Intro to Forensic Science from Udemy

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Learning objective

Define forensic and investigative sciences, and describe the scope of application; describe problem-solving principles and organize typical operational protocols used in forensic science; recognized the scientific basis, application of tools, and techniques in forensic science; and critique how popular culture (i.e. television and movies) treat the forensic sciences.

Syllabus

Introduction

Lecture 2: The Forensic Expert

Lecture 3: The Forensic Lab

Textbook: The Game is Afoot: An Introduction to Forensic Science

Questions over unit 2

In case you are unable to download the tables for the forensic entomology assignment, you can access them here.

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Provides an overview of forensic science as taught in FEPAC accredited universities, offering a glimpse into standard curricula

Explores forensic entomology, covering insect colonization, life cycles, and the use of temperature data for estimating time of death

Examines forensic anthropology, including bone remodeling, aging techniques, height estimation, and facial reconstruction, which are key skills in identification

Discusses blood spatter analysis, covering directionality, impact patterns, and point of origin calculations, which are crucial for crime scene reconstruction

Includes a textbook as part of the course, which may require students to purchase it separately

Covers wildlife forensics, which may not be applicable in all regions or relevant to all students

Reviews summary

Broad survey of forensic science

According to learners, this course offers a broad overview of forensic science principles, covering a wide range of topics from crime scene investigation to specialized areas like entomology and anthropology. Many students find it to be a solid introduction, especially for beginners or those curious about the field. The course structure, breaking down complex subjects, is often praised. However, some reviewers note that while the scope is wide, the depth on certain topics can feel limited, requiring supplementary resources for more advanced understanding. Opinions on the delivery vary, with some finding the lectures informative while others occasionally found sections less engaging. Overall, it's seen as a good starting point for exploring the diverse world of forensic science.

Mixed opinions on engagement and clarity.

"Some lectures were really engaging and well-explained, while others felt a bit dry or difficult to follow."

"The instructor clearly knows the material, but the presentation style wasn't always the most dynamic."

"I found the lecture segments on specific topics like forensic entomology particularly fascinating and well-delivered."

"While informative, a few lectures could have benefited from better visuals or practical examples to make them more digestible."

"Some parts of the lectures were very clear and concise; other times I had to rewatch to understand the point."

Assignments help apply concepts, though vary.

"The assignments, especially the calculations in forensic entomology, helped solidify my understanding of the material."

"Assignments were generally relevant to the lecture content and tested my grasp of the basics."

"I liked that there were assignments that required applying the principles, not just memorizing definitions."

"The assignments were useful, although I wished there were more hands-on or practical types of tasks included."

Suitable for newcomers to the field.

"As someone with no prior background in forensic science, I found this course very accessible and easy to follow. It's definitely aimed at beginners."

"This course is a perfect starting point if you're just curious about what forensic science involves. It doesn't assume you know anything coming in."

"Great introduction for someone considering a career in the field. It lays a solid foundation without being overwhelming."

"I took this course as a complete novice and felt like I learned a lot of fundamental concepts."

Covers a wide range of forensic disciplines.

"This course is a great introductory overview of many areas of forensic science. It touches on crime scene processing, entomology, pathology, anthropology, etc. It gives you a taste of each."

"I really appreciated how many different topics within forensics were covered. It opened my eyes to areas I hadn't considered before."

"If you want a survey course that hits on all the major points, this is it. It doesn't go super deep, but it covers a lot of ground effectively."

"It was interesting to see the different aspects of forensic science all in one place. Very comprehensive in terms of breadth."

"Provides a fantastic breadth of topics, from blood spatter analysis to forensic anthropology."

Some topics lack sufficient detail or depth.

"While the breadth is great, the depth is lacking in some areas. I often felt the need to look up more information on my own to fully grasp certain concepts."

"It's an introduction, so I wasn't expecting everything, but some topics felt rushed or only briefly touched upon."

"Could use more in-depth coverage on specific techniques or case studies to illustrate the concepts more fully."

"The chapters on DNA and anthropology were interesting but felt a bit too brief for the complexity of the subjects."

"Wish there was more detail provided in the lectures for some of the scientific processes discussed."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Intro to Forensic Science with these activities:

Review Crime Scene Investigation Techniques

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Reviewing crime scene investigation techniques will provide a solid foundation for understanding how evidence is collected and analyzed in forensic science.

Browse courses on Crime Scene Investigation

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Review standard protocols for securing a crime scene.
Study methods for documenting evidence through photography and sketching.
Familiarize yourself with proper evidence collection and preservation techniques.

Review 'Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques'

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Reviewing this textbook will reinforce your understanding of the core concepts and techniques covered in the course.

View Forensic Science on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Forensic Science: An Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques'.
Read the chapters relevant to the topics covered in the course.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques discussed in the book.

