Course Catalogs

Forensic Science (FSC)

FSC 200  Selected Topics: Forensic Science  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
FSC 206  Intermediate Forensic Science  (4 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Provides a detailed look at some of the scientific ideas behind crime detection and how they interact with the legal system. Provides a rational basis for scientific analysis and interpretation of forensic evidence. Reinforced through relevant case studies.
Prereq: CHE 113  
FSC 300  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
FSC 306  Advanced Forensic Science  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Selected areas of current interest in forensic science presented. The application of scientific methods and techniques to crime detection and the law.
Prereq: CHE 106 or 109 or 113 or BIO 121  
FSC 332  Intro to Forensic Anthropology  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Introduction to the analysis of human skeletal remains to determine a biological profile of the deceased. Methods used by forensic anthropologists, including osteological, archaeological, and cross-cultural techniques are studied as applied to medicolegal investigations.
FSC 380  International Course  (1-12 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.
Repeatable  
FSC 400  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable  
FSC 434  Anatomy & Physiology for Forensic Medicine  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 634  
Relationships between the structures and functions of the human body. Care of the human body and application to forensic pathology and death investigation. Skin, skeletal system, muscles, nervous system, sensory organs, endocrine system. Additional work for graduate students.
FSC 435  Medicolegal Death Investigation I  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 635  
Medicolegal death investigation which deals with the history, purpose and legal underpinning of death investigations, effectively handling a death scene, and protocols for public safety and scene processing. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: FSC 451 or 651  
FSC 436  Medicolegal Death Investigation II  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 636  
Second course in the sequence dealing with information on medicolegal death investigation and deals with procedures for MDI processing and other topics for conducting scientific medicolegal investigations. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 437  Medicolegal Death Investigation for Emergency Responders  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 637  
Course focuses upon the information needed by emergency responders in dealing with suspicious or unexpected deaths. Topics will include dealing with sudden or unexpected deaths, handling the scene, death investigation laws and other topics. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 440  Special Topics in Advanced Forensics  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 640  
An in-depth study of scientific disciplines engaged in the criminal justice and legal systems by providing a rational basis for interpreting the scientific analysis of forensic evidence through relevant case studies. Additional work required of graduate students.
Repeatable  
FSC 441  Forensic Analysis of Biological Evidence with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 641  
Scientific background, methodology, and theory of body fluid identification techniques criminal investigation. Laboratory with mock evidentiary samples, similar to those examined in criminal cases. Report writing, overlaps with other forensic disciplines. Additional work for graduate students.
FSC 444  Forensic Chemical Analysis  (4 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Cross-listed with CHE 444  
Lecture content, delivered online, and laboratory on analytical methods of forensic chemistry. Underlying theory and direct experience in various chemical tests and spectroscopic methods.
Prereq: (CHE 116 and 117) or (CHE 119 and 139)  
FSC 451  Forensic Pathology  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 651  
Introduction to forensic pathology and medi-colegal investigation of death. Role and jurisdiction of the Medical Examiner, including the autopsy. Specific patterns of injury, types of deaths referred to the Medical Examiner, postmortem decompositional changes, and special topics of interest in death investigation will be discussed. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 452  Forensic Mental Health  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 652  
Role of consultation, research and clinical practice in areas in which psychiatry is applied to legal issues. Covers how mental health and legal systems function together; issues common to forensic psychiatric analyses. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 453  Forensic Toxicology  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 653  
Procedures utilized in forensic toxicology, including specimen types, sample preparation, instrumentation, analytical methods, and interpretation of findings. Knowledge of organic and analytical chemistry is strongly advised. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: CHE 116  
FSC 455  Computational Forensics  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 655  
The investigation of forensic science problems using computational methods, including machine learning and artificial intelligence. Use of Python for automation and artificial intelligence. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 456  Mobile Forensics and Social Networking  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 656  
Examines the use of digital forensic techniques to safely secure, extract and analyze digital evidence from mobile devices and social networks for use in criminal investigations. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 457  Principles of Human Toxicology  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Cross-listed with BIO 457  
Double-numbered with BIO 657, FSC 657  
This course examines key aspects of human toxicology, including dose-response relationships, absorption, distribution, biotransformation, elimination, toxicokinetics, molecular mechanisms of toxicity, pesticides, metals, and toxic responses in specific organ systems. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 461  Firearms and Impression Evidence  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 661  
Forensic analysis of firearm and impression evidence and its presentation through court testimony. Manufacturing methods' impact on identification. Serial number restoration, distance determination, full auto conversions, trace evidence, latent print analysis, laboratory quality assurance. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 462  Forensic Entomology  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 662  
Application and utility of insects as evidence in criminal investigations. Biology and importance of different insect groups in decomposition process. Collection, identification, and processing of insect evidence. Temperature-time relationship in insect growth, its practical use in calculating post-mortem intervals. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 463  Bloodstain Pattern Analysis with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 663  
A lecture and laboratory introduction to the analysis of bloodstain patterns in a forensic context. History, theory, and scientific principles behind the analysis methods are supported by laboratory creation and analysis of various types of bloodstains. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: FSC 306 or FSC 468  
FSC 464  Latent Print Processing with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 664  
Provides practical knowledge of how to search for, develop, document, and preserve latent prints in a mock crime scene and laboratory setting. Utilizes visual, physical, and chemical methods. Additional work required of graduate students.
