BA/BS in Forensic Science

Trent University's Forensic Science program is a direct-entry professional degree teaching core science in biology, chemistry, and anthropology and integrating it with law and applied investigative practice. Students can take specialized courses such as Crime Scene Investigation, Wildlife DNA Forensics, and Microbial Forensics, and use Trent's Forensic Crime Scene Facility, described as the first purpose-built facility of its kind in Canada, for examinations of real evidence. The program is delivered on the Peterborough campus and does not offer a co-op stream. In third year, students complete a work placement in a subdiscipline of their choice, with options including federal government internships at Border Services, the RCMP, Health Canada, or Food Inspection Services, and many students pursue research placements or an honours thesis working directly with faculty and practitioners, including those at the Natural Resources DNA Profiling and Forensics Centre based on campus. Students in the honours B.Sc. stream can also pursue an accelerated route into Trent's M.Sc. in Environmental and Life Sciences, completing it in as little as 12 to 16 months after graduation. The program suits students aiming for careers in forensic laboratories, law enforcement, environmental forensic science, or related graduate study.