About Our Program
Our FEPAC-accredited BS Forensic Chemistry Degree was created in 1976 by Dr. James Y. Tong, a faculty member in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Ohio University. We are one of the longest-standing programs of it's kind in the country, possibly the oldest, and have a strong core of dedicated and experienced faculty. We typically have 50-80 forensic chemistry majors enrolled in the program at any time and have had more than 300 forensic chemistry graduates in our >30 year history. 

Our graduates work in various crime labs and coroners offices throughout the country. Because our degree is so rigorous, our forensic chemistry graduates have found employment outside of forensic science--such as in private, state and government labs. Example employers include pharmaceutical companies, chemical companies (e.g. paint, polymer, adhesive, specialty chemicals), the EPA, ATF, DEA and FDA. 

If you're a prospective student deciding between natural science majors like chemistry  or biology and a forensic-science degree, we are probably a great fit for you. If you are not strong in the natural sciences (or math) but want to be a CSI, please review the documents in our career information page to learn more about what being a forensic scientist is really like. 

Compare our degree to other programs in the country and see why Ohio University could be the best career choice for you. This list of FAQs should answer most questions you might have about our program. If not, please contact us or schedule a visit.

Thanks for visiting our site,

Dr. Peter B. Harrington, Director BS forensic chemistry program