Forensic Science Subjects List 2026: Check Semester-wise Subjects & Syllabus

Introduction to Forensic Science

The history and development of Forensic Science in India are discussed.

Crime and Society

The basics of criminology, crime, and the criminal justice system are discussed.

Criminal Law

The various laws described in the Indian Constitution to combat crime are explained.

Forensic Psychology

This deals with the relation of psychology with various types of crimes.

Forensic Dermatoglyphics

This subject deals with the collection of evidence from the skin, fingerprints, sweat, and other external constituents of the human body.

Technological Methods in Forensic Science

The advanced technologies used in Forensic Science laboratories are covered in this subject.

Criminalistics

The types of crime scenes, classification of evidence, forensic physics, and other related concepts are covered in it.

Forensic Chemistry

It includes the study of explosives and their types, petroleum and its products, and other chemicals used in a crime scene.

Questioned Documents

It deals with the analysis of questioned documents to detect frauds and incompetencies in preliminary and secondary questioned documents.

Forensic Biology

The collection of biological evidence from a crime scene and the associated methods are discussed.

Forensic Ballistics

It deals with the detection of firearms used at a crime scene.

Forensic Toxicology

The detection of poison and other psychotropic substances from crime scenes can be studied in this subject.

Forensic Anthropology

The significance of forensic anthropology, facial reconstruction, and other related concepts are covered.

Forensic Medicine

It deals with death investigations, autopsy, and forensic odontology.

Digital Forensics

It involves the study of various types of computer crimes and applications of computers and their technologies in detecting crime.

Economic Offences

Taxonomy of economic offences and other fundamentals are discussed in this subject.

Forensic Serology

The forensic significance of body fluids are discussed in this subject.

Accident Investigations

The investigation of accident spots and related concepts are explained.

DNA Typing

The importance of DNA typing is covered in it.

Dissertation

The dissertation is conducted on any specific topic in criminology or Forensic Science and includes field work as well.

Semester 1

Core

Introduction to Forensic Science

The basics of Forensic Science are introduced in this subject, along with the history and development of Forensic Science in India.

Semester 1

Core

Crime and Society

The definitions of crime and society and their relationships are covered.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Physics

The concepts of Physics applied in Forensic Science are covered.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Chemistry

It includes the study of compounds and concepts related to Forensic Science.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Botany

The botanical studies that are related to Forensic Science are studied.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Zoology

The study of animals and their hair, body fluids, etc. is included in this subject.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Anthropology

The applications of anthropological concepts in the field of Forensics are introduced.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Computer Science

The computer systems and their role in crime and crime detection are explained.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Economics

The economic factors associated with crime are discussed here.

Semester I to IV

Elective

Psychology

The impact of psychology on a criminal’s mind and its effects are studied in this subject.

Semester 2

Core

Criminal Law

The elements of Criminal Laws and their role in deterring the criminals are covered.

Semester 2

Core

Forensic Psychology

Mental competency assessment, forensic psychology, psychology of evidence, etc. are discussed.

Semester 3

Core

Forensic Dermatoglyphics

The biological aspects of fingerprints, palms, and other impressions are studied in this subject.

Semester 3

Core

Technological Methods in Forensic Science

The subject covers concepts related to microscopy and other advancements related to photography.

Semester 3

Core

Criminalistics

This subject covers the types of crime scenes and crime scene evidence.

Semester 4

Core

Forensic Chemistry

The techniques of finding hidden explosives, analysing contaminants in petroleum products, importance of bomb scene management, etc. are explained.

Semester 4

Core

Questioned Documents

The nature and scope of questioned documents and their comparisons are discussed.

Semester 4

Core

Forensic Biology

The nature and significance of biological evidence along with wildlife forensics and forensic entomology concepts are covered in this subject.

Semester 5

Core

Forensic Ballistics

The history and development of firearms and their significance in studying Forensic Science are elaborated.

Semester 5 & 6

Core

Forensic Toxicology

The basics of Toxicology, methods utilised in Toxicology, etc. are also covered.

Semester 5 & 6

Elective

Digital Forensics

Digital crimes and its elements are discussed in it.