Read 'Death's Acre' by Bill Bass

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Reading 'Death's Acre' will provide real-world examples of forensic anthropology and taphonomy, enhancing understanding of decomposition and time of death estimation.

View Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab... on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of 'Death's Acre' by Bill Bass.
Read the book, paying attention to the case studies and descriptions of decomposition.
Take notes on key concepts and techniques discussed in the book.

Four other activities

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Create a Presentation on a Forensic Science Topic

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Creating a presentation will allow you to research a specific area of forensic science in depth and present your findings to others.

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Choose a topic related to forensic science that interests you.
Research the topic using reliable sources, such as scientific journals and textbooks.
Create a presentation using software like PowerPoint or Google Slides.
Practice your presentation to ensure you are comfortable with the material.

Practice Blood Spatter Angle of Impact Calculations

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Practicing angle of impact calculations will improve your ability to analyze blood spatter patterns and determine the events that occurred at a crime scene.

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Review the formulas for calculating the angle of impact.
Find practice problems online or in textbooks.
Work through the problems, showing your work and checking your answers.

Create a Forensic Science Blog

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Creating a blog will allow you to synthesize information from the course and share it with others, reinforcing your understanding of forensic science concepts.

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Set up a blog on a platform like WordPress or Blogger.
Choose a specific focus for your blog, such as forensic entomology or DNA analysis.
Write regular posts summarizing key concepts and discussing current events in forensic science.
Promote your blog on social media to reach a wider audience.

Simulate a Crime Scene Investigation

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Simulating a crime scene will provide hands-on experience in applying forensic science principles and techniques.

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Create a mock crime scene in a controlled environment.
Document the scene through photography, sketching, and videography.
Collect and analyze evidence, such as fingerprints, blood spatter, and trace materials.
Write a report summarizing your findings and conclusions.

Career center

Learners who complete Intro to Forensic Science will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Crime Scene Investigator

A crime scene investigator is responsible for securing, documenting, and collecting evidence from crime scenes. This role involves meticulous observation, photography, sketching, and proper handling of various types of evidence, all of which are covered in this course. Knowledge of forensic photography, crime scene sketching, and chain of custody protocols is essential, and this course provides a survey of these techniques and procedures. Anyone entering this field will benefit from the course's discussion of physical, biological, and trace evidence, as well as a strong foundation in how to identify, collect, and preserve them.

See salaries and explore the career path for Crime Scene Investigator

Forensic Science Technician

Forensic science technicians analyze evidence collected from crime scenes and prepare it for analysis in a lab. This role requires a strong understanding of the scientific principles behind forensic methods, and this course helps to introduce these concepts. The course covers a range of topics relevant to the analysis of physical, biological, and trace evidence, including DNA, blood spatter analysis, and decomposition processes. The course's overview of the scientific tools and techniques would be highly relevant to a forensic science technician's work, particularly when working with DNA and blood.

See salaries and explore the career path for Forensic Science Technician

Forensic Photographer

Forensic photographers document crime scenes and evidence through photography and videography. This role requires careful attention to detail, technical proficiency with photographic equipment, and an understanding of how to capture images that will stand up in court. This course includes sections on forensic photography and videography, and discusses the proper ways to photograph common scenes, important for anyone seeking a role in this field. A forensic photographer would also benefit from a broad knowledge of forensic science, as they must understand the context in which they are operating.

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Forensic Analyst

A forensic analyst examines physical evidence, conducts scientific testing, and interprets results. This career requires a sound grounding in scientific protocols and analytical techniques, and this course provides a helpful overview of forensic science as a whole. The course's coverage of physical evidence, biological fluids, and DNA analysis helps to build the foundations necessary for success as a forensic analyst. The course also discusses potential problems and the legality of scientific evidence, which are also important considerations.

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Evidence Technician

Evidence technicians are responsible for the proper collection, documentation, and preservation of physical evidence at crime scenes. The course provides a review of the types of evidence encountered, the chain of custody, and how to introduce evidence in a court of law. A strong understanding of these procedures is crucial for anyone seeking a position as an evidence technician. The course also covers various topics such as blood spatter, DNA, and entomology, all of which may be relevant to the type of evidence that the evidence technician encounters at a crime scene.

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Forensic Entomologist

A forensic entomologist studies insects and their relation to criminal investigations, especially when determining time of death. This course includes a section on forensic entomology, covering insect colonization, life cycles, and the calculation of accumulated degree days. A forensic entomologist relies heavily on the data and calculations covered by this course. Students hoping to enter the field would benefit from this course's introductory material, as it lays the foundation for further study. This course also examines the role of insects in decomposition and the different types of insects involved.

