FAIRLEIGH DICKINSON UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES FORENSIC SCIENCE SYLLABUS - AMENDED SPRING SEMESTER 2014 INSTRUCTOR: Mary M. Eustace (mary_eustace@fdu.edu) Mail Code: H-DH4-03 (Dickinson Hall, SONS Office, 4 th Floor) TEXTBOOK: Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, Saferstein, R., 10 th Edition, Prentice Hall, Upper Saddle, NJ. CLASS SCHEDULE: Lecture (CHEM 1118-51) Monday 5:30 7:10pm DH 4468 Lab (CHEM 1119-22) Monday 1:00 2:40pm DH 5506 Lab (CHEM 1119-21) Monday 3:30 5:10pm DH 5506 Lab (CHEM 1119-51) Monday 7:30 9:00pm DH 5506 COURSE DESCRIPTION: This course is an introduction to forensic science, covering topics from trace evidence, ballistics, and crime scene reconstruction, to drugs, impressions, and DNA analysis. We will discuss the techniques used in a forensic laboratory to examine evidence and obtain the type of results that can be used in the courtroom. In addition, case studies illustrating the topic of each lecture will be shown. The laboratory portion of the course will include experiments that demonstrate the topics discussed in the lecture, including general evidence examination, fingerprint and footwear analysis, blood spatter analysis, and hair examination. COURSE OBJECTIVES: To understand the responsibilities of the forensic scientist, in the laboratory and in the courtroom. To understand the importance of physical evidence and the role it plays in the determination of the guilt or innocence of an individual. To become familiar with some of the techniques used by forensic scientists to collect and examine evidence recovered from crime scenes. 1
FORENSIC SCIENCE SYLLABUS SPRING SEMESTER 2014 EXPECTATIONS: Attendance: Students are required to attend all lecture and laboratory classes. Lateness or unexcused absences greater than 10% is considered excessive and will result in the lowering of your grade. Cell phones: Cell phones must be turned off and put away during the lecture and all exams. If your phone rings during an exam, the exam will be taken away from you and your grade for that exam will be based on the work completed up to that point. Integrity and Plagiarism: Each student is responsible for knowing and adhering to the FDU policy on academic integrity. The policy can be found on the school s website (Student Life, Metro, Academic Regulations) EXAMINATIONS/REPORTS: Students are responsible for all material presented in class and official laboratory hours. Exam questions can be in the form of multiple choice, fill-ins, T/F, and short answers. The dates of the exams are listed in the Lecture Schedule on page 4. A typed laboratory report will be required after each lab has been completed. The report will be a concise summary of the experiment performed and results obtained. MISSED TESTS: There will be no make-ups given for a missed exam. If a student is absent on the day of an exam for reasons that are beyond their control, it is the student s responsibility to provide the professor with a valid, written excuse explaining their absence. A discussion will then be held with the student as to the possibility of taking a make-up test. All student athletes are required to provide the professor with a letter from the Director of Academic and Student-Athlete Support Services listing each event they are required to attend, which will result in the student missing a scheduled class/exam. These letters must be provided to the professor within the first two weeks of the semester, so alternate dates can be arranged for missed exams/laboratory sessions. DEADLINES: The due dates for the laboratory reports are listed in the Laboratory Schedule on page 5. Laboratory reports handed in one week or two weeks after the due date will be given a lower grade (see COURSE GRADING). 2
