Courses
FIS 50500 Seminar in Forensic Science
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Development of forensic science. Introduction to ethics and quality assurance and control. Laboratory management, use of scientific evidence in criminal justice system. Open only to undergraduate seniors and graduate majors in FIS program. Permission of instructor
FIS 50600 Forensic Microscopy
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Learn techniques in the analysis of forensic microscopic evidence. Topics include property of light, compound microscopy, micrometry, refraction, dispersion, stereomicroscopy, sample preparation, polarizing light microscopy, and instrumental microscopy.
FIS 51100 Forensic Chemistry I
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is designed to introduce students to the methods and instrumentation used in the analysis of controlled substances in the forensic science laboratory. Chromatography and spectroscopy will be discussed in some depth. The remainder of the courses will consist of a series of lectures and laboratory experiences in the analysis of various controlled substances. In lab, you will work in groups of two or three. You are responsible for all lab work even if your partner(s) take primary responsibility for parts of the lab exercise. Prior to each laboratory exercise you will have some preliminary readings and questions to answer and turn in. You will not be permitted to do the experiments until you have turned in the answers to the preliminary questions.
FIS 51200 Forensic Chemistry II
COURSE DESCRIPTION: The course is a continuation of FIS 511 – Forensic Chemistry 1. This is a lecture-lab course that covers what is commonly referred to as forensic chemistry. We will discuss various types of physical evidence that employs primarily chemical methods for analysis. You will also apply your knowledge in the laboratory in cases that simulate those found in forensic science labs. In lab, you will work in groups of two or three. You are responsible for all lab work even if your partner(s) take primary responsibility for parts of the lab exercise. Prior to each laboratory exercise you will have some preliminary readings and questions to answer and turn in. You will not be permitted to do the experiments until you have turned in the answers to the preliminary questions. The lab experiments will be divided into two modules, each one lasting 4 weeks. Each group will rotate through each set of experiments each week.
FIS 51500 Legal Issues in Forensic Science
COURSE DESCRIPTION: In this course we will explore the 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. The forensic sciences refer to a group of subspecialties in science and medicine that can answer questions about legal issues, civil and criminal. They provide their knowledge to apply principles and methods of investigation to give facts and theories beyond those permitted to the lay witness. Forensic scientists include, but are not limited to; pathologists, psychiatrists, odontologists, engineers, anthropologists, toxicologists, molecular biologists, entomologists, and criminalists. Practitioners are finding themselves increasingly in demand in the courtroom as expert witnesses. What they testify to and how their “respective” sciences conform to the “Rules of Evidence” will be discussed. Hence, this course will be of value to a number of disciplines including those who are law trained.
FIS 52100 Forensic Biology 1
COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course will introduce the concepts, theories and principles used in forensic identification of biological evidence. The course will cover the characterization of blood and other body fluids including the determination of whether a stain is blood and if it is human blood. The techniques applied in forensic identification of blood and other body fluids will be covered. Additionally, the blood spatter pattern analysis will be introduced. The analysis of blood spatter patterns will be studied with an emphasis on determining the type of spatter and the direction and angle from which the spatter was made.
FIS 52200 Forensic Biology 2
Course Description: Continuation of FIS 521. Extraction and analysis of DNA evidence by PCR based methods including STR and SNP. Determination of sex. Interpretation of DNA evidence and use of inferential statistics. Quality assurance and control.
FIS 59000 Special Topics
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Lecture or lecture/lab courses offered on topic areas that are not part of the regular M.S. curriculum. These topics may include: firearms and tool marks, questioned documents, forensic pathology, fingerprints, and others. They are electives in the M.S. in Forensic Science Program.
FIS 69500 Seminar
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Weekly seminars presented by FIS faculty, visiting faculty, and FIS graduate students. Required for graduate students admitted into the M.S. in Forensic Science Program