Oct 05, 2024
OHIO University Undergraduate Catalog 2024-25
CHEM 4410 - Forensic Firearms and Ballistics Analysis
This course provides an in-depth experiential learning opportunity for students in forensic firearms and ballistics analysis. Through participation in discussions, hands-on activities provided by firearms experts, and laboratory experiments using analytical instruments, students learn the role of firearms examiners in a crime lab setting and the basics of cartridges, bullets, ballistics, and sighting systems. Students also learn how to provide expert testimony and use collected evidence to determine elemental composition of gunshot residue, shooting distance determination, and cartridge/weapon comparison, thus connecting the entire process of firearms evidence collection, analysis, and data interpretation.
Requisites: CHEM 4310L or concurrent
Credit Hours: 2
OHIO BRICKS: Bridge: Learning and Doing
Repeat/Retake Information: May be retaken two times excluding withdrawals, but only last course taken counts.
Lecture/Lab Hours: 2.0 seminar
Grades: Eligible Grades: A-F,WP,WF,WN,FN,AU,I
Learning Outcomes:
- Students will be able to define the role and responsibilities of a forensic firearms examiner and the fundamentals of firearms examination connecting relevant experience and academic knowledge.
- Students will be able to explain in detail the importance of proper laboratory processes in firearms laboratory analyses to prevent injustice connecting across science disciplines and social justice perspectives.
- Students will be able to synthesize the entire process of firearms evidence collection, analysis, and data interpretation to make connections across forensic disciplines.
- Students will be able to adapt and apply skills, abilities, theories, and methodologies by transferring classroom fundamentals to live-fire on-range shooting activities.
- Students will be able to apply evidence collection skills, abilities, and analytical methodologies through laboratory experiments.
- Students will be able to make research-based presentations to the crime lab community and to the general public in a format, language, or visual representation in ways that enhance meaning.
- Students will be able to adapt and apply skills, abilities, theories, and methodologies by transferring fundamentals of forensic science knowledge to live-fire on-range shooting activities.
- Students will be able to analyze connections among ethics, introduction to law, and professional field practice demonstrating a developing sense of self as a forensic scientist.
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