FORENSIC SCIENCE SYLLABUS SPRING SEMESTER 2014 COURSE GRADING: LECTURE: Midterm (33%): This exam will cover the chapters in the first half of the semester and may consist of multiple choice, T/F, and short answer questions. Final (33%): This exam will cover the chapters in the second half of the semester and may consist of multiple choice, T/F, and short answer questions. LABORATORY (33%): The grade for each lab will be based on the content of the lab report, which includes adherence to the report guidelines. Each laboratory exercise is worth a maximum of 10 points. Lab reports handed in one week after the due date will be given no more than 7 points. Lab reports handed in two weeks after the due date will be given no more than 5 points. Lab reports will not be accepted after the two-week grace period. The student will then receive a zero grade for that report. will be FINAL GRADE: The final grade for the course will be determined by averaging the results of the midterm, final, and lab reports. The letter grade given as follows: A = 90% - 100% C+ = 76% - 79% B+ = 86% - 89% C = 70% - 75% F = < 65% B = 80% - 85% D = 65% - 69% LABORATORY SAFETY RULES: 1. Be aware of the location of the fire extinguishers and exits. 2. Lab aprons/lab coats are not supplied. If you choose to wear one, you must provide your own. 3. NO OPEN-TOED FOOTWEAR, FOOD, OR BEVERAGES ARE PERMITTED IN THE LABORATORY. STUDENT RESOURCES: The Academic Resource Center is available for any student who may need assistance writing the laboratory reports. In addition, the Computer Services department can assist students with their computer concerns. 3
The format, content, policies, and procedures of this course may be subject to change. If significant changes are implemented, students will be notified in writing. FORENSIC SCIENCE SYLLABUS SPRING SEMESTER 2014 LECTURE SCHEDULE AMENDED 2/11/14 WEEK DATE LECTURE 1 01/27/14 OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE / Chapter 1 INTRODUCTION 2 02/03/14 SCHOOL CLOSED DUE TO SNOW 3 02/10/14 Chapter 2 THE CRIME SCENE 4 02/17/14 Chapter 3 PHYSICAL EVIDENCE 5 02/24/14 Chapter 7 THE MICROSCOPE 6 03/03/14 Chapter 13 HAIRS, FIBERS, AND PAINT 7 03/10/14 MIDTERM (CHAPTERS 1, 2, 3, 7, 13) 8 03/17/14 SPRING BREAK NO CLASS 9 03/24/14 Chapter 16 FINGERPRINTS 10 03/31/14 Chapter 10 FORENSIC SEROLOGY 11 04/07/14 Chapter 12 BLOODSTAIN PATTERN ANALYSIS 12 04/14/14 Impressions Lecture 13 04/21/14 Chapter 17 FIREARMS, TOOLMARKS, AND IMPRESSIONS 14 04/28/14 Chapter 11 DNA: THE INDISPENSABLE FORENSIC TOOL 15 05/05/14 Review 16 05/12/14 FINAL (CHAPTERS 10, 11, 12, 16, 17) 4
FORENSIC SCIENCE SYLLABUS SPRING SEMESTER 2014 LABORATORY SCHEDULE AMENDED 2/11/14 WEEK DATE LABORATORY 1 01/27/14 INTRODUCTION TO THE LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS 2 02/03/14 SCHOOL CLOSED DUE TO SNOW 3 02/10/14 Exp. 1 - Identification/Individualization (Due 02/17/14) 4 02/17/14 Exp. 2 - Lab Measurements (Due 02/24/14) 5 02/24/14 Exp. 3 - Use of the Microscope (Due 03/03/14) 6 03/03/14 Make-up Lab Session #1 (Due 03/10/14) 7 03/10/14 NO LAB SESSION 8 03/17/14 NO LAB SESSION 9 03/24/14 Exp. 6 - Fingerprints (Due 03/31/14) 10 03/31/14 Exp. 9 - QD Reconstruction *** (Due 04/07/14) 11 04/07/14 Exp. 7 - Blood Spatter (Due 04/14/14) 12 04/14/14 Exp. 10 - Footwear Comparison (Due 04/21/14) 13 04/21/14 Exp. 8 Crime Scene Documentation ## (Due 04/28/14) 14 04/28/14 Make-up Lab Session #2 (Due 05/05/14) *** Experiment 9 is a take-home lab. The material for this lab will be handed out during the 3/31/14 lecture. There is no actual lab session for Experiment 9. ## Experiment 8 is a laboratory project. The details of this project will be discussed during the 4/21/14 lecture (there is no actual lab session for Experiment 8). All students are required to complete the project by the scheduled due date. There will be no make-up date for this project. Make-up Lab Session #1 is for Experiments 1, 2, 3. Make-up Lab Session #2 is for Experiments 6, 7, 9, 10. 5
PLEASE NOTE: No more than 2 experiments can be done in a make-up session. 6