Overview
On successful completion of this unit, students will be able to explain the roles and guiding ethical principles for forensic scientists in cases of law and in incident investigations. Students will interpret information from the current forensic science literature, methodologies and technologies including methods for dealing with trace evidence and the use of DNA profiling for identification, and how forensic science results are interpreted and analysed. These topics will be explored through practical classes for Rockhampton and Flex students.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
CHEM 11008 Essential Principles of Chemical Sciences OR CHEM11041 Chemistry for the Life Sciences
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2019
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes – in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Residential Schools
This unit has a Compulsory Residential School for distance mode students and the details are:
Click here to see your Residential School Timetable.
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of ‘pass’ in order to pass the unit. If any ‘pass/fail’ tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully (‘pass’ grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the ‘assessment task’ section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University’s Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure – International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback – Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Unit evaluation responses.
Students enjoyed the crime scene simulations conducted in the residential school.
Maintain crime scene simulations in the Residential School.
- Explain the roles and the guiding ethical principles for forensic scientists in cases of law, in incident investigations, and in international collaborations
- Interpret information obtained from a variety of forensic science laboratory techniques for physical evidence analysis
- Describe and critique current forensic science literature and technologies including methods for dealing with trace evidence and the use of DNA profiling for identification
- Analyse and communicate forensic science results clearly and accurately, drawing appropriate conclusions
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | |
| 1 - Written Assessment - 30% | ||||||||||
| 2 - Practical and Written Assessment - 20% | ||||||||||
| 3 - Examination - 50% | ||||||||||
Textbooks
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Edition: 11 (2015 )
Authors: Richard Saferstein
Pearson
Harlow Harlow , Essex , England
ISBN: 9780133458824
Binding: Other
Additional Textbook Information
Copies can be purchased from the CQUni Bookshop here: http://bookshop.cqu.edu.au (search on the Unit code)
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing styles below:
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
o.daniels@cqu.edu.au
Module/Topic
Introduction to Forensic Science, The Crime Scene
Chapter
Chapters 1 and 2
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Physical Evidence
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapters 3 and 4
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Fingerprints
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 6
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Microscopy
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapters 7
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Firearms, Tools, Glass
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapters 8 and 9
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Hair, Fibres
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 10
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Drugs
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Toxicology
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 12
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Metals, Paints, Soils
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 13
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Serology
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 14
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
DNA Profiling
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Arson, Explosions
Chapter
Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science
Chapter 16
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
You are required to pass all of the assessment tasks (including the exam) in order to pass the unit.
1 Written Assessment
Recent advances in forensic science—A literature review
Over the past decade, there have been rapid advances in forensic science and forensic analytical capabilities, mainly driven by the advent of new methodologies, techniques or instrumentation. Your task for this assignment is to prepare a literature review by choosing an area of forensic science that interests you, and where a major advance in capability has occurred recently or is currently occurring. Some examples might include:
- Organic gunshot residue analysis
- Laser ablation ICP-MS for metals analysis in a variety of case exhibits (including packaging tape, glass, and ammunition)
- Capillary electrophoresis for explosives detection
- Y-chromosome STR and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analysis
- New methods for analysing degraded DNA
- RNA fingerprinting analysis
- New developments in analytical spectroscopy
- Solid phase microextraction of drugs
- Arson and post-explosion evidence
- New scientific developments in forensic anthropology and forensic archaeology.
Word count: 1500-2000 words (excluding references). Please use 2.0 line spacing and size 12 font (preferably Arial).
Week 8 Friday (10 May 2019) 11:59 pm AEST
Week 11 Friday (31 May 2019)
Introduction (3 marks)
- Captures attention.
- Introduces theme and material to be reviewed.
- May include a historical perspective.
Research (10 marks)
- Evidence of extensive literature and information searching outside the textbook.
- Effective use of a range of sources, including numerous primary journal articles, and specific texts where relevant (for latter, search CQUni library catalogue).
Review analysis and style (10 marks)
- Accurate information reviewed critically at a high level of technical understanding.
- Evidence of ‘synthesis’ of information researched (rather than a simpler catalogue of methods or reports) that highlights any conflicts in interpretation of the evidence.
- Evidence of original thought in writing style.
- Logical flow of information presented that engages with a reader who is knowledgeable of the various analytical methods employed and forensic processes.
- Content separated into logical sections, each with a subheading to enhance reader impact.
- Correct grammar, spelling and punctuation, line spacing and font size.
- Adherence to length (1500 - 2000 words).
Conclusion (3 marks)
- Sums up the findings from the review and suggests future directions.
Referencing (4 marks)
- All information thoroughly referenced in the body of the essay by using citations.
- All sources referred to listed at the end of the review.
- Referencing accurately follows the Harvard or APA referencing style.
- Reputable sources utilised, including a minimum of 10 peer-reviewed journal articles.
Total marks: 30
- Describe and critique current forensic science literature and technologies including methods for dealing with trace evidence and the use of DNA profiling for identification
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
2 Practical and Written Assessment
You are required to answer the questions in the Laboratory Manual during or immediately following completion of each practical exercise. Each student is required to complete and submit their completed Laboratory Manual.
Week 7 Thursday (2 May 2019) 4:45 pm AEST
Your Laboratory Manual needs to be handed in at the end of Residential School.
Week 10 Thursday (23 May 2019)
Marks will be awarded for correct answers to each question in the Laboratory Manual. Marks will be totaled and converted to a grade out of 20 marks for the assessment.
- Interpret information obtained from a variety of forensic science laboratory techniques for physical evidence analysis
- Analyse and communicate forensic science results clearly and accurately, drawing appropriate conclusions
- Problem Solving
- Team Work
Examination
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