Semester 5 & 6

Elective

Economic Offences

The taxonomy of economic crimes is discussed along with related concepts in this subject.

Semester 5 & 6

Elective

Forensic Serology

The importance of serological evidence and the forensic importance of bloodstain patterns are explained in this subject.

Semester 5 & 6

Elective

Accident Investigations

Motor vehicle accidents and their analysis are included.

Semester 5 & 6

Elective

DNA Forensics

THis subject discusses the basic principles of Forensic DNA typing.

Semester 6

Core

Forensic Anthropology

The importance of facial reconstruction and other concepts of Forensic Anthropology are explained in this subject.

Semester 6

Core

Forensic Medicine

The fundamentals of Forensic Medicine and their scope are described.

Semester 6

Elective

Dissertation

The students have to submit a dissertation on any specific topic related to Forensic Science or Criminology along with supporting statistics and surveys carried out on the field.

Forensic Entomology

• Crime Scene Investigation

• Forensic Importance of Insects

• Advances in Forensic Entomology

The different aspects of evidence collection, crime scene investigation, etc. are included in this specialisation.

Forensic Biology

• Forensic Odontology

• Forensic Ornithology

• Forensic Botany

• Forensic Pathology

• Forensic Microbiology

The fundamentals of biology and related disciplines and their applications in Forensic Science are discussed.

Forensic Psychology

• Psychology of criminal behaviour

• Adult offender treatment

• Juvenile Criminal Justice

• Criminal Risk Assessment

This subject describes how human psychology affects crime and its occurrence.

Forensic Toxicology

• Postmortem Forensic Toxicology

• Human Performance Toxicology

• Medical Toxicology

• Forensic Drug Testing

The detection of poison and other foreign elements in the victim’s body are associated concepts covered in it.

Forensic Botany

• Palynology

• Dendrochronology
  Limnology

The study of the environment and its constituents like wood, leaves, water, etc. and its effects on crime scenes and evidence are discussed.

Forensic Serology

• Forensic Medicine

• Proteomics

• Body Fluid

• Reagent

• DNA

• Saliva

• Finger Dermatoglyphics

The study of fingerprints, sweat, saliva, and other body fluids, and their role in collection of the evidence from a crime scene are covered.

Forensic Ballistics

• Ballistics and Firearm study

• Injuries sustained due to firearm

• Types of ballistics

The study of firearms and ways of investigating the use of firearms are explained in this specialisation.

Forensic Chemistry

• Trace elements found in a crime scene

• Identification of unknown materials found in a crime scene

• Detection of drugs and controlled substances

The study of unknown materials found at the location of a crime scene are discussed in it.

Forensic Science

Physical Evidence in Forensic Science

Henry C

Methods of collection of physical evidence from crime scenes are elaborated in this book.

Introduction to Forensic Science

Forensic Science in India: A vision for the 21st century

R. K. Tiwari and B. K. Nanda

Beginners can get a basic idea of Forensic Science through this book.

Forensic Investigation

An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques

J. J Nordby and S. H. James

Innovative and effective investigative techniques are explained here.

Criminal Law

Law for the Expert Witness

D. A. Bronstein

Some basic methods to collect and preserve witnesses are explained.

Proteomics

Principles of Proteomics

Richard Thyman

The basic principles of proteomics and their applications in Forensic Science are discussed here.

Chemistry

Inorganic Chemistry

Shriver and Atkins

The fundamental principles of inorganic chemistry and their applications in Forensic Science are discussed here.

Biology

Environmental Biology

P.S Verma and V.K Agarwal

How environmental factors affect evidence and crime scenes are explained in this book.

Physical Chemistry

Physical Chemistry

P. Atkins and J.De Paula

The applications of Physical Chemistry and its rules in Forensic Science are elaborated here.

Microbiology

Mycobacteria Protocols

Tanya Parish and Amanda Claire

Study of Mycobacteria and their conclusions are interpreted in this book.

Microbiology

Molecular Diagnostics

George P Patrinos

The basic rules of molecular diagnostics and procedures followed to collect crime evidence are discussed.