BSc (Hons) - Forensic Science (with integrated foundation year)

Year one

The integrated foundation year provides the opportunity for you to settle into University life and gain the confidence and skills to succeed in your chosen degree through participating in a supportive academic, personal and professional development programme.

Students on the Forensic Science foundation year will study modules that will provide a good grounding for you to develop your academic and study skills to progress onto higher levels of study. This route offers a unique opportunity for developing your problem-solving skills, intellectual, key scientific practical and investigative skills and techniques that underpin the study of Forensic Science whilst providing you with a grounding in essential university skills and nurturing your career aspirations.

• Essential University Skills 1
  This module develops your academic and professional skills required for effective learning and successful progression through your chosen honours degree programme and beyond.
• Essential Biology
  To develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of biology, essential to further study in your chosen field.
• Scientific Investigation
  To explore the protocols associated with scientific investigation.
• Essential University Skills 2
  You will expand your learning in the areas of research, writing structure and reflective learning. You will also gain skills in presenting research to an audience and in reflecting on your development throughout your integration foundation year.
• Essential Chemistry
  To develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of chemistry, essential to further study in your chosen field.
• Environmental Sciences
  Introduces field-based skills akin to the natural sciences with interdisciplinary content which relates Human Ecology to Toxicology, Public Health, Epidemiology and Parasitology. Giving you a good foundation in the basic principles required for your degree.

Year two

During this year, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to apply a systematic approach to the acquisition of knowledge, underpinning concepts and principles and deploy a range of subject-specific, cognitive and transferable skills. You will be able to evaluate the appropriateness of different approaches to solving well-defined problems and communicate outcomes in a structured and clear manner. You will also be able to identify and discuss the relationship between personal and workplace experience and findings from books and journals and other data drawn from the field of study.

• Crime Scene Investigation
  To equip you with an ability to perform techniques involved in crime scene investigation and recovery of evidence as practised by UK forensic agencies.
• Chemistry for Forensic Scientists
  To develop knowledge and understanding of the fundamental principles of physical, organic and analytical chemistry, essential to further study in forensic science.
• Biology For Forensic Scientists
  To develop your knowledge and understanding of fundamental principles of biology, essential to further study in forensic science.
• Forensic Evidence
  This module will introduce you to the fundamental principles of Forensic Science, including different categories of evidence and their analysis.
• Anatomy and Physiology
  This module will provide students with an understanding and appreciation of basic human anatomy and physiology with particular focus on the musculoskeletal, nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.
• Laboratory Skills for Forensic Scientists
  To develop and demonstrate competency in fundamental laboratory skills for forensic scientists.

Year three

During year three, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to apply and evaluate key concepts and theories within and outside the context in which they were first studied. Select appropriately from and deploy a range of subject-specific, cognitive and transferable skills and problem solving strategies to problems in the field of study and in the generation of ideas effectively communicate information and arguments in a variety of forms. You will be able to accept responsibility for determining and achieving personal outcomes and reflect on personal and work place experience in the light of recent scholarship and current statutory regulations.

• Forensic Chemistry
  To develop a thorough understanding of the principles and applications of chemistry to forensic science.
• Forensic Genetics
  To develop knowledge and understanding of the role of Genetics and DNA technology in forensic investigations.
• Science and Justice
  To develop your understanding of the investigation process and the management of forensic evidence, with particular reference to the role of an expert witness presenting evidence in court.
• Forensic Taphonomy
  To gain an understanding of the fundamentals of biological process of decomposition and related disciplines and how they relate to forensic investigations.
• Commercial Applications of Forensic Science
  Demonstrate the application of forensic techniques to commercial sectors in order to combat consumer and business detriment or investigate when detriment occurs.
• Exploring Research
  This module will help to provide you with the skills required to conceive, design, conduct and interpret scientific research. You will be guided in developing your ability to evaluate a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods and when it is appropriate to use them.

Year four

During year four, you will be able to demonstrate that you have the ability to critically review, consolidate and extend a systematic and coherent body of knowledge. You will be able to critically evaluate concepts and evidence from a range of resources. You will be able to transfer and apply subject-specific, cognitive skills and problem-solving strategies to a range of situations and to solve complex problems. You will learn how to communicate solutions, arguments and ideas clearly and in a variety of forms and exercise considerable judgement in a range of situations. You will learn more about how to accept accountability for determining and achieving personal and group outcomes. You will be able to reflect critically and analytically on personal and workplace experience in the light of recent scholarship and current statutory regulations.

• Dissertation
  To enable you to undertake an independent piece of in-depth research into a topic of your choice. This module provides you with an opportunity to develop your research skills and gain valuable experience in project management.
• Miscarriages of Justice
  To ensure you have sufficient skills and knowledge to record, manage and interpret evidence coherently in the written and spoken word as required in a court of law.
• Death Investigation
  To investigate the ways in which medical science and principal evidence types can assist in the resolution of legal issues in the criminal and civil courts pertaining to death.
• Criminal and Commercial Investigation
  To be able to apply your knowledge and understanding to a variety of scenarios, as well as enhance your problem solving and ability to research and design experiments.
• Toxicology
  To develop your knowledge of the principles of toxicology and enable you to gain an in-depth understanding of the effects of toxic chemicals on the body and the environment.
• Advanced Genetics
  This module will discuss the application of molecular genetics to clinical diagnostics, microbial biotechnology, forensic science and disease treatment as well as providing an overview of current biotechnological advances.