered by the Department of Entomology and is a growing area of interest for students seeking to gain entry into careers that deal with the collection, preservation, processing and use of evidentiary information to solve problems. A life sciences-based education, which develops skills in problem solving and critical thinking, is essential for career opportunities in this field. Forensic and investigative scientists rely upon state-of-the-art scientific discoveries and technologies as tools to seek answers to critical questions in a variety of settings. Molecular, organismal, environmental, and ecological sources of information are often analyzed and interpreted in industrial, regulatory, legal, medical and associated professions. Graduates will be competitive for employment opportunities in quality assurance laboratories, homeland security and investigative services at local, state and national levels. Graduates will also be well prepared for opportunities to enter post-graduate studies or professional schools including medicine, law, and veterinary medicine.

Interactions among plants, animals and microbes occur regularly. These interactions impact public and environmental health and require life science-based forensic and investigative science to improve the quality of life. Homeland security, criminal investigation, environmental quality, agricultural and public health offer careers for students with forensic and investigative skills. Students can also pursue avenues to forensic careers through degree programs in specialty areas such as chemistry, anthropology, physics, computer science and business.

Forensic and investigative sciences also operate at the crossroads of science and the legal profession, and provide opportunities for students to consider pre-law preparation. There are growing demands for attorneys with knowledge and understanding of science and research to address legal issues and cases where the interpretation of science and/or scientific data and analyses are pivotal. Law schools often seek candidates with diverse backgrounds and interests, and they look closely at curricula that stress analytical and problem-solving skills, critical reading abilities, writing skills, oral communication and listening abilities, general research skills, and task organization and management skills. The Forensic and Investigative Sciences program provides students with opportunities to build these essential skills and knowledge areas through a combination of required and elective courses.

Law Emphasis

This track provides pre‐law students with a solid scientific foundation while also preparing them for success in law school. Ultimately, our goal is to empower students to more effectively practice law in arenas where science will play a critical role in the judicial process. We aim to educate and train Texas A&M students as the next generation of lawyers, judges, and policy makers that are best able to critically evaluate scientific research and apply these concepts to the evaluation of evidence, in order to improve the application of justice for all. Students in this major have successfully completed their Juris Doctor (JD) degrees at top law schools.