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The study and identification of animal cells and tissue with particular emphasis on mammalian tissue. Concurrent registration in BI 454L required.
Prerequisites: BI 203/203L and BI 204/204L.
One three-hour laboratory period per week to accompany BI 454. Covers techniques used in collecting and cultivating organisms, cells, and tissues; and sectioning methods of cytological, histological, and histochemical studies. Several experiments run on an open basis. Concurrent registration in BI 454 required. (lab)
Examines contemporary issues currently faced by the criminal justice system focusing on ability of the criminal justice system to provide services to the community.
Covers concepts of criminal law including elements, parties, liabilities and defenses; constitutional limitations on police power and the administrative process of law enforcement. Students gain practical knowledge of inherent complexities of the American criminal justice system.
Examines pre-trial and trial rights of the criminal defendant and society, including discussions of the law of arrest, search and seizure, confessions, identification procedures, self-incrimination and right to counsel.
Focuses on psychopathology of sexual deviation; developmental theories of sexual abnormality; and legal, social, psychological, and moral problems associated with sexual and character disorders. Examines the role and interaction of police, victim, offender, and rehabilitation. This course helps students understand the integrating concepts of forensic science and prosecutorial law in criminal investigation instruction.
Prerequisites: CJ 151 or CJ 201.
Examines history of drugs, current trends of drug abuse and enforcement techniques. Looks at both source and demand reduction strategies, and role of law enforcement agencies in detection and prosecution of drug offenses. This course helps students understand the integrating concepts of forensic science and prosecutorial law in criminal investigation instruction.
Prerequisites: CJ 151 or CJ 201.
Study of criminal behavior from a psychological perspective, looking at the criminal offender as embedded in and influenced by multiple systems within the psychosocial environment. Reviews contemporary research, theory, and practice concerning the psychology of crime and psychopathy. Focuses on cognitive aspects of criminal offenders, delving into their perceptions, reasoning, beliefs, decision-making and attitudes. Aspects of prevention, intervention and treatment discussed along with topics such as profiling, terrorism, criminology, and forensics. Cross-listed with PSY 705.
Scientific methods applied to the gathering and preservation of criminal evidence.
Scientific examination of various non-biological types of evidence. Examines the underlying theory and relevance of each type of evidence; applies the scientific techniques of examination for each type of evidence; and interpretation of each type of evidence.
Prerequisites: FS 330 or FS 530.
Introduction to techniques of crime scene investigation. Emphasis on search techniques, scene diagramming, photography, proper documentation, recovery and preservation of different categories of evidence. Discusses aspects of chain of custody of materials collected and other problems related to admissibility of evidence. Concurrent registration in FS 540L required.
Prerequisites: FS 330 or FS 530 or consent of instructor.
Two one-and-a-half-hour laboratory periods per week to accompany FS 340. Laboratory and field exercises provide experience in crime scene search and processing, recognition, collection and preservation of different categories of evidence. Covers applications of photography to scene documentation and use of proper personal safety precautions while at crime scene. Concurrent registration in FS 540 required.
Scientific examination of biological evidence. Includes examining scientific basis of many types of biological evidence, applying scientific methods to and interpretation of biological evidence. Concurrent registration in FS 544L is required.
Prerequisites: CBI 203/203L, BI 204/204L,CH 203/203L, CH204/204L or equivalents.
One three-hour laboratory period per week to accompany FS 544. Laboratory work includes topics such as blood analysis and identification, use of chromatographic and electrophoretic techniques, and PCR as applicable to forensic identification. Concurrent registration in FS 544 required. Lab fee required.
Reading and discussion of most recent forensic techniques and applications. One oral presentation by each participant required. May be repeated for credit. Offered annually.
Prerequisite: Enrollment in CFS program.
Examines organization and role of the manager, leadership and communications, problem solving, decision-making and time management. Also includes manager’s function in training, research and development, case prioritization, evaluation, budgeting, planning and laboratory design. Laboratory security and safety stressed. Explores employee concerns including motivation, morale, stress management, discipline, complaints, grievances, hiring, job descriptions, and laboratory protocols. Offered annually.
Prerequisite: Admission to the MSFS program.
Advanced training in methods of detection, collection and analysis of trace evidence. Includes techniques applicable to evidence such as hair, fibers, glass, soils and other trace materials.
Prerequisites: FS 340/340L or FS 540/540L or consent of the instructor.
Laboratory course to accompany FS 625. Provides hands-on experience in techniques of detection, collection and analysis of trace evidence. Concurrent registration in FS 625 required. Lab fee required.
The non-traditional or extraordinary crime may be defined by its scope, number of victims, and/or manner of execution. Such crimes present a series of unique challenges to the investigating team in collecting and preserving significant evidence. This course explores different types of unique evidence encountered and strategies used to process these complex crime scenes. Offered annually.
Prerequisite: Admission to MSFS Program.
