AP0314 - Introduction to Forensic Science

You will learn through lectures and laboratory sessions specifically designed to provide the theory and laboratory skills to develop your understanding of professions within science and the experience and behaviours required. Case studies and recent academic and government publications will supplement your learning, ensuring that your knowledge is situated within 'real world' experiences.

You will be supported through active participation and discussion during lectures and laboratory sessions. These offer a unique opportunity to experience the complexity and decision making within forensic science.

All lecture and practical material will be available on the University's eLearning Portal, supplemented with guidance on further reading relevant to the subject.

Written assessment feedback will also be provided to allow you to understand how you performed and how you can build on this performance in subsequent assessments within your programme.

All modules at Northumbria include a range of reading materials that students are expected to engage with. The reading list for this module can be found at: http://readinglists.northumbria.ac.uk
(Reading List service online guide for academic staff this containing contact details for the Reading List team – http://library.northumbria.ac.uk/readinglists)

Knowledge & Understanding:
1. You will learn to apply the scientific knowledge that you are going to achieve to forensic contexts, to understand how it can be used to address crime investigations.

Intellectual / Professional skills & abilities:
2. You will demonstrate an ability to effectively retrieve and appraise appropriate scientific information from a variety of sources to illustrate an understanding of the disciplines within forensic science.
3. You will show an ability to effectively communicate - interpersonally and to a wider audience - as part of a team

Personal Values Attributes (Global / Cultural awareness, Ethics, Curiosity) (PVA):
4. You will demonstrate an awareness of forensic science and its wider role in society

The assessment will be in two parts:

One part of the assessment (70%) will be an on-line multiple choice questions assessment designed to allow you to demonstrate your knowledge on the full content of the module. MLO’s KU2 and IPSA6.

The other part of the assessment (30%) will be a group presentation (that will be marked individually) that will enable you to work as a part of a team to produce a presentation on a chosen area of forensic science, to demonstrate your knowledge of the topic and to effectively communicate to a non-scientific audience. MLO’s KU1, IPSA2, IPSA 3 and PVA4.

Formative discussion will take place during the lectures and taught laboratory classes, which will direct and support you to complete your coursework. Written feedback will be provided for your assessed pieces of work. Supports MLOs (KU1, IPA 2, IPSA 3 and PVA4).

N/A

AP0306, AP0307, AP0308, AP0309

You will experience the forensic application of science to crime investigation, applying your scientific thinking and practical laboratory skills in a real world context. You will follow a case specific example to illustrate key points along the investigation process.

As part of a group you will also explore how science is communicated to others. Forensic scientists have a high level of scientific understanding that underpins the forensic evidence that they give in a statement or court room. However, the audience - police, jury - aren't expected to have any scientific knowledge or experience but do need to understand how the scientific forensic evidence assists a crime investigation. This requires the forensic scientists to 'translate' complex information and relay it to others at a level that they can confidentially understand it. You will work together with colleagues in small groups to prepare a group presentation, conveying complex scientific information to a non-scientific audience.