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FSC-20001 - Module Specification
School of Chemical and Physical Sciences
Faculty of Natural Sciences

For academic year: 2022/23 Last Updated: 19 January 2023

FSC-20001 - Criminalistic Methods
Coordinator: Georgina Handley Room: LJ0.17B Tel: +44 1782 7 33581
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 5
Credits: 15
Study Hours: 150
School Office: 01782 734921

Programme/Approved Electives for 2022/23

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2022/23

This module covers the scientific principles underpinning core topics in criminalistic science and their application. The key topics included are: blood dynamics and blood spatter analysis; forensic imaging and its applications; the chemical and physical enhancement of forensic marks, prints and impressions such as finger-marks, footwear-marks and impressions, and their interpretation, including techniques specific to the crime scene context; an introduction to forensic photography. In all these areas students will undertake laboratory work aimed at deepening their understanding and developing their practical skills, including in the development of casework experiments.

Aims
This module covers the scientific principles and their applications to the imaging and characterization of a range of materials of forensic interest. It includes the development of forensic laboratory and reporting skills.

Intended Learning Outcomes

describe, explain and critically assess the scientific principles underpinning some key areas of criminalistic science and their application to physical evidence: 1,2,3
critically evaluate experimental data and communicate methodology, results and interpretation effectively by comprehensible and impartial written reports to a specialist audience: 1,2
demonstrate personal skills in recording observations and experimentation in a comprehensive and contemporaneous manner: 1,2,3
communicate effectively to an audience of peers via poster presentation and demonstrate skills in defending their work under oral examination: 2
describe, select and apply a range of established experimental techniques within criminalistic science to effectively investigate physical evidence including examples of setting up casework related experiments: 3

Study hours

Lectures (24 hours)
Laboratory work (30 hours)
Independent learning and assessment completion (96 hours)

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment

1: Laboratory Report weighted 30%
Laboratory Report
A 1500 word laboratory report based on practical work completed during the laboratory sessions to assess data collection, analysis and evaluation

2: Poster Presentation weighted 20%
Group Poster Presentation
A 15-minute group poster presentation to effectively communicate the findings based on completed laboratory work and to demonstrate evaluation skills through questions.

3: Laboratory Assessment weighted 50%
Laboratory based practical assessment
A 3-hour practical assessment to take place within the laboratory setting to demonstrate the application of skills acquired through lecture content and laboratory work and apply this knowledge to case-based scenarios

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 19 January 2023