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Autopsy Technician

An autopsy technician assists pathologists during autopsies and helps prepare the body for examination. The course includes discussions on forensic pathology, taphonomy, and the stages of decomposition, which are all highly relevant to the work of an autopsy technician. The material on trauma classification, time of death calculations, and the post-mortem processes, will be very useful to someone working in this field. While this course itself is an introduction, its material helps build a foundation that many autopsy technicians use in their work.

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Crime Laboratory Analyst

A crime laboratory analyst performs scientific tests on evidence, prepares reports, and interprets results. This course may be useful because it introduces students to the scientific basis, application of tools, and techniques used in forensic science. It also covers the types of evidence encountered at crime scenes, including physical, biological, and trace evidence. The course touches upon important topics such as DNA, blood spatter, and questioned documents, all of which may be analyzed by a crime laboratory analyst. The course also discusses potential problems with forensic evidence, which is also relevant to the role.

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Forensic Anthropologist

Forensic anthropologists analyze skeletal remains to identify victims and determine the cause and manner of death. This course's sections on forensic anthropology history, bone remodeling, aging techniques, and osteobiography would be beneficial to someone pursuing a career as a forensic anthropologist because these are foundational concepts. The course introduces the basics of skeletal analysis, aging techniques, and estimating height and race. The course material on facial reconstruction and forensic odontology also will help provide useful context to a forensic anthropologist.

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Legal Assistant

A legal assistant, while not directly in forensic science, often works with evidence and legal documentation related to criminal investigations. While a legal assistant does not take on many of the duties of a scientist, an understanding of forensic science, which this course provides, may be useful in assisting lawyers preparing for trial. This course may be useful for a legal assistant, as the course's discussion of the legality of scientific evidence and the chain of custody could help one better understand the legal process. The course also covers specific types of evidence, and this contextual background may prove to be useful to the legal assistant.

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Questioned Document Examiner

A questioned document examiner analyzes documents to determine their authenticity. This role requires a thorough understanding of handwriting analysis, ink composition, and paper characteristics. This course introduces handwriting analysis as part of its discussion of questioned documents and the individual characteristics of handwriting. A career as a questioned document examiner is highly specialized, but this course may prepare those hoping to enter the field with initial exposure to the analysis of documents and handwriting.

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Wildlife Forensic Scientist

A wildlife forensic scientist investigates crimes involving animals, such as poaching and illegal trafficking. While there is a small section of the course dedicated to wildlife forensics, it does provide a good introduction to the concepts of forensic science as a whole. Understanding how general principles of forensic science can apply to wildlife cases may be helpful to a wildlife forensic scientist. This course may be useful to a wildlife forensic scientist, but the field requires far more expertise than what is provided by this single introductory course.

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Medical Examiner Investigator

A medical examiner investigator assists forensic pathologists in investigating deaths. While this course covers some topics relevant to death investigation, such as forensic pathology and time of death calculations, it is an introductory course and does not delve into the intricacies of such work. This course may be useful as an elementary introduction, but further coursework and training would ultimately be necessary for a medical examiner investigator. This is an advanced career that typically requires a medical degree.

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Criminal Investigator

Criminal investigators gather information and evidence to solve crimes. While this course introduces specific forensic techniques, criminal investigation itself relies more on interviewing techniques and surveillance, which are not covered. This course may be useful insofar as it builds some background knowledge in forensic science for a criminal investigator. The course's discussion of crime scene investigation procedures could provide useful context to a criminal investigator, but the majority of coursework would likely be focused on other areas.

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Law Enforcement Officer

Law enforcement officers respond to calls, make arrests, and maintain order. While this course may provide some background information about crime scenes and forensic evidence, it does not specifically cover the duties of a law enforcement officer. For example, it does not cover the laws involved, nor does it cover de-escalation techniques or the use of force. This course may be useful for the law enforcement officer in providing some context to forensic investigation, but does not teach law enforcement specific procedures.

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Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Intro to Forensic Science.

Forensic Science

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Comprehensive introduction to the various disciplines within forensic science. It covers topics such as crime scene investigation, forensic biology, forensic chemistry, and forensic pathology. This book is commonly used as a textbook in forensic science courses and provides a solid foundation for understanding the scientific principles and techniques used in the field. It valuable reference tool for students and professionals alike.

Death's Acre

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Provides a fascinating look into the world of forensic anthropology and taphonomy. It details the work done at the Body Farm, a research facility where human decomposition is studied. Reading this book will give you a deeper understanding of the processes involved in decomposition and how they are used to estimate time of death. It serves as excellent supplemental reading to the forensic pathology and taphonomy sections of the course.

Death's Acre: Inside the Legendary Forensic Lab the...

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Intro to Forensic Science

What's inside

Learning objective

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Broad survey of forensic science

Activities

Career center

Reading list

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