Course Descriptions

FIS-N 100 - Investigating Forensic Science Lecture

Credits:

1

Description:

Fall, Spring, Summer. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods to matters involving the public. Crime scene investigation will be taught so students will have general knowledge on techniques used in the field. Students will also be exposed to basic understanding of common forensic science concepts and learn how analysis of specific types of evidence is analyzed in a forensic science laboratory. Topics will include but are not limited to crime scene, hairs, explosives, fire debris, serology, DNA, illicit drugs, fingerprints, footwear, questioned documents, inks, glass, paints, blood spatter, and soils.

FIS-N 101 - Investigating Forensic Science

Credits:

2

Description:

Fall, Spring, Summer. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods to matters involving the public. One of its principle applications is the scientific analysis of physical evidence generated by criminal activity. During this laboratory course you will learn basic techniques used to analyze forensic evidence. This will start with concepts in evidence documentation and collection. You will then learn concepts used in pattern recognition, forensic chemistry and biology, and trace evidence. There will be hands on activities in all these disciplines. Topics will include but are not limited to crime scene, fibers, hairs, explosives, fire debris, serology, DNA, illicit drugs, fingerprints, footwear, questioned documents, inks, glass, paints, blood spatter, and soils.

FIS-I 205 - Concepts of Forensic Science I

Credits:

3

Description:

Fall, Spring. Forensic science is the application of scientific methods to matters involving the public. One of its principle applications is the scientific analysis of physical evidence generated by criminal activity. During this course students will learn basic concepts in forensic science and criminal justice system and apply the basic concepts towards evidence collection and analysis. Topics will include fingerprints, impression evidence, firearms, questioned documents, pathology, entomology, anthropology, and forensic science and the law and ethics.

FIS-I 206 - Concepts of Forensic Science II

Credits:

3

Description:

Spring, Fall. Continuation of FIS-I 205. Students will learn basic concepts in forensic chemistry and forensic biology and apply the basic concepts towards evidence analysis. Students will learn instrumental procedures and methods used in forensic chemistry and forensic biology to analyze and evaluate evidence. Topics will include microscopy, spectroscopy, chromatography, hairs and fibers, arson and explosions, soils, glass, paints and inks, serology and DNA, blood splatter, illicit drugs and toxicology.

Prerequisite:

FIS-I 205 and either CHEM-C 101 or CHEM-C 105 or FIS-N 101.

FIS-I 300 - Forensic Microscopy Lecture

Credits:

1

Description:

Fall, Spring. 

Prerequisite:

FIS-I 205 and FIS-I 206.

FIS-I 301 - Forensic Microscopy Laboratory

Credits:

2

Description:

Fall, Spring. 

Prerequisite:

FIS-I 205 and FIS-I 206 and CHEM-C 126.

Corequisite:

FIS-I 300.

FIS-I 305 - Professional Issues in Forensic Science

Credits:

3

Description:

Fall, Spring. Students explore ethical principles, codes of conduct, and professional issues confronting forensic scientists. Topics include status and credibility of forensic science, issues in criminal investigations and courtroom proceedings, crime laboratory culture, and whistleblowing. Students analyze real case studies to develop understanding of ethical behavior and challenges in the forensic science.

Prerequisite:

FIS-I 205 and FIS-I 206.

FIS-I 380 - Forensic Science Professional Capstone I

Credits:

1

Description:

This course for Forensic Science majors only is preparation for the next professional step. We will examine skills needed to become a forensic scientist including resume, cover letter, personal statements, interviewing practices, letters of recommendation, references, professional workplace behavior, employer expectations during the interview process, and job searching.

Prerequisite:

FIS majors only.

FIS-I 400 - Forensic Chemistry I

Credits:

3

Description:

Fall. This course will cover the major techniques and instruments used in the analysis of chemical and pattern evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. The techniques of instrumental microscopy, gas, thin layer and liquid chromatography, and UV-visible and infrared spectrophotometry will be studied and used extensively. There will be lecture components for each of the type of instrumental analysis covered in the course.

