Forensic and Investigative Sciences (BS - Pre-Law Emphasis) is a major offered by the Department of Entomology. 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 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 law school.  

Forensic and investigative sciences 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.

Forensic science is a critical element of the criminal justice system.  Forensic scientists examine and analyze evidence from crime scenes and elsewhere to develop objective findings that can assist in the investigation and prosecution of perpetrators of crime or absolve an innocent person from suspicion. 

The forensic scientist's skill is to use all the information available to determine facts.  Issues of law and/or fact that may require forensic science expertise range from questions of the validity of a signature on a will, to a claim of products liability, to questions of whether a corporation is complying with environmental laws. The work of the forensic scientist reduces the number of cases entering the overloaded court system by assisting the decision-makers before a case reaches the court. This decision is based on scientific investigation, not circumstantial evidence or the sometimes-unreliable testimony of witnesses.

Many forensic scientists work for universities, police agencies (state, city, and local agencies), federal agencies, and criminal investigation arms of the military forces and their support laboratories. Others work for coroners, medical examiners, hospitals, and district attorney's offices. 

As crime continues to evolve with technology and society, forensic scientists will be challenged to respond by adapting established technologies and, where necessary, developing new ones. These emerging forensic science disciplines will continue to be of vital importance to the courts and to society in general.

https://entomology.tamu.edu/b-s-forensic-investigative-sciences/

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See below the approved list of directed electives.

 AGEC 105, AGEC 315, AGEC 344, AGEC 350, AGEC 429; ECON 202, ECON 323, ECON 420; MGMT 209; PBSI 300-499; POLS 352, POLS 353, POLS 355; RWFM 308, RWFM 436; URPN 361, URPN 401, URPN 450;

 COMM 203, COMM 243, COMM 305, COMM 325, COMM 443; SOCI 300-499;

 ALED 202, ALED 301, ALED 340, ALED 424, ALED 440; FIVS 289, FIVS 421, FIVS 489; GENE 420/BICH 420; HIST 447; PHIL 111, PHIL 307, PHIL 314, PHIL 315, PHIL 334, PHIL 480; RWFM 470; ENTO 200-499.

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This course fulfills a writing requirement. See Requirement for a Baccalaureate Degree section.

The Forensic and Investigative Sciences program requires students to earn a grade of C or better in all courses within the program curriculum.

University Graduation Requirements:

• Foreign Language (two years of the same language in high school OR one year/ two semester sequence in college)
• Writing Intensive courses (two courses designated W in major or one W and one C course in major)
• International and Cultural Diversity courses (three credit hours)
• Cultural Discourse course (three credit hours)