SCIE11018 Introduction to Forensic Science

This course has been designed as an introductory level course of general appeal to students not majoring in the biomedical and related sciences. For example, students studying health, social work, nursing, psychology, education or business might consider this elective option offered by flexible delivery in the spring/summer terms. Content includes: the history and development of forensic science; organisational units within crime laboratories and the roles of the various forensic scientist specialities; expert witnesses, how crime scenes are processed and how potential evidence from such scenes are collected and stored; the different types and significance of physical evidence; glass and soil evidence; how organic and inorganic evidence is analysed, use of various types of microscopes in forensic examination; hair; fibres and paint as evidential materials, drugs detection; introduction to forensic toxicology; forensic investigations of arson and explosions; blood and DNA evidence; fingerprinting; firearms and tool marks; forensic science resources on the Internet.