Bachelor of Science in Forensic Science

Forensic Science is one of the high-need subject areas in STEM fields at the national level and, more specifically, in the state of Louisiana. While nationwide, the number of Forensic Science graduates is high, the number is dismal among people of color. Southern University at New Orleans is the only Historically Black College and University to offer a Forensic Science program.

Located in the Department of Natural Sciences, the Forensic Science program is designed to effectively train students to prepare them for advanced degrees and to join the workforce in areas related to Forensic Science, including DNA analysis, drug chemistry, and firearms.

Southern University at New Orleans (SUNO) was founded as a branch unit of Southern University and Agricultural & Mechanical College in Baton Rouge (SUBR) on September 4, 1956.

On September 21, 1959, SUNO opened its doors on a 17-acre site located in historic Pontchartrain Park, a subdivision of primarily African American single-family residents in eastern New Orleans.

Established as an open community of learners, classes began with 158 freshmen, one building, and a motivated faculty of 15. The University offered 10 courses in four academic disciplines: Humanities, Science, Social Science, and Commerce.

Today, SUNO serves as a beacon for those looking for educational advancement in an environment that provides the personal attention students need for success.

Our mission is to be one of America’s premier institutions of higher learning and to graduate students ready to contribute to the city and nation.

Our Mission

Southern University at New Orleans, a public, historically black university, empowers and promotes the upward mobility of diverse populations of traditional and nontraditional students through quality academic programs, teaching, research, and service to achieve excellence in higher education using various teaching and learning modalities.

Our Vision

Southern University at New Orleans is a premier, cutting-edge institution that endeavors to advance the educational standing of students by preparing them to participate in and contribute to a global society and workforce development with the necessary skills, knowledge, and dispositions to improve their life-long learning skills and contributions to society through a TEAM (“Togetherness Empowers All Mechanisms”) approach.

Our Core Values

• Respect We believe and will continue to ensure that all individuals across our campus are respectful of each other in their daily interactions and activities and under all circumstances, and we seek to affirm and reinforce that mutual respect is received.
• Academic Excellence We will ensure that our students are prepared to be effective and productive citizens in the 21st century by offering a challenging and well-rounded curriculum and ensuring learning outcomes.
• Accountability We acknowledge and assume responsibility for our actions and decisions and expect the same from our internal and external stakeholders.
• Integrity We will exhibit integrity through consistency in our values, methods, principles, expectations, and outcomes.
• Transparency As part of our responsibility to our stakeholders, we will ensure that our business and educational practices are open and available for review.
• Service We will continue to provide aid to the local community through service-learning, community service, and faculty engagement to make a positive impact within New Orleans and the state of Louisiana.
• Inclusion and Diversity We will continue to foster inclusions that lead to the diversity of the University community and stakeholders.