Course description of Forensic Science at Michigan State University
Forensic Anthropology
ANP 441 – Osteology and Forensic Anthropology (4 credits) Human bone and skeletal biology and analysis. Methods of forensic anthropology. Analysis of skeletal remains, forensic pathology, and forensic archaeology. (offered Spring of even years)
ANP 840 – Biocultural Evolution (3) Major contemporary issues in evolutionary theory, taxonomy, and the evolution of biology and culture. (Spring)
ANP 841 – Physical Anthropology (4) Controversies in biological anthropology. History of physical anthropology and current theoretical perspectives. Critical approaches to research design. (Spring of even years)
ANP 842 – Human Osteology (5) Human bone biology, skeletal anatomy, and osteological analysis. (Fall of even years)
ANP 844 – Topics in Forensic Anthropology (2) Survey of topics and current issues in forensic anthropology. Possible topics include facial reproduction and identification; laboratory techniques; skeletal hisomorphology. (Fall)
ANTR 551 – Medical Gross Anatomy (6) Human regional gross anatomy with clinical correlations using prosections, cross-sections, medical imaging, multimedia and hypermedia. (Fall)
CJ 805 – Survey in Forensic Science (3) Scientific analysis of physical evidence. The course will cover four major aspects of physical evidence using real criminal and civil cases: generation of physical evidence by criminal activity; collection and preservation of physical evidence; analysis of physical evidence by forensic science laboratory; presentation of scientific expert testimony in court. (Fall)
FRS 899 – Master’s Thesis Research (1-6) Planned research and writing directed by student’s thesis committee. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
Forensic Biology
BMB 801 – Molecular Biology (3 credits) Organization of genes. Regulation of gene expression, replication and recombination. (offered Fall semester)
CJ 805 – Survey in Forensic Science (3) Scientific analysis of physical evidence. The course will cover four major aspects of physical evidence using real criminal and civil cases: generation of physical evidence by criminal activity; collection and preservation of physical evidence; analysis of physical evidence by forensic science laboratory; presentation of scientific expert testimony in court. (Fall)
CJ 817 – Law and Forensic Science (2) Course covers the legal aspects of forensic science including the adjudicative process, admissibility of scientific evidence, laboratory reports, hearsay, relevant course materials and expert testimony. (Spring)
CJ 820 – Forensic Chemistry and Microscopic Evidence (3) Analysis of trace evidence including hairs and fibers, paints and coatings, explosives and fire residues, glass and soil. (Spring)
CJ 824 – Forensic Serology (3) Lectures and laboratory exercises in the identification of body fluids of forensic interest, including blood, semen, and saliva. Sources of false positive and negative results will also be examined. (Fall)
CJ 825 – DNA Profiling (3) Lectures and laboratory exercises in DNA profiling. Nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analysis of blood, semen, hair, saliva, and other tissues of forensic interest. (Spring)
FRS 899 – Master’s Thesis Research (1-6) Planned research and writing directed by student’s thesis committee. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
FW 828 – Conservation and Genetics (3) Population and evolutionary genetic principles applied to ecology, conservation, and management of species at the individual, population, and species level. May be taken in lieu of FOR 842. (Fall of even years)
GEN 842 (FOR 842) – Population Genetics (3) Population genetic processes underlying patterns of molecular genetic variation. Genealogical approaches to the study of genomic diversity, phylogenetic reconstruction, and molecular ecology. May be taken in lieu of FW 828. (Fall)
STT 464 – Statistics for Biologists I (3) Biological random variables. Estimation of population parameters. Testing hypotheses. Linear correlation and regression (prediction). Analyses of counted and measured data to compare several biological groups (contingency tables and analysis of variance). (Fall)
Forensic Chemistry
CEM 835 – Advanced Analytical Chemistry II (3 credits) Separations, molecular spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. (offered Spring semester)
CJ 805 – Survey in Forensic Science (3) Scientific analysis of physical evidence. The course will cover four major aspects of physical evidence using real criminal and civil cases: generation of physical evidence by criminal activity; collection and preservation of physical evidence; analysis of physical evidence by forensic science laboratory; presentation of scientific expert testimony in court. (Fall)
CJ 817 – Law and Forensic Science (2) Course covers the legal aspects of forensic science including the adjudicative process, admissibility of scientific evidence, laboratory reports, hearsay, relevant case materials and expert testimony. (Spring)
CJ 819 – Forensic Analysis of Drugs and Alcohol (3) Techniques and processes in analysis of physical evidence including spectrosopy, chromatography, microscopy. Emphasis on controlled substances. (Fall)
CJ 820 – Forensic Chemistry and Microscopic Evidence (3) Continuation of CJ 819. Analysis of trace evidence including hairs and fibers, paints and coatings, explosives and fire residues, glass and soil. (Spring)
FRS 899 – Master’s Thesis Research (1-6) Planned research and writing directed by student’s thesis committee. (Fall, Spring, Summer)
NSC 820 – Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-Ray Analysis (3) Use of scanning electron microscope and energy dispersive x-ray microanalysis. Machine variables, artifacts, quantitative analysis, specimen preparation, darkroom procedures. (Fall, Spring)
PHM 431 – Pharmacology of Drug Addiction (3) Introduction to pharmacology and neuropharmacology. Understanding of the biological basis for drug abuse and addiction. (Fall)
Tags: biological anthropology, bone biology, clinical correlations, expert testimony, fall spring summer, forensic anthropology, forensic archaeology, forensic biology, forensic pathology, forensic science laboratory, human osteology, laboratory presentation, medical gross anatomy, physical anthropology, regulation of gene expression, skeletal anatomy, skeletal biology, theoretical perspectives, thesis committee, thesis research