FUNDAMENTALS OF FORENSIC SCIENCE FOR SOCIAL SCIENTISTS - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module is intended to introduce students to some basic principles of forensic investigation

Module provider

Sociology

Module Leader

SEARS Patrick (Chst Chm Eng)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

• What is forensic science? Locard’s Principle. The nature of forensic evidence. Forensic science categories. The history of forensic science and its place in modern society. When is forensic science needed?


• Discussion of providers of forensic science, SSU, LGC, DSTL, independent practitioners. Accreditation and registration. Reliability and trustworthiness


• Crime scene investigation. The nature of a crime scene. Zoning and crime scene management. Collection, protection and documenting of evidence


• Trace and contact evidence. Direct and circumstantial evidence. Physical and biological evidence. Class and individual characteristics. Fingerprint evidence. Blood as evidence.


• General examination methods (fibres, blood, biological fluids, firearms, explosives).


• Legal backgrounds. Criminal court system (England and Wales, Scotland). Types of offences. CPS, types of courts. Preparation of statements and presentation of forensic evidence.


• Forensic science on trial: the Preece case, the Guildford 4, the Birmingham 6, the Macguire 7, Judith Ward case, the May enquiry, judicial reform.

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to assess whether students meet the learning outcomes of the module.

Thus, the summative assessment for this module consists of:

• CSI field day write up – approximately 2,000 words


• Examination – 1.5 hours

Module aims

• To introduce organisational and legal aspects of forensic science.
• To engage with applied forensic methods associated with searching and recovery of items of evidence.
• To introduce policies, procedures and protocols associated with accreditation of laboratories and expert witnesses
• To consider the practical limitations of forensic evidence

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

 Lectures, tutorials, and demonstration workshops

 

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: SOC1042

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.