Prerequisite:

CHEM-C 310, CHEM-C 311, CHEM-C 325, CHEM-C 326, CHEM-C 342, and CHEM-C 344.

FIS-I 401 - Forensic Chemistry I Laboratory

Credits:

1

Description:

Fall. This course will cover the major techniques and instruments used in the analysis of chemical and pattern evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. The techniques of instrumental microscopy, gas, thin layer and liquid chromatography, and UV-visible and infrared spectrophotometry will be studied and used extensively. There will be lab components for each of the type of instrumental analysis covered in the course.

Prerequisite:

CHEM-C 310, CHEM-C 311, CHEM-C 325, CHEM-C 326, CHEM-C 342, CHEM-C 344, or instructor consent. P: or C: FIS-I 400.

FIS-I 410 - Forensic Chemistry II

Credits:

3

Description:

Spring. Continuation of FIS-I 400. This course will cover the major techniques used in the analysis of chemical and trace evidence commonly encountered at crime scenes. This course will be broken down into 2 modules. The overall course will cover techniques used during the analysis of trace and chemical evidence in a forensic laboratory.

Prerequisite:

FIS-I 400 or instructor consent.

FIS-I 411 - Forensic Chemistry Practical Capstone III

Credits:

1

Description:

P: FIS majors only. Spring. This laboratory (taken with the lecture course FIS-I 410) is a continuation FIS-I 401 laboratory course, with additional instruction in advanced instrumentation for the analysis of trace and chemical evidence, and their interpretation. The laboratory course is capped with a mock case that includes report writing and testimony to culminate practical experiences for a forensic scientist with a concentration in forensic chemistry.

FIS-I 415 - Forensic Science and the Law

Credits:

3

Description:

Fall, Spring. Application of various laws and rules of evidence to the forensic sciences and how the admission of evidence derived from forensic sciences can impact the administration of justice in the United States. Topics include preparation for testimony, expert testimony, subpoenas, basic judicial processes, admissibility of scientific evidence.

FIS-I 420 - Forensic Biology

Credits:

3

Description:

Fall. This course is an introduction to the use of biological materials to assign identity to persons associated with a crime. The course will introduce methods for the preliminary detection of biological evidence and introduce the use of DNA. The materials learned will encompass broader topics such as immunology, molecular biology, and genetics.

Prerequisite:

BIOL-K 322, BIOL-K 324.

FIS-I 421 - Forensic Biology Laboratory

Credits:

1

Description:

Fall. This laboratory section includes practical exercises that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories, including but not limited to collection and preservation of biological evidence, presumptive and confirmatory tests, DNA extraction, and PCR amplification.

Prerequisite:

or C: FIS-I 420.

FIS-I 430 - Forensic Genetics

Credits:

3

Description:

Spring. This course is a continuation of FIS-I 420 and will go into more detail about the structure of DNA, the application of molecular biology techniques for the determination of individual identity. The materials learned will encompass broader topics such as immunology, molecular biology, genetics, population genetics and statistics.

Prerequisite:

FIS-I 420 or instructor consent.

FIS-I 431 - Forensic Biology Practical Capstone III

Credits:

1

Description:

P: FIS majors only. Spring. This laboratory section includes practical exercises that reflect common practice in forensic science laboratories. This laboratory is a continuation of FIS 40201.

FIS-I 440 - Population Genetics

Credits:

3

Description:

Spring. This course will serve as an introduction to the principles of population genetics. The course will cover the theory behind population genetics that includes a historical perspective to the current accepted models of population theory; examine the relationships between allele and genotype frequencies, and the fundamentals of molecular evolutionary genetics.

Prerequisite:

BIOL-K 322, BIOL-K 323, STAT-I 301.

FIS-I 450 - Forensic Science Research

Credits:

1-4

Description:

Forensic science or literature research with a report.

Prerequisite:

Requires application and approval of faculty member supervising the research.

FIS-I 480 - Forensic Science Capstone II

Credits:

1

Description:

P: FIS majors only. Fall. This course will serve as a culminating research project surpervised and mentored by FIS faculty and requires a final paper and presentation.