Advanced emphasis on recognition and identification of bloodstains, and documentation using photographic and schematic means. Bloodstain interpretation and analyses covered along with techniques in report writing. Covers proper descriptive terminology and protocols. Court displays, demonstrations and testimony complete the course. Concurrent registration in FS 634L required.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MFSF program; FS 340/340L or 540/540L and FS 350/350L, or consent of the instructor.
Practical experience in basic bloodstain pattern analysis. Various types of stains measured to determine angle of impact and type of stain. Students document bloodstain scenes, write descriptive reports, construct demonstrative evidence displays, and present mock court testimony. Concurrent registration in FS 634 required. Lab fee required.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MSFS program; FS 340/340L and FS 350/350L, or consent of the instructor.
Introduction to scientific examination of medicocriminal entomological evidence. Taxonomy of insects and other arthropods of forensic significance; collection and preservation techniques; insect life cycles; and techniques for analyses data to include estimations of time since death, postmortem movement of body, wound assessment, entomotoxicology, DNA and applications to cases of abuse and neglect. Offered annually. Concurrent registration in FS 635L required.
Prerequisites: BI 203, BI 204.
Two one-and-a-half-hour laboratory periods per week to accompany FS 635. Includes practical identifications of insects and other arthropods of forensic significance; decomposition studies; collection and preservation of specimens; and field exercises. Offered annually. Concurrent registration in FS 635 required. Lab fee required.
Introduction to basic firearm and tool mark examination and ballistics. Emphasizes identification of various firearms and ammunition. Examines tool marks and comparison evidence to determine origin. Covers basics of trajectory of bullets and other projectiles in shooting and other related forensic cases. Addresses evidence concerns, controls, ethics, review, reports and courtroom presentation. Offered annually. Concurrent registration in FS 638L required.
Prerequisites: PHY 251/252.
Examines various firearms, ammunition, fired projectiles and cartridge cases to make identifications, and confirm or eliminate projectiles and fired cartridge cases as having originated from a specific firearm. Examines various tool marks to determine origin and examination of exemplars for individualization. Offered annually. Concurrent registration in FS 638 required. Lab fee required.
Prerequisites: PHY 251/252.
Covers methods and techniques for recognition and interpretation of bioenvironmental evidence, as well as search techniques used in detection and recovery of scattered skeletal materials and location of clandestine graves. Topics include postmortem changes during decomposition of humans, types of bioenvironmental evidence at a crime scene of an accidental or unattended death, techniques for collection and preservation of bioenvironmental evidence, methods used to detect and recover scattered surface remains, and detection, proper excavation and recovery of buried remains. Offered annually.
Covers intermediate and advanced fingerprint techniques used in the forensic sciences. Emphasis placed on recognition of latent print evidence. Includes safety and ethical considerations. Discusses conventional recovery methods as well as use of chemical methods, alternate light sources using various light frequencies, filtration and physical recovery methods as well as fingerprint photography. Other topics include demonstrative evidence, report writing, court testimony, proper terminology and peer review. Students must be familiar with SLR format camera. Concurrent registration in FS 642L required.
Prerequisite: Admittance to the MSFS program.
Two one-and-a-half-hour laboratory periods per week, to accompany FS-680. Hands-on assignments using “ink” and latent print materials including powders, chemicals, Alternate Light Sources (ALS), fingerprint magnifiers, comparators, camera equipment and other fingerprint equipment. Students also search for, recover and document latent print evidence and conduct comparisons and write examination reports, construct demonstrative charts and present findings to the class. Concurrent registration in FS 680 required. Lab fee required.
Prerequisite: Admittance to the MSFS program.
This is a continuation of the prerequisite course FS 350; students should be comfortable with general photographic techniques and crime scene photography. Emphasis on technical photography beyond what is usually done by the criminalist or crime scene investigator such as macro photography, photo microscopy, luminescence and fluorescence photography, laser photography, alternate light sources, filtration for bruising and scarring, decomposed body photography to fingerprints, tattoos, scars and marks, bloodstain pattern photography, x-ray, aerial photography and more. Proper presentation and testimony for court will also be covered. Concurrent registration in FS-645L required. Course offered every other year.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MSFS program, completion of FS-350/350L or consent of instructor.
This is a continuation of FS 350L at the graduate level. Hands-on work with various imaging sources and cameras including film and digital. Emphasis on such techniques as filtration, alternate light sources, microscopy, luminescence and fluorescence photography, aerial, underwater, surveillance, special effects and others. Students will be graded on work/research produced. Concurrent registration in FS 645 required. Course offered every other year. Lab fee required.
Prerequisites: Acceptance into the MSFS program, completion of FS-350/350L or 540/540L or consent of instructor.
Reading and discussion of recent forensic techniques and applications. One oral presentation by each participant required. May be repeated for credit. Offered each semester. Concurrent registration in FS 799 required.
Explores a selected topic in depth through individualized research under general direction of a faculty member. Coordinated with the topic for FS 790, Forensic Sciences Graduate Seminar. Concurrent registration in FS 790 required.
