Forensic Degrees Online

Curriculum

Master of Science in Forensic Science degree
Core courses in the Master of Science in Forensic Science curriculum offer a broad exposure to forensic laboratory equipment and instrumentation as well as exposure to criminal procedures and expert testimony, forensic biology, forensic chemistry, trace evidence, physical evidence, professional ethics, quality assurance, and current topics in research and development within the forensic sciences. In addition, students entering this program specialize within the field. Students are required to select a concentration track by the end of their first semester. Tracks offered include forensic biology, forensic chemistry/drugs and toxicology, forensic chemistry/trace, and the forensic physical (evidence) track. Regardless of the track selected, the curriculum is designed to prepare students for a career in a forensic science laboratory setting.

The Master of Science in Forensic Science requires 36 semester hours of course work; this includes 24 semester hours from required core course work and 12 semester hours from the specialized course work designed for each track. The graduate program is a full-time, two-year program designed to accommodate only full-time graduate students. Courses will vary depending on the track selected; however, required and elective courses are offered at various times throughout the weekdays (morning, afternoon and evening). The 2008-09 bulletin is available online at http://www.vcu.edu/bulletins.

Course requirements and descriptions

Master of Science in Forensic Science degree

Core Requirements (24 credits)

FRSC 570 Forensic Science Seminar (attend 3 semesters)
FRSC 661 Analysis of Pattern Evidence -OR-
FRSC 662 Firearm and Toolmark Identification
FRSC 670 Forensic Evidence and Criminal Procedure
FRSC 671 Instrumentation in Forensic Chemistry
FRSC 673 Forensic Microscopy
FRSZ 673L Forensic Microscopy Laboratory
FRSC 675 Forensic Serology and DNA Analysis
FRSZ 675L Forensic Serology and DNA Analysis Laboratory
FRSC 677 Expert Testimony in Forensic Science
FRSC 793 Forensic Science Laboratory Internship

Tracks (12 credits – choose one track)

Forensic Biology track
FRSC 676 Advanced Forensic DNA Analysis
BIOL 516 Population Genetics -OR-
STAT 543 Statistical Methods I
Approved electives (6 credits)

Forensic Chemistry/Drug analysis and Toxicology track
FRSC 672 Advanced Drug Analysis
PHTX 644 Forensic Toxicology
Approved electives (6 credits)

Forensic Chemistry/Trace analysis track
FRSC 681 Analysis of Fire Debris and Explosives
FRSC 682 Forensic Analysis of Paint and Polymers
Approved electives (6 credits)

Forensic Physical track
FRSC 661 Analysis of Pattern Evidence -OR-
FRSC 662 Firearm and Toolmark Identification
FRSC 665 Scientific Crime Scene Investigation
Approved electives (6 credits)

MSc Forensic Psychology
Full-time and part-time

We are holding a postgraduate event on 16 March 2009, where you can find out more about our courses and staff.

This course builds on your knowledge of psychology at undergraduate level. You learn how to apply it to legal and criminal issues.

In civil and criminal cases, forensic psychologists may contribute in various ways, such as providing expert testimony in courts or advising the police on effective interview strategies.

During this course you study the theories of criminal behaviours and develop an understanding of why some individuals become criminals.

By studying forensic psychology in a legal context, you learn to understand how other disciplines and social factors influence its theory, research and development. This illustrates the strengths and limitations of psychology in a forensic context.

You study how psychological research can inform approaches to effectively detecting crimes and how criminals are convicted. And you learn to evaluate and use forensic psychological research approaches.

With the support and guidance of a tutor, you complete a self-designed research project using methods studied during the course. This allows you to bring the legal and psychological aspects of the course together.

We have chosen not to seek British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation for our course as this allows us to teach a greater variety of topics and to explore legal contexts in more depth. In comparison to most accredited courses, it contains much more training in forensic psychology research, the application of psychology to criminal investigations, and criminal law and its applications.

If you already work within a criminal justice setting for example, youth offending teams, the Police Force, Probation Service or courts, the course equips you with valuable skills to inform professional activities. If you have studied psychology at undergraduate level and you want to expand your forensic psychology skills, this course gives you a good grounding.

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)