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

Programme/Approved Electives for 2024/25

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2024/25

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.

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