Nov 23, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2022-23
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2022-23
[Archived Catalog]
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CAS 2000 - Foundations in Forensic Studies
his course provides an overview of forensic studies by exploring the natural science components of criminal investigation and criminal justice processes. Students are given the opportunity to understand how diverse fields are interrelated through the methods and approaches of criminal investigation and are provided with the essential knowledge of forensic science from multiple perspectives. Students learn how evidence is collected, processed, and interpreted in the fields of chemistry, toxicology, biology (botany, zoology and microbiology), DNA analysis, blood spatter analysis, entomology, and forensic death investigation and how this is used to solve criminal cases. The support of other fields such as sociology, psychology, criminology, anthropology, linguistics, accounting, and cyber/data security to the presentation of scientific evidence is also explored. The understanding of these fields is essential for the critical analysis, evaluation, and presentation of scientific evidence and data.
Credit Hours: 3
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 3.0 lecture
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
- ¿¿¿Students will be able to explain basic terminology, concepts and methods of chemistry and biology as they apply to the field of forensic science.
- Students will be able to apply scientific methods of inquiry appropriate to chemistry and biology to gather and analyze data and draw evidence¿based conclusions on assigned case studies.
- Students will be able to evaluate evidence-based scientific arguments in a logical fashion and distinguish between scientific and non¿scientific evidence and explanations.
- Students will be able to communicate how scientific findings contribute to the modern field of forensic investigation.
- Students will be able to critically state, describe, and consider scientific data and evidence on specific case studies to explain the processes and outcomes of criminal investigations.
- Students will be able to use information from journal articles, news briefings, and professional lectures with enough interpretation/evaluation to develop a comprehensive analysis of case studies.
- Students will be able to systematically and methodically analyze, research, and evaluate the impacts of expert witness testimony, eyewitness accounts, social biases, and ethical issues when presenting a position on the outcome of criminal trials.
- Students will be able to state a specific perspective on the impact of the limitations that exist in scientific evidence collection, processing, and data interpretation.
- Students will be able to state conclusions of forensic investigations and related outcomes using fact-based presentations logically and in a priority order.
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