Howard
Payne Course Numbers
FRS 2479
Includes 3 hours of lecture and 2 hours of laboratory per week
This class is a unique offering at Howard Payne University, serving both as a general education science requirement and the first class for the forensic science concentration. It will provide an overview of the science of forensics; comprising a history of the field, evidence identification and collection, methodologies that modern scientists employ and focus upon direct application of these fundamentals to crime scene investigation.
Intended outcomes for the course
1. Students should be able to read published file studies of criminal cases, comprehend the methods and technologies that are described and referenced and discuss and assess the appropriateness of the approach, perhaps suggesting alternative practice.
2. For the criminal justice student, the course will provide a foundation for eventual involvement in case management or investigation.
Assessment of Outcomes
1. As the field of forensic science is a hands-on, applied discipline; students are expected to demonstrate competence with the basic implements that are employed in the collection, preparation, analysis and interpretation of evidence: theoretical understanding is not solely sufficient.
2. Students should be exercising their newly developed skills through independent study of documentary programs [not CSI: Miami] and printed reports of modern and current cases, thereby furthering the content discussed in class sessions.
3. The depth of insight expressed by students during in-class discussions will be strongly indicative of the development of critical thinking skills. As the semester progresses, the duration and depth of discussion should increase.
4. The number of students who elect to enroll in FRS 2489 will be a final sign of the level of success achieved.
Course Prerequisites
1. Though calculations are not intensive, students are expected to be proficient in algebra and understand basic statistics.
2. Moreover, students are expected to possess and demonstrate proficiency in standard English-language composition.