FSCI 3010U – Criminalistics I

This course provides an introduction to miscarriages of justice, as well as Scientific Working Groups that guide the principles of laboratory-based searching and recovery of evidence at crime scenes. Students will learn the techniques and standards involved in the analysis of evidence as it relates to hit and runs, shootings, sexual assaults and other violent offences. Tablet technology and forensic-specific software will assist students in the paperless workflow of information. Laboratory analyses will continue to build upon forensic microscopy techniques using comparison, polarized light and compound microscopes. The specific application of forensic photography in documenting each major crime will also be examined. The objective is to identify all the pertinent forensic data to support an investigation, carry out the relevant analysis, and produce a report and presentation appropriate for expert witness testimony in courts of law. The course stresses the multidisciplinary nature of forensic science by integrating legal, practical, and scientific aspects of major scene investigations.
Credit hours: 3
Lecture hours: 3
Laboratory hours: 3
Prerequisite(s): FSCI 2010U and enrolment in third year of the Forensic Science program
Note(s): This course may be offered in a hybrid format with 1.5 hours of lectures and 1.5 hours online lectures and self-learning material.
Experiential learning: Yes