Repeatable 2 times for 3 credits maximum  
FSC 465  Latent Prints with practicum  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 665  
Biology of friction ridge skin including pattern class recognition. Digital imaging of latent prints, analysis and comparison, evidence processing including individual mock cases near the end of the semester. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 467  Forensic Photography with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 667  
Use of photography in criminal and civil investigations and trials. Changing face of photography and how use of digital cameras has altered rules of evidence and admissibility. Proper use of digital single lens reflex cameras and digital flash. Additional work required of graduate students.
FSC 468  Crime Scene Investigation with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
History and practice of crime scene investigation, including photography, sketches, note-taking, processing and collection of evidence. Includes bloodstain pattern interpretation, collision reconstruction, case studies, mock crime scenes, moot court.
FSC 469  Science of Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Cross-listed with BIO 469  
Double-numbered with FSC 669, BIO 669  
Scientific basis and means for countering WMDs, including biological systems. Protective measures, proven doctrines, practical questions, and problem solving. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: B- or better in both BIO 327 and CHE 275  
FSC 470  Experience Credit  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Participation in a discipline or subject related experience. Student must be evaluated by written or oral reports or an examination. Permission in advance with the consent of the department chairperson, instructor, and dean. Limited to those in good academic standing.
Repeatable  
FSC 472  Advanced Light Microscopy  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Cross-listed with BIO 472  
Double-numbered with BIO 672, FSC 672  
Theory and practice of modern light microscopy, including the fundamentals of image formation and applications in the biological and biomedical sciences, including reviews of microscopy methods and analog and digital image capture. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: BIO 327  
FSC 473  Mechanics of Modern Firearms with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 673  
Provides hands-on understanding of firearms through supervised assembly/disassembly of various firearms. Determination of firearm safety, malfunctions, safety mechanisms, and repairs. Forensic significance of each part, impact of manufacture on forensic identification. Additional work for graduate students.
Prereq: FSC 461  
FSC 474  Forensic DNA Analysis with practicum  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 674  
Explores the present-day state of forensic DNA analysis with a focus on the workflow, instrumentation and methods for data interpretation. Includes a computer laboratory component. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: BIO 326 or BIO 462 or BIO 463  
FSC 475  Latent Prints II  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 675  
Advanced level coverage of latent print: advanced analysis, comparison, identification; distortion, understanding causes of error; understanding forms of bias; courtroom preparation and testimony; topics research and presentation. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: FSC 465/665  
FSC 476  Cold Cases  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Cross-listed with BIO 476  
Double-numbered with FSC 676, BIO 676  
Methods and practice in solving unsolved cases using fundamental science, court documents, and other sources of information. Will include work on real cases. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: B- or better in both BIO 327 and CHE 275  
FSC 478  Crime Scene Investigation II with lab  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 678  
Complex aspects of various forensic disciplines will be used concurrently to properly document mock crime scenes and properly collect evidence from those scenes. Crime scene processing decisions will be required based on the varying components of the mock crime scene scenarios. Additional work required for graduate students.
Prereq: FSC 468 AND (FSC 461 or FSC 463 or FSC 464 or FSC 467)  
FSC 479  Microbial Forensic Science  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Double-numbered with FSC 679  
Exploration of the several fields that Microbial Forensics is applied to and the application of scientific methods and techniques for identification and characterization of microbes. Includes case studies and the scientific methods used in those cases. Additional work required of graduate students.
Prereq: CHE 113 and BIO 121 and BIO 123  
FSC 480  International Course  (1-12 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Offered through SUAbroad by educational institution outside the United States. Student registers for the course at the foreign institution and is graded according to that institution's practice. SUAbroad works with the S.U. academic department to assign the appropriate course level, title, and grade for the student's transcript.
Repeatable  
FSC 490  Independent Study  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
In-depth exploration of a problem or problems. Individual independent study upon a plan submitted by the student. Admission by consent of supervising instructor or instructors and the department.
Repeatable  
FSC 498  Capstone Seminar in Forensic Science  (3 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Explore specific overlaps of primary major with forensic science, make contacts with practitioners in the field, complete a capstone project, and present findings. Project will be determined through consultation between the student, instructor, and at least one practitioner.
Prereq: FSC 406  
FSC 499  Honors Capstone Project  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Completion of an Honors Capstone Project under the supervision of a faculty member.
Repeatable  
FSC 500  Selected Topics  (1-6 Credits)  
Arts & Sciences  
Exploration of a topic (to be determined) not covered by the standard curriculum but of interest to faculty and students in a particular semester.
Repeatable